AUS - Baby Shaq makes his mark; Anstey and Muursepp reunite

Melbourne (NBL) - After four rounds of Oceania's NBL competition, the champions of the past three seasons, the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers and Brisbane Bullets, are once again at the top of the Hummer Championship ladder.

The Tigers (7-0) have been outstanding so far, and appear driven to make up for last year's disappointing grand final loss to Brisbane. Star centre Chris Anstey, who came up short in last season's decider, has emerged from the pre-season in perhaps the best condition of his career.

Not only is the 214cm Anstey in great shape, he has regained the touch around the basket and quick first step that saw him claim league MVP honours two seasons ago, and ULEB Cup MVP honours in 2003. Anstey has re-formed his tremendous combination with former Dallas Mavericks and Unics Kazan teammate Martin Muursepp, who starred for Estonia in the recent FIBA Europe Championship qualifiers.

In the Melbourne derby last Saturday night between the Tigers and South Dragons, Anstey tallied 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in a masterful performance. Muursepp's best game thus far has been 17 points on 5/8 shooting against the Gold Coast Blaze (2-4), the NBL's newest franchise.

The derby was one of the great NBL games, with the Tigers prevailing 101-98. While it was an honorable loss for South, they have now dropped to 0-5 for the season, and playing-coach Shane Heal is under enormous pressure.

The four-time Olympian and dual FIBA World Championship point guard's predicament was not helped by a personal 2/15 shooting display against Melbourne, or his overall clip of 21/72 for the season.

The Dragons this week face the Bullets (5-1), who go into the game after suffering their first loss of the season on Wednesday night against the Sydney Kings (5-0). Both teams feature five players from last year's FIBA World Championships, and the standard of the game befitted two rosters of such quality.

Despite the leagues two best defensive teams facing off, 244 points were scored as internationals from both teams made one remarkable play after another. New Zealander Craig Bradshaw put on a show with 30 points in 32 minutes on 11/15 shooting.

Superstar point guard CJ Bruton left Kings coach Brian Goorjian shaking his head after nailing 33 points, including 13 in the thrilling final period. "In the fourth quarter CJ was hitting them from half court and they were scoring on every possession."

Yet despite all but giving up a 20 point three quarter time lead, the Kings managed to keep their composure and secure a 127-117 win, thanks to some important plays from Russell Hinder and import guard Dontaye Draper.

The 181cm Draper, who scored 19 points against CSKA Moscow in the CBA-Euroleague Challenge, met his match in Bruton, but it was the Kings even spread of eight players in double figures that enabled them to outgun the defending champs. FIBA World Championship duo Luke Kendall (24 points, 5/9 3pt fg) and Mark Worthington (19 points) both continued their excellent starts to the season.

After such a tough encounter the job at hand doesn't get much easier for Sydney, as they now face the West Sydney Razorbacks in what is expected to be a fierce cross-town battle.

The Razorbacks won just five games last season, but have re-tooled under Australian Under 22 coach Rob Beveridge, and former FIBA Junior World Championship stars such as Matthew Knight and Damian Martin, who have recently returned from college in the USA.

The Razorbacks (3-2) have started strongly, but will be desperately hoping for the injured Knight's return for their clash with Sydney. The 207cm power forward has been a rookie revelation, averaging 19.5 points and 12 rebounds in his two games before dislocating his left knee at training.

Rounding out the NBL's top six are the Perth Wildcats (3-2) and Cairns Taipans (4-2), two teams featuring first year sensations of their own. After finishing college at Old Dominion, Alex Loughton spent one year playing for Gandia in Spain, averaging 15 points and 6 boards, before returning to his hometown Wildcats. Loughton has shown great potential so far, averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds in the 48 minute version of the game.

The 206cm power forward has had to play second fiddle to import Shawn Redhage, however, with the versatile import claiming 40 points on 67% shooting, and 7 boards to claim NBL Player of the Week, as Perth overcame the Adelaide 36ers (2-2). 203cm Redhage was also in great form against the defending champion Bullets, amassing 34 points and 17 rebounds at a 75% shooting clip.

But the story of the NBL season so far has been 21 year-old Aussie centre Nathan Jawai. While some are tempted to label him 'Baby Shaq', at 213cm and 128kg there is nothing 'baby' about this big man.

Jawai announced his arrival in his second NBL game with a 27 point, 7 rebound performance against Townsville (1-5). And while he has not been able to replicate that dominance in every contest, Jawai has certainly held his own against some of the league's best centres.

His rare combination of powerful finishes, deft touch and footwork, and surprising athleticism has Australian national team coach Goorjian excited. "I definitely see him as someone that's capable of making the national team and I think he has NBA potential. For a guy that size, he's got live legs, he's really explosive and exciting.

"I think people not only in Cairns, but I think when he goes away and that team plays on the road, people are going to come out to see this kid play," Goorjian said. "I think he will bring bums on the seats, just with his presence, with how he plays the game."

Paul Kennedy
FIBA Official Correspondent in Australia