2014–15 NBL season
The 2014–15 NBL season was the 37th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams contested the league. The regular season was played between 10 October 2014 [1] and 22 February 2015, followed by a post-season featuring the top four in late February and March 2015.
2014–15 NBL season | |
---|---|
League | National Basketball League |
Sport | Basketball |
Duration | October 2014–March 2015 |
Number of teams | 8 |
TV partner(s) | Network Ten (Australia) One (Australia) Sky Sport (New Zealand) NBL.TV (online) LiveBasketball.TV (online) |
Regular season | |
Top seed | Cairns Taipans |
Season MVP | Brian Conklin (Townsville) |
Top scorer | Josh Childress (Sydney) |
Finals | |
Champions | New Zealand Breakers (4th title) |
Runners-up | Cairns Taipans |
Finals MVP | Cedric Jackson (New Zealand) |
Australian broadcast rights to the season are held by free-to-air network Channel Ten and its digital sports sister station One, in the final year of a five-year deal. In New Zealand, Sky Sport are the official league broadcaster, in the final year of a three-year deal.
During the off-season the Melbourne Tigers were rebranded as Melbourne United.
Pre-season
Sydney Kings pre-season
. |
8 August 2014 |
Sydney Kings 76, Eastern Kentucky University 65 |
Sutherland Basketball Stadium, Sydney |
Wollongong Hawks pre-season
. |
10 August 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 106, Eastern Kentucky University 99 (OT) |
Beaton Park Stadium, Wollongong |
Cairns Taipans pre-season
. |
14 August 2014 |
Cairns Taipans 77, Eastern Kentucky University 75 |
Bendigo Bank Basketball Stadium, Cairns |
. |
26 August 2014 |
Cairns Taipans 113, University of Hartford 80 |
Bendigo Bank Basketball Stadium, Cairns |
Melbourne United pre-season
Adelaide 36ers pre-season
Perth Wildcats pre-season
. |
5 September 2014 |
Perth Wildcats 98, SBL All-Stars 59 |
Western Australian Basketball Centre, Perth Attendance: 1,880 |
. |
28 September 2014 |
Perth Wildcats 72, Melbourne United 71 |
Margaret River Recreation Centre, Margaret River |
. |
29 September 2014 |
Perth Wildcats 90, Melbourne United 83 |
Western Australian Basketball Centre, Perth |
Townsville Crocodiles pre-season
New Zealand Breakers pre-season
2014 NBL Pre-Season Blitz
A pre-season tournament featuring all eight teams was held on 19–21 September 2014 at NAB Stadium, Brisbane. The winner will receive the second annual Loggins-Bruton Cup.
Townsville Crocodiles are pre-season champions.
Regular season
Round 1
. |
10 October 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 92, Townsville Crocodiles 83 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 3,277 |
Network Ten |
12 October 2014 |
Melbourne United 61, Cairns Taipans 89 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 5,704 |
. |
12 October 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 83, Adelaide 36ers 97 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,436 |
Round 2
One |
19 October 2014 |
Melbourne United 95, New Zealand Breakers 74 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 3,978 |
. |
19 October 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 89, Cairns Taipans 91 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,716 |
Round 3
23 October 2014 |
New Zealand Breakers 76, Cairns Taipans 85 |
North Shore Events Centre, Auckland Attendance: 2,872 |
. |
25 October 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 92, Melbourne United 81 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,496 |
Network Ten |
26 October 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 77, New Zealand Breakers 79 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,400 |
Round 4
31 October 2014 |
New Zealand Breakers 84, Townsville Crocodiles 70 |
Vector Arena, Auckland Attendance: 6,106 |
One |
31 October 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 64, Perth Wildcats 83 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,376 |
. |
2 November 2014 |
Melbourne United 88, Wollongong Hawks 75 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 5,451 |
. |
2 November 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 102, Perth Wildcats 80 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,412 |
Round 5
One |
7 November 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 53, Sydney Kings 82 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,475 |
. |
9 November 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 80, New Zealand Breakers 87 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,552 |
Round 6
14 November 2014 |
New Zealand Breakers 71, Wollongong Hawks 55 |
Vector Arena, Auckland Attendance: 4,708 |
Round 7
21 November 2014 |
New Zealand Breakers 80, Melbourne United 72 |
Vector Arena, Auckland Attendance: 4,643 |
Network Ten |
23 November 2014 |
Melbourne United 91, Perth Wildcats 76 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 5,233 |
. |
23 November 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 107, Wollongong Hawks 75 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,370 |
Round 8
. |
28 November 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 90, Townsville Crocodiles 76 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,200 |
Round 9
. |
