The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 18 of the 2021/22 NBL season.
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Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane BulletsThursday Mar 31, 7:30pm |
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The Hawks soared very, very high last round in Victoria, causing chaos in their 92-77 win over United. They won every single quarter as they stung this season’s ladder-leading team, starting off with a Q1 25-19 victory and ending Q4 prevailing 22-19. No matter which way you look at it, it was a huge result for Illawarra that keeps them two wins clear off 5th place, flying deep into 4th (14 vs 12). Antonius Cleveland poured in 20PTS, while Tyler Harvey went 2/4 from deep, en route to 19PTS. While all of Duop Reath – 15PTS, 5REB and Justinian Jessup – 10PTS, 5REB all chipped in too. And off the bench Tim Coenraad was strong as well with 4/7 shooting for 11PTS, 7REB, 2AST and 1STL, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes stats included 7AST. Playing at home against the floundering Bullets who have an 8-14 record, they are well-primed to swoop in and collect another all-important win.
Cleveland! Cleveland! Cleveland! The 2X Dallas Mavericks Guard scored 20PTS and had 8REB, 2AST, 4STL and 2BLK in their upset win against Melbourne last weekend. Prior to that in his sides 91-65 thrashing of Tasmania he produced 22PTS, 7REB, 2AST and 3STL. Before that his side edged S.E.M by six-points in what was an incredibly frantic affair in Wollongong. He shot 8/13 for 16PTS, along with 5REB, 4AST, 2STL and 1BLK. He is very safely in form at the moment and his quick movements ability with the ball, as well as his ability to shoot from deep could potentially cause the Bullets a lot of management problems in this affair.
Betting tips: Pick the Hawks to prevail at $1.30 (Sportsbet)
Also look for the total points scored to be 178+ at $1.89 (Sportsbet)
Also back the Hawks to have the highest scoring quarter at $1.60 (Bet365)
And look for them to reach twenty points first at $1.55 (Bet365)
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Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpersFriday Apr 01, 7:30pm |
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Adelaide have prevailed in four of their last seven matches at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, including owning a pair of crucial back-to-back wins, having beaten S.E.M last time out 100-92 and prior to that, Cairns 83-57. Meanwhile for ‘Tassie,’ they have won six of their last eight road games, including three on the trot. During the most recent of those at the Nissan Arena, they edged the Bullets 84-82, thanks to a late made FT from Clint Steindl with 00:07 left on the clock, as well as a pair of earlier converted FTs from Josh Adams. Steindl finished the match with 7PTS, 4REB and 1BLK off the pine, while MiKyle McIntosh was also influential off the bench with 12PTS, 5REB, 3AST and 4STL. Each of Josh Magette and Jack McVeigh also had 15PTS each, while Josh Adams scored 14PTS, as he shot 3/5 from inside the arc. Now as good as the 36ers were last round, including Daniel Johnson’s 22PTS & 10REBS, with the JackJumpers hotly gunning for a finals spot, they should be a tad too much for the hosts to handle this match.
If any player can help carve out a miraculous upset in the NBL then leave it to former Melbourne Tiger, 2X NBL Rebounding Leader and 36er veteran and 22 & 10 guy Daniel Johnson to get the job done. Prior to their win, they were pushed around a bit by Melbourne, but he still locked down 18PTS, 4REB and 1BLK, shooting a respectable 7/15 from the floor. Scoring only 9PTS against Cairns before that was a letdown for himself personally, but before that it was 12PTS, 4REB, 1AST and 1BLK against the Breakers. One problem Tasmania have suffered from this campaign is from time-to-time they’ve really struggled on the offensive side of things, with their shooting for whatever reason (whether it be due to the opposition, poor form, or both) getting clamped up. If he were to perk his side up and help get his lesser teammates involved, then he may just help invoke an unexpected result, even if it is a close defeat at the end of the fulltime siren.
Betting tips: Back the JackJumpers to prevail at $1.95 (Sportsbet)
Also look for the total points scored to be 164+ at $1.90 (Sportsbet)
Additionally look for the highest scoring half to be H2 at $2.00 (Bet365)
While you can also pick Tasmania to reach 40+ PTS in H1 at $1.52 (Bet365)
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Cairns Taipans vs South East Melbourne PhoenixSaturday Apr 02, 8:00pm |
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As the Taipans prepare to go H2H against the Phoenix they do so having lost six of the nine games that have ever been contested between the two sides. As the Phoenix have most recently collected a pair of 86-74 and 87-77 wins over them, in Cairns and Melbourne, respectively. The earliest of those witnessed former NBA D-League All-Star Brandon Ashley and ex-Milwaukee Buck Xavier Munford unleash for 25PTS, 4REB, 1AST and 23PTS, 5REB and 4AST respectively! As the pair of superstars tore the opposition to shreds. Whilst Mitch Creek was also a vital part of the puzzle with 14PTS, 8REB and 2AST. Having just lost 100-92 against Adelaide in Adelaide, South East Melbourne will no doubt be seeking to avenge their eight-point defeat in style against the NBL’s second-worst ranked team. Despite the loss, Creek still secured 27PTS, 12REB, while Munford bagged 24PTS, as he shot 10/16 on none three-point attempts. That sort of expansive play also saw Kyle Adnam bag 9PTS and Cam Gliddon 8PTS off the bench should pay dividends against a 6-14 Taipans team and one that has won just three games at home all season long (and lost seven to compound their woes).
Scott Machado has called all of the Lakers, Warriors, and Rockets home throughout his rather illustrious playing career. In 2020 he also made the All-NBL First Team and was the NBL Fans MVP for that same season. While the Queens, New York born PG has also represented Brazil on the national stage. Yet this season has been a struggle for the 31-year-old, as he’s averaging just 9.9PPG and 4.9APG. Significantly down from his 15.6PPG and 7.0APG of last season. Injuries have unfortunately hampered him badly, however playing against a side that arguably prioritises their offence more then they do their defence should give the BIG-TIME player a chance to wind back the clock and display the vintage form that we all know he’s capable of producing on a nightly/weekly basis! Machado it’s over to you now!
Betting tips: When the match odds become available, pick the Phoenix to win the match, win Q1, win Q4 and win the race to twenty points first.
Best Bets of the Round – Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets:
Pick the Hawks to prevail at $1.30 (Sportsbet)
Also look for the total points scored to be 178+ at $1.89 (Sportsbet)
Also back the Hawks to have the highest scoring quarter at $1.60 (Bet365)
And look for them to reach twenty points first at $1.55 (Bet365)