Season Splits Up To Date, Season To Go Down To The Wire

 THE NBL IS HEATING UP

NBL season is shaping up to be a cracker towards the end of the season with as many as 6 of the 8 teams still fighting for the playoffs. To give you all an indication of how your team is shaping up against the rest check out below.

• New Zealand have the split on Melbourne(beating them 3 of the 4 times), Townsville(beating them 3 of 4). They will not have the split over Wollongong already having lost three times to them with one game to play. This is the same with Perth. With one game to play against Gold Coast, the Breakers will have to beat them by more than seven points to gain the split which could be crucial if the Blaze slip up over their next four matches, they also have the split on Melbourne. It is going to come down to the wire for the Breakers, I do see them beating Cairns, Wollongong and possibly the Blaze. If they can win all three then I think they will gain fourth spot and be a real competitor during the final series.
• Gold Coast have such a tough run to the playoffs with their last four games coming against teams vying for the playoffs.They do not have the split against Townsville losing 3 of the 4 fixtures. With a game left against Perth they must not lose by more than 4 points to keep the split, against Melbourne they must not lose by more than 14, they will need to beat Wollongong by more than 11 and not lose to New Zealand by more than 7. The Blaze are playing extremely well and it will be a telling time over the next four games, if they can win 3 out of the 4 games they will place themselves deep in to the finals picture and possibly set themselves up for a top two finish.
• Townsville must not lose to Perth by more than two in the final game of the year, they don't have the split against Wollongong losing three of the four matches, they have the split against the Blaze and Melbourne and lost three of the four games to New Zealand. With two of their last three matches at home and against Adelaide and Cairns it seems it could come down to their last fixture against Perth to decide whom is going to be in the top two. 
• Wollongong lost the split to Perth after getting belted in the last fixture, they've got the split against Townsville, need to beat Melbourne by more than 9, must not lose to the Blaze by more than 11 and they hold the split over New Zealand beating them three times. With four tough matches standing in their way (NZ in NZ, Gold Coast and Melbourne at home, and Adelaide in Adelaide) could it mean all the hard work done up until now could mean nothing? I think they could be heading out the door.
• Perth need to beat Townsville by more than two at home, must not lose to Melbourne by more than 5, hold the split on the Hawks, must beat the Gold Coast by more than 4 in the GC, and have the split on NZ. This Round their three game road trip could decide if Perth finish in the Top Two and allow the Jungle to be in full swing come finals time.
• Melbourne must beat Perth by more than 5, not lose to the Hawks by more than 9, beat GC by more than 14 and do not have the split against either New Zealand or the Crocs. Good night Melbourne Tigers.

I'm looking forward to some of these blockbuster matches that could hold major playoff implications. Bring it on I say!