2016 SACBA Week 18 Results + Players' Player Preview

The Players’ Player Awards Night is on this Saturday 27th August @ The Seven Stars. This is the night where we award each Saturday Team’s Best Player according to his teammates – by tallying all the votes that have been meticulously kept throughout the season. It is like the Brownlow … but 8 of them all on the one night.

We can arrive from 6.00pm (earlier if you want a cheeky drinks before the count) – the count will start at 7.00pm. The count should wrap up around 10.00pm. You can order meals from 6.30pm. Food and drinks are pay as you go. You can bring as many guests as you like – everyone welcome – partners, friends, family etc.

We will have the Betting Boards again. Always a great night – beer, food, vote counting, basketball chat and possibly Intercol games.

Below is my betting guide - I get it wrong every year so this is just a guide.

Palky's 2016 Player's Player Form Guide:

A's - This is a tough one - they have won so many games this year easily with lots of guys filling up the scoresheet.

Palky's Winner: Josh Orken - Pros: scoring machine, he is tall, he gets blocks, loves dunking/tinder ... preferably both ... Cons: Shoots too much.

Contenders:
Jon Foo - he gets the buckets, then he gets the ladies.
Liam Golding - I thought you were supposed to get less good when you get older ... and fatter. Bloody Liam.

B's - The B's have had a long and tumultuous season.

Palky's Winner: Phill Farrer - works harder than anyone on the glass, gets mad at himself when he has no right to ... he is the only one giving 100% 100% of the time. For every rebound he gets - he should get one "yelling at Jono and Gus credit" ... he can use if without fear of reprisal. "Get back in D you lazy sh*ts", "stop just passing to each other - there are 3 other people on the court and Dillon was wide open" etc.  Might have missed a couple too many games but anyway ... go Phill!

Contenders:
Jono Self - Pros: Scores lots - team's leading PPG, inside/outside player, can play D when he wants to (see; Harden, James), has won 2 of these already so proven vote getter. Cons: Relies on Gus to give him lifts to games and rewards Gus' tardiness by exclusivley passing him the ball, only played 15 of 19 games.
Brendon Francesca - Has played all the games, has had some big games and is the teams leading scorer. Improvong in D and as a passer, good around the basket. Works hard.

C's - This will be super close - could be one of 4 guys I think. All the contenders pretty much played most of the games.

Palky's Winner: Lachie Campbell - should be in the A's but decided to play C's ... someone told me he thinks it was because he wanted to win a Players' Player. Best player in Central 1

Contenders:
Andrew Good - Has won the last 2 C's Players' Player and is having a good season again
Jay Nguyen -  Teams leading scorer, hits 3's, silent assisain - has had a few big games this year  
Jamie Banks - Hot and cold Jamie - never know which one you will get - sometimes it changes mid game - has had 2 games where he had 0 at half time and scored 18 in the 2nd.

D's - Should be a race in 2 I would have thought

Palky's Winner: Stu MacDonald - He has won 5 of the things ... if he wins this year he will be the only 6 time winner. He is the leading scorer of Central 1. Has only played 13 games. Good at layups.

Contenders:
Tom Oliphant - Thommo scores inside, rebounds and is a savvy passer inside ... good looks/top blokeness will help his cause. I think he is the only other one that can really chanllenge Stu
Andrew Williams - I will chuck in 3 more possible - A polled in every game last year and his votes in finishing 2nd would have won 4 other teams medal. He is having another great season.
Ben Palk - remember when I hit 10 threes in a game ... man I have been shooting great.
Matt Just - Plays D ... will get votes.

E's - this will be an interesting count will be hard to pick

Palky's Winner: Morgan Hodson - I am going with the tried and tested rule of most games, most points ... I am keeping it simple. Sometimes does not come off.

Contenders:
Simon Miller - the E's struggled with guard balance early - when Sime came back he added scoring and defence. He is having one of his best seasons - will poll well.
Mark Powell - again, this team has no guards - so Max will poll. He scores and has played a lot. Sounds like a pub pick up resume.
Jon Read - he will start slow but he has had an awesome last 6 or 7 games - if he picks up some early votes I would think he would be in the mix ... but I say that every year and every year his teammates let him down. I am surprised that some of you have not been donked on the head.

F's - two guys do most of the scoring - the rest of the dudes have to do everything else =)

Palk's Winner: Cam Smith - he came out of nowhere last year and jagged the PP. I don't even think I had him in my picks. With Brad out has been the lone big. With guys chucking up shots someone needs to play D ... I think he will be rewarded.

Contenders:
Nathan Graham - loves to make buckets, has been making buckets, not sure if he has been playing D or rebounding ... if he has he will get votes. Has won 3 before and if anyone will be Cam it will be G.
Josh Moorfoot - everyone loves the guy who tries and hustles ... that is Moorfoot - when he isn't too hungover to play or chasing Melbourne skirt.
Charlie Baker - again all hustle ... Charlie is fun to play with (in a basketball sense) - will jag a couple.

