MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - It's easy at this time of year, with club competitions in full swing everywhere, to forget about next year's Olympics, but you can bet the players have Rio firmly in the back of their minds.

Here's my look at the form of four Australian and New Zealand based players who could feature at the Olympics and/or FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments next year and what their current form means for their respective teams.

Tom Abercrombie, New Zealand Breakers, 14.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 41 percent three-point shooting
Do you remember back in 2010, when Abercrombie was second among small forwards in rebounding at the FIBA Basketball World Cup with 6.8 boards, and third overall in offensive rebounds? It was pretty darn impressive for a debutante on the big stage.

But sometime after that his appetite for caroms went missing. His rebound numbers in the next two NBL seasons (5.5 and 4.9) were respectable, but after his serious ankle injury in 2012 he largely stopped cleaning the glass, culminating in collecting just 3.7 rebounds at Spain 2014.

The good news is, finally injury free, the jumping-jack is back on boards, pulling in 7.9 rebounds per game so far this NBL season. Given Tom is known to fade badly out of games offensively when not seeing a lot of the ball, this side of his game is important for the Tall Blacks to ensure he’s a constant contributor.

He's also stepping up as a more consistent offensive force, scoring 43 points in two games against the tough-as-nails Perth defence, and 24 in his 200th game against ladder-leaders Melbourne.

Abercrombie powers through Prewster for the 2 handed dunk #HardBall @NZBreakers @SydneyKings https://t.co/ZPZ2GiYM0x

— NBL (@NBL) November 19, 2015

Nathan Jawai, Perth Wildcats, 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Jawai was put in the Boomers squad in 2014 as a project. Out of shape after numerous serious physical conditions, the 2.08m behemoth was seen as a guy who can make a serious impact in the international game when he is fit.

He signed with Perth this season to continue working under Boomers coaches and conditioning staff, and while that is still a work in progress, he has shown off a passing game that we hadn't previously seen and is simply exquisite for a man of his size.

The Wildcats play a very poised and disciplined style, with Jawai often the playmaker from the low-post, and given the Boomers have struggled at times to create good looks in slow-down games, he is certainly showing why coach Andrej Lemanis invested so much faith in him.

To get a ticket to Rio he needs to get fitter, but his ability to see the floor and pass the ball so well means he can create more room for his low-post game, a place where the Boomers aren’t overly-endowed with scorers. 

A reverse lay up from the man they call Outback Shaq #HardBall @PerthWildcats @CairnsTaipans https://t.co/wbMPls8a5r

— NBL (@NBL) November 22, 2015

AJ Ogilvy, Illawarra Hawks, 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks
AJ is playing with enormous energy, registering double-figure rebounding, multiple steals and more than one block on six occasions as well as showing his ability to set good picks and dive hard to the basket to finish, and leading the NBL with four offensive boards per game. 

He is a long shot to make the Boomers next year given he hasn't made the final team since the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship, but he offers a level of speed, mobility, athleticism and offensive rebounding which Australia's other big men don't, traits that are a good fit for Lemanis' system.

The old question of his toughness was raised again with sub-par performances against the world-class Perth frontcourt, but he responded with 25 and 10 in his last match-up with Jawai, Matt Knight and Co.

Lemanis should keep an eye on his upcoming performances against Perth and New Zealand's quality bigs, and if Ogilvy isn't a part of the Rio campaign he should be looked at closely for 2017 and beyond if he can show he’s hardened up.

Stunning put away by Ogilvy #HardBall #nbl16 @illawarrahawks @PerthWildcats https://t.co/GDizWJxz9J

— NBL (@NBL) October 25, 2015

Kirk Penney, Illawarra Hawks, 19.2 points, 3.6 assists and 41 percent three-point shooting
Everyone knows Kirk can shoot, and that he's one of the world's elite when it comes to moving without the ball, but what has impressed this NBL season with Illawarra is his much-improved passing game.

He handed out eight assists on Wednesday against Sydney, and 12 in the three games before that, showing both the ability to find shooters and get into the lane for dump-offs, his 3.7 per game average easily the best of his pro career. 

Given he's no longer a superstar scorer at international level, and Corey Webster and Abercrombie have developed into legitimate targets, this new aspect of his game could help define a new role should he decide to pull on the Tall Blacks singlet again.

Penney provides for Ogilvy to stuff one home #HardBall @illawarrahawks @SydneyKings https://t.co/has58S3Rdo

— NBL (@NBL) November 25, 2015

Who else?
Adam Gibson, Cam Gliddon and Damian Martin appear to be the other NBL-based Aussies with some claim on a ticket to Rio, while there are Kiwis aplenty in action Downunder.

Corey Webster is setting the league alight offensively, but perhaps Alex Pledger and Jarrod Kenny are the most interesting stories as we peer ahead to 2016. I'll have a look at all these guys a little down the track.

And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the curious question of Vinnie or Bubbles - Melbourne United teammates Todd Blanchfield and Chris Goulding - that's coming up too.

Goulding goes coast to coast #HardBall @MelbUnitedHQ @SydneyKings https://t.co/EbIuydulJn

— NBL (@NBL) November 1, 2015

Paulo Kennedy

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