NBL Club Chiefs say Tigers to Repeat

Whilst the Brisbane Bullets have been tabbed as the team most likely to finish the 2006/07 Philips Championship season on top of the table, the Melbourne Tigers are favoured to repeat as premiers in a poll of all 12 National Basketball League (NBL) club Chief Executive Officers.

In its first ever pre-season poll of the men who run the 12 Philips Championship teams, the NBL asked the club chief execs 25 questions on a range of topics about the upcoming season, which tips-off on 20 September.

After a stellar off-season which saw Brisbane recruit superstars CJ Bruton, Ebi Ere and Dusty Rychart, the CEOs of the Philips Championship tabbed the Bullets as favourites to take out the minor premiership.

The bad news for Joey Wright’s Brisbane team is that the CEOs think the Melbourne Tigers will make it two in a row and win the Philips Championship title in 2006/07.

The New Zealand Breakers, who have failed to make the Finals in their two years in the competition, may be about to prove that third time’s the charm, with the CEOs tipping them as the likely big improvers in season 2006/07.

Tigers star and reigning league Most Valuable Player Chris Anstey reaffirmed his status as a megastar of the Philips Championship, getting the nod from the CEOs as both the NBL’s best centre and the player most would choose first to build a team around.

According to the poll, Townsville’s infamous ‘Swamp’ arena is a great place to be if you love high-flying acrobatics. Crocs rising star Brad Newley was named as the Philips Championship’s best athlete while fellow Townsville player Larry Abney won the vote as Best Dunker.

Adelaide 36ers legend Brett Maher took out the honours in the ‘Crunch Time’ category, being named as the player most likely to come up with a clutch play down the stretch, while teammate Willie Farley was named as the player most CEOs would pay to see in action. Farley also won the Best Shooting Guard category while the 36ers Steve Breheny was named as the Best Assistant Coach.

Voting in the head coaching categories is sure to cause some controversy in Sydney, with Kings supremo Brian Goorjian taking out neither the Best Defensive Coach nor the Best Offensive Coach. Wollongong’s Brendan Joyce and Adelaide’s Phil Smyth took out those honours respectively, with Goorjian – the NBL’s all-time winningest coach – relegated to second and third.

Below are the top finishers in each of the CEO’s Poll categories.

2006 Philips Championship CEO’s Poll

If you were starting a team from scratch, which current NBL player would be your first recruit?
Chris Anstey 8 votes, Larry Abney 2 votes, Glen Saville 1 vote, Jason Smith 1 vote.

Who is the best defensive head coach in the league?
Brendan Joyce 8, Brian Goorjian 3, Al Westover 1

Who is the best offensive head coach in the league?
Phil Smyth 8, Al Westover 3, Brian Goorjian 1

Who is the best assistant coach in the league?
Steve Breheny 9, Eric Lowe 2, Warrick Giddey 1

Who is the best athlete in the league?
Brad Newley 4, Dave Thomas 2, Sam Mackinnon 2, Glen Saville 1, Cortez Groves 1, Liam Rush 1, Larry Abney 1

Who is the best sixth man in the league?
David Barlow 4, Neil Mottram 2, Stephen Hoare 2, David Stiff 1, Mick Hill 1, Matt Shanahan 1, Adam Caporn 1

Who is the best dunker in the league?
Larry Abney 6, Cortez Groves 4, Liam Rush 1, Rolan Roberts 1

Who is the best pure shooter in NBL?
John Rillie 6, Brett Maher 2, Stephen Black 1, Jason Smith 1, Darryl Corletto 1, Cortez Groves 1

Who is the best point guard in the NBL?
CJ Bruton 7, Darryl McDonald 2, Cortez Groves 1, John Rillie 1, Jason Smith 1

Who is the best shooting guard in the NBL?
Willie Farley 4, Jason Smith 3, Cortez Groves 3, John Rillie 1, Brett Maher 1

Who is the best small forward in the NBL?
Glen Saville 5, Dave Thomas 2, Brad Newley 1, Dave Thomas 1, Sam Mackinnon 1, Dusty Rychart 1, Gary Boodnikoff 1

Who is the best power forward in the NBL?
Larry Abney 5, Dusty Rychart 3, Martin Cattalini 2, Chris Anstey 1, Shawn Redhage 1

Who is the best centre in the NBL?
Chris Anstey 8, Mark Bradtke 4

Who is the most versatile player in the NBL (talented in multiple positions)?
Sam Mackinnon 5, Dave Thomas 3, Darnell Mee 2, Willie Farley 1, Rashad Tucker 1

Which current NBL player constantly improves themselves the most, year in year out?
David Barlow 4, Peter Crawford 3, Martin Cattalini 1, Darryl McDonald 1, Gary Boodnikoff 1, Matt Shanahan 1, Neil Mottram 1

Which current NBL player would you pay to see?
Willie Farley 4, Darryl McDonald 2, Cortez Groves 2, Chris Anstey 2, Shane Heal 2

Who is the NBL's most underrated player?
Stephen Hoare 4, David Barlow 2, Anthony Stewart 1, Dave Thomas 1, Darryl McDonald 1, Daniel Egan 1, Mick Hill 1, Dillon Boucher 1

Who is the best passer in the NBL?
Darryl McDonald 7, CJ Bruton 2, Darnell Mee 2, Derek Rucker 1

Who is the best ball handler in the NBL?
Darryl McDonald 7, CJ Bruton 5

Which team will win the minor premiership this season?
Brisbane Bullets 7, Melbourne Tigers 5

Which team will win the championship this season?
Melbourne Tigers 6, Brisbane Bullets 5, Cairns Taipans 1

Which team will be the NBL's most improved in 2006/07?
New Zealand Breakers 7, Townsville Crocodiles 4, Brisbane Bullets 1

Which team will see their fortunes decline the most in 2006/07?
Sydney Kings 8, Perth Wildcats 2, Adelaide 36ers 1, Cairns Taipans 1

Which team do you most enjoy watching?
Melbourne Tigers 6, Adelaide 36ers 4, Wollongong Hawks 2

Which NBL player is most likely to come up with a clutch play down the stretch?
Brett Maher 4, Darryl McDonald 3, Chris Anstey 2, Darnell Mee 1, Jason Smith 1, Cortez Groves 1

Note: CEOs could note vote for their own team