July 27, 2024 • 7 mins
The pressure is on the Canterbury Rams to go back-to-back in basketball's NBL competition.
The Rams are set to face off against the Auckland Tuatara in today's NBL decider.
Sky Sport's Justin Nelson joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Cells NBL Finals this afternoon. This is the National
Basketball League Canevary Rams Auckland to a TATA tip off
two thirty Cows Stadium, christ Church. Justin Nelson has the
call on Sky. He joins us, Now, Justin, have we
got the Sorry, I just had to put you on
the air. Have we got the best two teams in
the final?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah? I definitely think we have. They finished one and two.
Of course, the Rams went on that sixteen game winning
streak through the season. The Tuatara had a ten game
winning streak. Definitely the best two teams and not surprisingly
given the way they've built their rosters over the last
couple of years. We have a back to back Grand
Final rematch.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Who are the favorites then this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Justin Well, Rams will start favorites. I mean they're on
their home deck. They've had a really good record at
Cow's Stadium over the last couple of years. Interestingly, though,
they did lose to the Tuatara earlier this season at
Cowl Stadium. That was the game when the Tuatara came
out and put together a forty seven point second quarter
(01:14):
to go on and take the win. However, the Rams
on that day didn't have Lucky Old Brick MVP of
the league this season, and didn't have star import kJ
Buff and both of those players will be running around today.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
That's an outlier though. Wasn't it a forty seven point quarter?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It is.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
You don't often see it, I think for memory. They
hit something like nineteen of twenty one shots from the field,
and you know, Corey Webs to Rob Low, Tom Danovitch,
they just all fired and caught I suppose caught the
Rams off guard at that particular time, and it's one
of those quarters in basketball that you just dream of.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
This season has thrown up so many different storylines and
we almost had another one when the Tananhaky Airs were
at cal Stadium a week or so ago against the
Canterbury Rams. What do we go to two periods of
overtime justin Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The best game I've seen since I've been in New
Zealand and speaking to people across the competition, remembering the
sales NBL has been going for forty three years, lots
of people saying this is the best game they've ever
seen in the history of the competition, which is quite
some sort of statement, but it was an amazing game,
double over time and it went right down to the way,
a one point victory for the Rams. The other semifinal
(02:32):
was a three point win for the Tultarer over the ball.
So across two semi finals collectively four points separating those
top four teams. And if we have a Grand Final
like that today, we'll be pretty happy.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah, let's hope we get something similar. Just on the
Canterbury Rams. And you mentioned that incredible unbeaten run that
they went on, or that winning run that they went on.
What were the main planks of that? Why were they
so consistent?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Well, they've got this outstanding young center, this Australian out
of Adelaide place for the Illawarra Hawks and the Aussie
NBL twenty years of age. He since now gone on
and won the MVP of the competition Most Outstanding Young Player,
Youth Player of the Year. A lot of people are
talking about Lockey Oldbrick as a future NBA player. He's
certainly got the star quality and I think we're going
(03:17):
to be looking back in future years and remembering the
year that Locky Oldbrick had playing here in New Zealand.
He's an absolute superstar. He is the key for the
Rams today along with Captain Taylor Britt point Guard, Most
Improved Player All Star five this year. He's had an
outstanding season. But they do have some very experienced players
(03:39):
that they are going up against. For the Tuatara who
have a star started starting five.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I want to get to them in a sec. But
Cal's Stadium, that's where we are this afternoon. How much
of an advantage is home advantage for the Rams and.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Of course the Sales NBL has gone back to home
finals this year, first time in over a decade. It
used to all be at one location and the fans
have certainly turned out. What we do know about Cal Stadium,
it's an old stadium, it's a lot of history, but
it's a cauldron, so it's going to be absolutely chock.
A block today filled with Rams fans will make a
(04:13):
lot of noise. And if you're looking for a six man,
a six player to get you up over the line,
you certainly wanted to be your home fans and I
think we'll get that today.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Let's go to the Tatara then You're right about their
starting five being all star. Cam Glidden, Corey Webster, Rubin Todangi,
Rob Low, Tom Verdanovitch. I can't believe that their team
is in favorite.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, well, I think they go in with high credentials obviously.
I mean this team is loaded with experience. As you said,
Corey Webster, they win today. Corey Webster is a five
time Sales NBL champion. Amazingly, his fourth title was playing
for the Rams last year against the Tuatara, so he's
got the chance to turn things around. Rob Low is
(04:54):
an MVP, he's a Defensive Player of the Year two time.
