Loeliger tackles NBL’s big issues

The NBL season has finally tipped off after months of uncertainty due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Brian Goorjian’s Hawks are flying, Melbourne United look every bit championship favourites while contenders Cairns are yet to flex their muscles.

NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger delves into some of basketball’s biggest issues.

COLOURFUL TIME-OUT WARNING:

Adelaide coach Conner Henry captured everyone’s attention during the 36ers’ opening game when he unloaded on his team during a time-out.

Henry had some choice words to say, but it was his use of the term “you over dribbled” that captured up to one million views online globally.

Loeliger likes the coaches’ raw emotion during time-outs but stressed there was a fine line between entertainment and inappropriate language for the league’s family-first target audience.

“There has been communication with the clubs since the first round reminding them of our expectations,” he said.

“We are trying to strike that balance between being entertaining and not too heavy-handed but at the same time just realigning people with our core values.

“The Henry content was rich and engaging, but you would just prefer it without the expletives.

“I think what we saw on the weekend was that we had a coach returning to the NBL after a long period elsewhere and not necessarily being familiar with the protocols that we have in place.

“I guess if he was more aware of the way in which the coaches can signal their intent to our TV production guys that they are about to give the team a bit of a spray, then that could mean that we don’t end up with that piece of content, which is a double-edge sword because it was great content, but it would have been great content without the expletives as well.”

New Adelaide 36ers head coach Conner Henry created plenty of headlines with his colourful time-out during the opening round. Photo: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.Source:Supplied

BOGUT’S OWNERSHIP FUTURE:

Recently retired champion Andrew Bogut has the option to join the ownership group at the Sydney Kings, but he recently expressed his concern about taking on the role.

“The issue I’ve got from the big dogs at the NBL is if I join the ownership group of the Kings, I will be somewhat muzzled as to what I can do and say,” Bogut said on his Rouges Bouges podcast.

“As you know, that isn’t me.

“We are working through it, but it is not looking likely because I don’t like the likelihood of being muzzled by anybody.”

Loeliger hasn’t had any conversations with Bogut regarding ownership at the Kings but stressed all officials and players had to adhere to the league’s standards.

“The reality is that by venture of becoming an owner you are essentially governed by the same rules as a player or any other official at a club,” he said.

“That puts you in a substantially different position to a member of the public.

“At the moment he (Andrew) is a member of the public, and he is open to speak his mind on whatever forum he chooses to do so.

“But if he decided to become an owner, he would be required to abide by the same rules that apply to all the other owners and office holders.”

Will recently retired champion Andrew Bogut join the Sydney Kings ownership group? The big man has some doubts. Picture: Jonathan NgSource:Supplied

HOOPS IN NSW:

Loeliger would love to play games in NSW before the NBL Cup in Melbourne from February 20, but the decision is largely out of his hands as government officials weigh up reopening state borders.

The Hawks have already expressed a desire to return home to Wollongong after Victoria deemed the area a safe zone.

Hawks owner Dorry Kordahi even floated the idea of his side solely playing home games against the two Victorian teams.

Loeliger understands the premise, but concedes the reality is more difficult.

“It is a complicated process,” Loeliger said.

“It is easy to say, well, we can play the Melbourne teams, but that then has significant implications for everyone else in the competition as well.

“It all has flow-on consequences and that means that those Melbourne teams aren’t available to host home games or play in other states.

“It is more complicated than that once you look at the longer-term ramifications.

“Otherwise, it would become a pretty boring schedule if we just had the NSW teams playing the Victorian teams.”

The NBL’s officials will have extra support with the league’s Replay Centre significantly reducing its replay time on on-court decisions. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

IS THE REPLAY CENTRE WORKING?

As seen in most sports, technology doesn’t equal perfection when it comes to decision making.

This is no different in the NBL, with the league’s review system often attracting stinging criticism from fans and experts alike.

Loeliger concedes no system is faultless, but he is pleased with the progression of the NBL’s Replay Centre, which includes new Simple Live technology that allows officials to process replays faster.

“The system is already demonstrating its value,” he said.

“The average time for a review was between one-and-a-half and two minutes last season and we’ve already got that down to under 40 seconds.

“That is a significant part of the journey that we’d be able to utilise the technology without it having as much of an impact on the momentum of the game or cutting into our broadcast.

“The technology also allows a lot of calls to be reviewed during natural breaks in play compared to stopping play to review.

“For example, decisions between three-pointers and two-pointers are being reviewed on the fly all the time and they are being turned around a lot quicker now than they were previously.”

BIG PLANS FOR THE NBL CUP:

Loeliger hopes to make this year’s inaugural NBL Cup an annual event.

From February 20, all nine teams will converge on Melbourne to play 36 games in a blockbuster month of basketball.

Loeliger likes the idea of the NBL Cup becoming a stable part of the season.

“We are certainly very hopeful that it could slot into the season when it goes back to normal,” he said.

“It is very convenient that everyone plays each other once and that probably sets a nice precedent for years to come.

“There is also no reason why it has to be in one location. You could potentially split it between several locations but still have the same concept.

“We could have a carnival of basketball that we could take from city to city year to year.”

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