Illawarra rises two spots in NBL power rankings

By Liam Santamaria

You know the drill: every week I release my NBL power rankings. They drop each Tuesday on NBL Overtime and then run here the following morning.

By now, you also know how they work. Like most ‘power rankings’, this list represents how each team is currently tracking when you consider form, injuries, illness, recent opponents, etc. In other words, the team on top is the one other teams do not want to be playing right now.

1. PERTH WILDCATS

Previous rank: 1

The Wildcats took care of business in their first game back in the Jungle, as they held off the Breakers for a 10-point win. This week it will be a desperate JackJumpers squad and the red-hot Sydney Kings who are coming to town.

As for their new import… well, he’s already in Perth. The question is: will his clearance come through before it’s too late?

This week: vs Tasmania, vs Sydney

 

2. SYDNEY KINGS

Previous rank: 2

That’s now eight wins in a row for the Kings which is tied for the longest streak in NBL22 and ranks inside the top ten across franchise history. Impressively, Sydney’s last two wins have been claimed without Xavier Cooks.

If they can keep the good times rolling out west, they’ll rise to the number one spot.

This week: @ Perth

 

3. MELBOURNE UNITED

Previous rank: 3

With Perth and Sydney grabbing all the headlines, the defending champs are just quietly going about preparing for the playoffs. They slipped up against the Wildcats a couple of weeks ago but have claimed two victories since then, winning seven of their past eight games.

According to reports, they may also be about to bolster their roster.

This week: vs Illawarra

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our boys <a href="https://twitter.com/xrm_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xrm_22</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DuopReath?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DuopReath</a> doin&#39; work??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/CsZEYeRw1n">https://t.co/CsZEYeRw1n</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1506115885358284803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


4. ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Previous rank: 6

The Hawks rise a couple of spots after beating both SEM and Tassie across last week’s action. Their performance against the JackJumpers was particularly impressive, as they finally reached a level on D that’s befitting of a Brian Goorjian-coached team.

The challenge for the Hawks now is to consistently reproduce that standard. That’s not going to be easy this week as they head to Melbourne to take on the champs.

This week: @ Melbourne

 

5. TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS

Previous rank: 4

The JJs got belted by the Hawks over the weekend which put a major dent in their dreams of a fairy-tale trip to the finals.

Unfortunately, things aren’t going to get any easier in Round 17. A couple of road games await the Ants this week, against teams they lost to only a few weeks ago.

This week: @ Perth, @ Brisbane

 

6. SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX

Previous rank: 5

This time last week, I called for the Phoenix to “re-ignite their energy on D” and they responded by giving up the third-highest score in the competition this season (103). Their defence was slightly better against the Kings, but they still gave up 91 and, in the process, notched up their fourth consecutive L.

It’s season-on-the-line type of stuff for SEM this week as they take on the power rankings’ bottom two teams.

This week: @ Cairns, @ Adelaide

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Things are getting tight in the ? 4? ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> ladder hoisted by <a href="https://twitter.com/AAMI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AAMI</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/H9h7RFr9lB">pic.twitter.com/H9h7RFr9lB</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1505685129955803137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


7. NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Previous rank: 8

The Breakers may have lost six of their past seven games, but the fact of the matter is: they’re playing much better. They almost beat the Wildcats in Round 15 and then last week’s effort in the Jungle was a very solid showing. Of course, they’re also using this time to help their prospects prepare for the NBA Draft and that process is playing out nicely.

This week: vs Brisbane (in Cairns), vs Cairns (in Cairns)

 

8. BRISBANE BULLETS

Previous rank: 7

It’s maybe a little unfair for Brisbane to sink below the Breakers, when James Duncan’s men actually beat the Kiwis just a couple of weeks ago.

Nonetheless, I’m sliding the Bullets down this week following another underwhelming effort against their Queensland rivals. Cairns came into The Armoury and completely dominated the opening term on Sunday in the latest of example of how much Brisbane are missing star guard Nathan Sobey.

This week: @ New Zealand (in Cairns), vs Tasmania

 

9. ADELAIDE 36ERS

Previous rank: 9

Credit to the 36ers, particularly Mitch McCarron, for their bounce-back performance last Friday that delivered a much-needed victory to the Adelaide faithful. That win brought temporary relief following a five-game losing streak, but reality set back in on Sunday when the Sixers got whacked by United.

This week’s match-up with the Phoenix will be an interesting one, as SEM will have played in Far North Queensland less than 48 hours prior.

This week: vs South East Melbourne

 

10. CAIRNS TAIPANS

Previous rank: 10

The bottom team on the power rankings is coming off a win after the Snakes beat Brisbane for the third time this season. That result followed an underwhelming performance in Adelaide but let’s not worry about that… after all, in this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of world, the Taipans are coming off a win!

This week: vs South East Melbourne, @ New Zealand (in Cairns)