He's a star in his own right. Cam Gliddon, of course,
the Australian Ruben Tangy has just signed another Ossie NBL contract,
And of course you know Tom Verdanovic is just an
absolute powerhouse. He brings the muscle. If those five players
turn up today and do what they do, this team
(05:16):
will go on and celebrate their first championship.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
There's so much attacking weaponry in both sides, justin But
you know they often say, and it's a cliche, defense
wins championships, but what about grand finals? Does defense win
Grand finals? Or are we looking Are we looking at
at a one to ten to one oh eight game
or an eighty to seventy eight game here this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, I think probably the ladder. These also are the
two best defensive teams in the competition, so they bring
that quality with them. I think the Ladder wouldn't surprise
me if it's if it's under one hundred that gets
the win here today. You can't tell, though, I mean
Tuatara step out and have a forty seven point second
quarter lock they did last time they were in christ Church,
(05:58):
all of a sudden it blows the lid off.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And if we zoom out from the Grand Final and
look at the Sales NBL season as a whole, how
would you rated in terms of, you know, the usual metrics,
fan engagement, exciting games, are competitive league, that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, it keeps getting better and better, doesn't it. You know,
you talk about the competitiveness. We've just spoken about the
semi finals and how close they were. You think crowds,
You know, the Giants sold out just about every game,
the Rams sell out just about every game, The Saints
do the same, the Tatara. You know, Auckland's been a
real struggle ground for the Celles NBL for decades. I
think they sold out seven of their ten games, So
(06:34):
we're seeing an increase in the fandom up and down
the country. We know the attachment or the love affair
that kids have with basketball in particular. They're coming out
in big numbers and look when every game is live
on TV, it certainly helps. But I think the thing
that we will look back on in twenty twenty four
as being a real catalyst for that love and connection
(06:55):
the community has with this game and the Celles NBL
rapidly has obviously been a massive success, and I think
that's got a big part to play going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
All Right, who ages it this afternoon for you?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Rams? Start favorites. There's absolutely no question but if the
Tuatar will lose today in the forty three year history
of the league, they will be the first ever team
to lose three consecutive Grand finals. I can't see it happening.
I think the Aucklanders.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Get up great to chat, Justin have an awesome call
this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Cheers. Thanks Justin Nelson.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
There Skotsport basketball commentator Rams to Atara this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Paine. Listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Cells NBL Finals this afternoon. This is the National
Basketball League Canevary Rams Auckland to a TATA tip off
two thirty Cows Stadium, christ Church. Justin Nelson has the
call on Sky. He joins us, Now, Justin, have we
got the Sorry, I just had to put you on
the air. Have we got the best two teams in
the final?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah? I definitely think we have. They finished one and two.
Of course, the Rams went on that sixteen game winning
streak through the season. The Tuatara had a ten game
winning streak. Definitely the best two teams and not surprisingly
given the way they've built their rosters over the last
couple of years. We have a back to back Grand
Final rematch.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Who are the favorites then this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Justin Well, Rams will start favorites. I mean they're on
their home deck. They've had a really good record at
Cow's Stadium over the last couple of years. Interestingly, though,
they did lose to the Tuatara earlier this season at
Cowl Stadium. That was the game when the Tuatara came
out and put together a forty seven point second quarter
(01:14):
to go on and take the win. However, the Rams
on that day didn't have Lucky Old Brick MVP of
the league this season, and didn't have star import kJ
Buff and both of those players will be running around today.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
That's an outlier though. Wasn't it a forty seven point quarter?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It is.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
You don't often see it, I think for memory. They
hit something like nineteen of twenty one shots from the field,
and you know, Corey Webs to Rob Low, Tom Danovitch,
they just all fired and caught I suppose caught the
Rams off guard at that particular time, and it's one
of those quarters in basketball that you just dream of.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
This season has thrown up so many different storylines and
we almost had another one when the Tananhaky Airs were
at cal Stadium a week or so ago against the
Canterbury Rams. What do we go to two periods of
overtime justin Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
The best game I've seen since I've been in New
Zealand and speaking to people across the competition, remembering the
sales NBL has been going for forty three years, lots
of people saying this is the best game they've ever
seen in the history of the competition, which is quite
some sort of statement, but it was an amazing game,
double over time and it went right down to the way,
a one point victory for the Rams. The other semifinal
(02:32):
was a three point win for the Tultarer over the ball.