5 December 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 96, Adelaide 36ers 84 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,389 |
Round 10
. |
13 December 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 82, Sydney Kings 77 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,228 |
Network Ten |
14 December 2014 |
Melbourne United 87, New Zealand Breakers 92 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 5,768 |
Round 11
19 December 2014 |
New Zealand Breakers 96, Townsville Crocodiles 84 |
North Shore Events Centre, Auckland Attendance: 3,719 |
One |
19 December 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 98, Melbourne United 103 (OT) |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 1,723 |
Round 12
. |
27 December 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 93, Cairns Taipans 100 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,117 |
Network Ten |
28 December 2014 |
Melbourne United 80, Perth Wildcats 81 (OT) |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 6,754 |
Round 13
. |
31 December 2014 |
Wollongong Hawks 77, Perth Wildcats 86 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,445 |
. |
31 December 2014 |
Townsville Crocodiles 93, Sydney Kings 92 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,885 |
. |
3 January 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 75, Cairns Taipans 79 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,705 |
Round 14
8 January 2015 |
New Zealand Breakers 98, Wollongong Hawks 91 (OT) |
North Shore Events Centre, Auckland Attendance: 3,992 |
One |
11 January 2015 |
Wollongong Hawks 84, New Zealand Breakers 86 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,080 |
. |
11 January 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 73, Cairns Taipans 78 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 1,645 |
Round 15
. |
16 January 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 81, Sydney Kings 89 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: TBA |
18 January 2015 |
New Zealand Breakers 88, Melbourne United 75 |
Vector Arena, Auckland Attendance: 6,001 |
Round 16
One |
23 January 2015 |
Wollongong Hawks 85, Adelaide 36ers 89 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,200 |
. |
23 January 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 85, Perth Wildcats 93 (OT) |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: TBA |
Round 17
29 January 2015 |
New Zealand Breakers 90, Perth Wildcats 79 |
North Shore Events Centre, Auckland Attendance: 3,605 |
One |
30 January 2015 |
Wollongong Hawks 93, Melbourne United 82 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,033 |
Round 18
. |
7 February 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 79, New Zealand Breakers 71 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: TBA |
Round 19
. |
14 February 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 105, Melbourne United 68 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: TBA |
Round 20
. |
20 February 2015 |
Townsville Crocodiles 82, Wollongong Hawks 66 |
Townsville RSL Stadium, Townsville Attendance: TBA |
Network Ten |
22 February 2015 |
Melbourne United 95, Sydney Kings 92 |
Hisense Arena, Melbourne Attendance: 10,300 |
. |
22 February 2015 |
Wollongong Hawks 85, Adelaide 36ers 105 |
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Attendance: 2,366 |
Ladder
The Cairns Taipans became the first regional centre team to win the minor premiership since the Geelong Cats did so in 1984.
# | Team | Pld | Won | Lost | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | For | Against | % Pts | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 21 | 7 | 4-1 | W3 | 12-2 | 9-5 | 2,275 | 2,117 | 107.46% | 75.00% |
2 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 19 | 9 | 2-3 | L1 | 10-4 | 9-5 | 2,343 | 2,275 | 102.99% | 67.86% |
3 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 17 | 11 | 5-0 | W10 | 9-5 | 8-6 | 2,501 | 2,478 | 100.93% | 60.71% |
4 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 16 | 12 | 3-2 | W1 | 10-4 | 6-8 | 2,260 | 2,171 | 104.10% | 57.14% |
5 | Melbourne United | 28 | 13 | 15 | 2-3 | W2 | 8-6 | 5-9 | 2,333 | 2,379 | 98.07% | 46.43% |
6 | Townsville Crocodiles | 28 | 11 | 17 | 3-2 | L1 | 8-6 | 3-11 | 2,343 | 2,341 | 100.09% | 39.29% |
7 | Sydney Kings | 28 | 9 | 19 | 0-5 | L7 | 5-9 | 4-10 | 2,320 | 2,408 | 96.35% | 32.14% |
8 | Wollongong Hawks | 28 | 6 | 22 | 2-3 | L2 | 4-10 | 2-12 | 2,154 | 2,360 | 91.27% | 21.43% |
Ladder Progression
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide 36ers | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
Cairns Taipans | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Melbourne United | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
New Zealand Breakers | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Perth Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
Sydney Kings | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
Townsville Crocodiles | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
Wollongong Hawks | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Finals Series
The 2014–15 National Basketball League Finals will be played in February and March 2015, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final and final series, where the higher seed hosts the first and third games.
