NBL by the Numbers – Grand Final Game Two

Perth Wildcats @ Wollongong Hawks
Game Two NBL Grand Final series (best-of-three)
Tuesday 9 March - 7:30PM
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

The Wollongong ahm Hawks return home in Game Two of their Grand Final series against the Perth Wildcats facing a 1-0 deficit which history says is going to take a remarkable feat to overcome.  Since the best-of Grand Final series was first introduced in 1986, there have been 24 Grand Final series completed.  In 21 out of those 24 series, the team that has taken Game One has also gone on to win the series.  That means there are just three teams (Melbourne in 2008, SE Melbourne in 1996 and Perth themselves in 1995) that have ever bounced back from a Game One loss to take the title.

The good news for the Hawks is that they have the best home record in the NBL this season, having gone 13-1 at ‘The Sandpit’ in Wollongong. Perth went a less than stellar 5-9 in games on the road, and also dropped both of their clashes with the Hawks in Wollongong (94-92 and 109-84). 

Wollongong are currently on a five-game home win streak against the Wildcats, with the last Perth victory at The Sandpit being back on 10 February 2006.  Wollongong have in fact won nine of their last eleven meetings with Perth in Wollongong.  Their 25-point thumping of the Wildcats back on 12 December this season was also Wollongong’s largest ever home win over Perth and second largest win ever.

 All-time in NBL Grand Final games, teams playing on the road have gone a combined 33-48, showing that the odds are very much in favour of the home team.  In the two Grand Final games that the Hawks have hosted previously, they have gone 1-1.  They defeated Townsville in 2001 but lost to the Sydney Kings in 2005.  The Wildcats are 4-4 all-time in the eight Grand Final games they have played on the road. 

The Perth win in Game One moved their all-time record against the Hawks in all matches to 49-28 in the Wildcats’ favour.  In games played between the two teams at ‘The Sandpit’ in Wollongong the Hawks lead however 22-16. 

Whilst the move to a 40-minute game this season from the 48-minute version played in most years was a major factor, Wollongong’s 64 points in Game One was the third-lowest score ever in NBL Grand Final history.  The lowest score was 54, scored by Nunawading against Launceston in 1981.  The 75 points scored by Wollongong in Game One equalled the record for the lowest-ever score by a winning team in a Grand Final.  Two other teams previously won Grand Final games with a score of 75 – Canberra in 1983 against West Adelaide and Launceston in 1981 against Nunawading.

Wollongong’s Cameron Tragardh went into Game One having averaged a team-high 16.0 points in his four previous matches against Perth this season, but was held to just five points on Friday night.  That was Tragardh’s second-lowest score of the season behind only the two points he scored on 3 December against New Zealand when he played a season-low 16 minutes and 28 seconds. 

Hawks rookie Tim Coenraad however had an excellent night out in Game One, scoring his second-highest points total of his NBL career thus far.  His 16 points trailed behind only the 19 he scored against Gold Coast on February 6. 

If the Wildcats win tonight, Perth veteran Martin Cattalini will become just the sixth player ever to have won four or more NBL championships. David Stiff won the most championships as a player with six, while Basketball Australia Chief Executive Larry Sengstock ranks second with five. 

Most Championships (player)
6 – David Stiff
5 – Larry Sengstock
4 – John Dorge, Ricky Grace, Paul Rees
3 – Gary Ball, Mark Bradtke, CJ Bruton, Martin Cattalini, James Crawford, Mark Davis, Scott Fisher, Jamie Kennedy, Leroy Loggins, Brett Maher, Herb McEachin, Dave Nelson, Scott Ninnis, Rupert Sapwell, Brad Sheridan, Robert Sibley, Phil Smyth, Andrew Vlahov, Chris Anstey, David Barlow

Most Championships (coach)
6 – Brian Goorjian
4 - Brian Kerle
3 – Phil Smyth
2 – Lindsay Gaze, Bob Turner, Alan Westover
1 – Murray Arnold, Alan Black, Brett Brown, Cal Bruton, Ken Cole, Jim Ericksen, Adrian Hurley, Brendan Joyce, Jerry Lee, Bruce Palmer, Ken Richardson, Joey Wright

If the Perth Wildcats take home the hardware tonight, coach Rob Beveridge will become just the sixth head coach to win a title in their first year at a club.  Last year’s championship coach Brian Goorjian is the only coach to have achieved that feat at multiple clubs, having done it three times.  

Coaches who won a Championship in their first year at a club
1981 - Jim Ericksen (Launceston)
1983 – Bob Turner (Canberra)
1991 – Murray Arnold (Perth)
1992 – Brian Goorjian (South East Melbourne)
1998 – Phil Smyth (Adelaide)
2003 – Brian Goorjian (Sydney)
2006 - Alan Westover (Melbourne)
2009 – Brian Goorjian (South)

This season will see the 32nd NBL Champion crowned and Perth have the chance to become the most successful NBL team of all time if they can win their fifth title.

NBL Titles by Club
4 – Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Melbourne Tigers
3 – Canberra Cannons, Brisbane Bullets, Sydney Kings,
2 – North Melbourne Giants, South East Melbourne Magic, St. Kilda Saints,
1 – Launceston Casino City, West Adelaide Bearcats, Wollongong Hawks, South Dragons