So across two semi finals collectively four points separating those
top four teams. And if we have a Grand Final
like that today, we'll be pretty happy.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah, let's hope we get something similar. Just on the
Canterbury Rams. And you mentioned that incredible unbeaten run that
they went on, or that winning run that they went on.
What were the main planks of that? Why were they
so consistent?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Well, they've got this outstanding young center, this Australian out
of Adelaide place for the Illawarra Hawks and the Aussie
NBL twenty years of age. He since now gone on
and won the MVP of the competition Most Outstanding Young Player,
Youth Player of the Year. A lot of people are
talking about Lockey Oldbrick as a future NBA player. He's
certainly got the star quality and I think we're going
(03:17):
to be looking back in future years and remembering the
year that Locky Oldbrick had playing here in New Zealand.
He's an absolute superstar. He is the key for the
Rams today along with Captain Taylor Britt point Guard, Most
Improved Player All Star five this year. He's had an
outstanding season. But they do have some very experienced players
(03:39):
that they are going up against. For the Tuatara who
have a star started starting five.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I want to get to them in a sec. But
Cal's Stadium, that's where we are this afternoon. How much
of an advantage is home advantage for the Rams and.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Of course the Sales NBL has gone back to home
finals this year, first time in over a decade. It
used to all be at one location and the fans
have certainly turned out. What we do know about Cal Stadium,
it's an old stadium, it's a lot of history, but
it's a cauldron, so it's going to be absolutely chock.
A block today filled with Rams fans will make a
(04:13):
lot of noise. And if you're looking for a six man,
a six player to get you up over the line,
you certainly wanted to be your home fans and I
think we'll get that today.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Let's go to the Tatara then You're right about their
starting five being all star. Cam Glidden, Corey Webster, Rubin Todangi,
Rob Low, Tom Verdanovitch. I can't believe that their team
is in favorite.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, well, I think they go in with high credentials obviously.
I mean this team is loaded with experience. As you said,
Corey Webster, they win today. Corey Webster is a five
time Sales NBL champion. Amazingly, his fourth title was playing
for the Rams last year against the Tuatara, so he's
got the chance to turn things around. Rob Low is
(04:54):
an MVP, he's a Defensive Player of the Year two time.
He's a star in his own right. Cam Gliddon, of course,
the Australian Ruben Tangy has just signed another Ossie NBL contract,
And of course you know Tom Verdanovic is just an
absolute powerhouse. He brings the muscle. If those five players
turn up today and do what they do, this team
(05:16):
will go on and celebrate their first championship.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
There's so much attacking weaponry in both sides, justin But
you know they often say, and it's a cliche, defense
wins championships, but what about grand finals? Does defense win
Grand finals? Or are we looking Are we looking at
at a one to ten to one oh eight game
or an eighty to seventy eight game here this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, I think probably the ladder. These also are the
two best defensive teams in the competition, so they bring
that quality with them. I think the Ladder wouldn't surprise
me if it's if it's under one hundred that gets
the win here today. You can't tell, though, I mean
Tuatara step out and have a forty seven point second
quarter lock they did last time they were in christ Church,
(05:58):
all of a sudden it blows the lid off.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And if we zoom out from the Grand Final and
look at the Sales NBL season as a whole, how
would you rated in terms of, you know, the usual metrics,
fan engagement, exciting games, are competitive league, that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, it keeps getting better and better, doesn't it. You know,
you talk about the competitiveness. We've just spoken about the
semi finals and how close they were. You think crowds,
You know, the Giants sold out just about every game,
the Rams sell out just about every game, The Saints
do the same, the Tatara. You know, Auckland's been a
real struggle ground for the Celles NBL for decades. I
think they sold out seven of their ten games, So
(06:34):
we're seeing an increase in the fandom up and down
the country. We know the attachment or the love affair
that kids have with basketball in particular. They're coming out
in big numbers and look when every game is live
on TV, it certainly helps. But I think the thing
that we will look back on in twenty twenty four
as being a real catalyst for that love and connection
(06:55):
the community has with this game and the Celles NBL
rapidly has obviously been a massive success, and I think
that's got a big part to play going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
All Right, who ages it this afternoon for you?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Rams? Start favorites. There's absolutely no question but if the
Tuatar will lose today in the forty three year history
of the league, they will be the first ever team
to lose three consecutive Grand finals. I can't see it happening.
I think the Aucklanders.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Get up great to chat, Justin have an awesome call
this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Cheers. Thanks Justin Nelson.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
There Skotsport basketball commentator Rams to Atara this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Paine. Listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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