Playoff Seedings
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
Playoff bracket
Semi-finals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||
1 | Cairns Taipans | 71 | 80 | X | |||||||||
4 | Perth Wildcats | 64 | 66 | X | |||||||||
1 | Cairns Taipans | 71 | 81 | X | |||||||||
2 | New Zealand Breakers | 86 | 83 | X | |||||||||
2 | New Zealand Breakers | 111 | 94 | X | |||||||||
3 | Adelaide 36ers | 82 | 83 | X | |||||||||
Semi-finals
One |
26 February 2015 |
New Zealand Breakers 111, Adelaide 36ers 82 |
Vector Arena, Auckland Attendance: 3,833 |
Grand Final
Network Ten |
8 March 2015 |
New Zealand Breakers 83, Cairns Taipans 81 |
North Shore Events Centre, Auckland Attendance: 4,400 |
Season statistics
Statistics leaders
Category | Player | Games played | Totals | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|
Points per game | Josh Childress (Sydney Kings) | 18 | 379 | 21.1 |
Rebounds per game | Josh Childress (Sydney Kings) | 18 | 166 | 9.2 |
Assists per game | Cedric Jackson (New Zealand Breakers) | 28 | 167 | 6.0 |
Steals per game | Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats) | 28 | 73 | 2.6 |
Blocks per game | Mickell Gladness (Townsville Crocodiles) | 27 | 60 | 2.2 |
Field goal percentage | Ekene Ibekwe (New Zealand Breakers) | 28 | 127-218 | 58.3% |
Three-point field goal percentage | Daniel Kickert (Melbourne United) | 28 | 49-96 | 51.0% |
Free throw percentage | Stephen Weigh (Cairns Taipans) | 28 | 34-38 | 89.5% |
Note: regular season only (minimum 14 games) and excluding negligible attempts
Top 10 Attendances
Attendance | Round | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Weekday | Time of Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13,559 | 15 | 16 January 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 102-106 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
13,316 | 15 | 21 January 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 78-86 | Melbourne United | Perth Arena | Wednesday | Night |
13,241 | 19 | 15 February 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 87-89 (2OT) | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
12,903 | 1 | 10 October 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 70-80 | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
12,877 | 6 | 14 November 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 93-78 | Townsville Crocodiles | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
12,711 | 17 | 1 February 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 80-61 | Sydney Kings | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
12,659 | 20 | 22 February 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 81-71 | Townsville Crocodiles | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
12,469 | 3 | 24 October 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 84-63 | Sydney Kings | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
12,266 | 18 | 6 February 2015 | Perth Wildcats | 65-54 | Cairns Taipans | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
11,731 | 10 | 14 December 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 97-76 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
Awards
Player of the Week
Player of the Month
Month | Player | Team |
---|---|---|
October | Scottie Wilbekin | Cairns Taipans |
November | Josh Childress | Sydney Kings |
December | Jordan McRae | Melbourne United |
January | Brock Motum | Adelaide 36ers |
February | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
Coach of the Month
Month | Player | Team |
---|---|---|
October | Aaron Fearne | Cairns Taipans |
November | Dean Vickerman | New Zealand Breakers |
December | Dean Vickerman | New Zealand Breakers |
January | Joey Wright | Adelaide 36ers |
February | Joey Wright | Adelaide 36ers |
Pre-season
- Most Valuable Player (Ray Borner Medal): Mickell Gladness, Townsville Crocodiles
Season
- Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Brian Conklin, Townsville Crocodiles
- Rookie of the Year: Angus Brandt, Sydney Kings
- Best Defensive Player: Damian Martin, Perth Wildcats
- Best Sixth Man: Cameron Tragardh, Cairns Taipans
- Most Improved Player: Todd Blanchfield, Townsville Crocodiles
- Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Aaron Fearne, Cairns Taipans
- Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
- All-NBL First Team:
- All-NBL Second Team:
Finals
- Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Cedric Jackson, New Zealand Breakers
References
- "NBL Releases 2014/15 Season Draw". NBL.com.au. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.