G's - another race in 2 but I think this is a pretty easy one.

Palky's Mega Lock: Reid Amos - team's leading scorer, avering over 10 a game and the team averages 28. Played the 2nd most games - he will get a heap of votes in the games he played without Matt.

Matt Lawson - when Matt plays he will likely get the 3 or 2 votes but don't think he has played enough.
Simon Caldwell - fan favourite Simon Caldwell will get votes ... and we will all cheer cos we all love Caldy. In the games I've watched Caldy is the one that controls the team ... if he is the head ... the rest of the guys are the crazy Michael J Fox arms and legs.

Lady Reds - I will have to be careful here ... I don't think Megan will win but I have to be diplomatic =)

Palky's Winner: Rachel Meyer - Rachel is the gears that makes the team go. She is 2nd in PPG, she plays guard and forward and is the best passer in the team.

Contenders:
Alicia Woodrow - Alicia has set the team scoring record and 3 points in a season record. Only downside - Alicia has had big games when other people have had big games ... and I know for experience - 3 point shooters sometimes get overlooked.
Tracey Todd - Tracey goes about her business - she works hard in D, is a crafty passer and gets out on the break. This could def be Tracey's year.
Hannah Boylan - the lone big for most the season when O Buckets got injured, she works super hard and hustles like crazy. Will get everyone's 1 votes every week.
Megan Button - I don't think Megan will win ... but she is so damn likeable - she will poll. She got screwed over last year - she had it in the bag and Silz bloody stole it away from her. 

To the reports:
A's (16-2-0) v B's (2-16) - NO REPORT - so I will guess these things happened. Orken dunked and all was right with the world, Foo did many Euro steps and looked nonplussed, Liam hit many 3's (I know this happened cos I saw the scoresheet), Phil got mad cos his teammates did something that displeased him, Jack yelled at Phil for being mad, Phill Farrer tried super hard and watched his teammates try not as hard as him and he was "philled" with rage but quelled his furious anger and got rebounds, Jono looked lost because there was no one to pass to (note: Gus is overseas), Tim, Dillon and Mitch chugged along thinking "when will this freaking season be over", Brendon thought "buckets, buckets, buckets, buckets, buckets" for 40 minutes. A's win 67-26 - Liam 22, Phil 17, Orks 12 - Mitch 14 (nice work), Brendon 5, Moops 4.

C's (15-3) v SPOC B (7-11) - Written by Jay - We were missing Goody and Lachy, but Saints were even shorter as they only brought out 5 for the game. We quickly got on top of them, with Krantz doing work down low and Jay hitting three 3s in the first half. Their lone big guy picked up his 5th foul right before the half, getting a tech for the road. The game was essentially over at that point as Saints were already down 23-8. We got a little bit messy in the 2nd half as the steam was out of the contest and we were trying to run fast breaks the majority of the time. Final score 55-24. Jay 16, Krantz and Ned 10, Jamie and Alex 9. 

D's (11-8) v Unley Park A (3-15) - We had 8 for the 1st time this season and it took a bit to get in the flow - Unley were playing an odd D and it threw off our rhythm. I can't really remember a whole lot - Thommo was scoring inside heaps, Palky hit a couple of 3's (took lots in his limited minutes), NEWS FLASH: Madman hit baseline jumpers, Purge got an and-1 layup and a 3, Rough was everywhere, Stu was quiet, Fooey was getting to the basket and finishing lefty, A played great D. Win 54-29 - Thommo 15, Rough 9, Palk and Purge 6.

E's (8-9) v Knightsbridge A (10-1-5) - Written by Max - After an up and down season the E's clinched their place in the finals with a dominant victory over the top of the ladder (albeit slightly depleted) Knightsbridge team. Max got the scoring going with a couple of long jumpers, however Knightsbridge replied with successive three pointers to keep things close. Tye came off the bench with a great shooting display of his own, while Reggie was setting up opportunities on the fast break, allowing the E's to eek out an advantage.  A change of defensive tactic by the E's in the second half shut down Knightsbridge's outside shot and they wilted. It was too easy for Morgan around the basket finishing with 8 for the half. Special mention to Hendo with 4/4 from the free throw line!  The E's won convincingly in the end 42-19. Scoring was very balanced, Morgan had 10, Miller and Tye 8, Max with 7. Thanks to Sean for scoring for us.

F's (9-7) v SPOC C (6-2-9) - NO REPORT. Loss 24-32. JT 14

G's (6-12) v Burnside A (11-7) - NO REPORT. Loss 22-30. Reid 6, Cale, Nelly 4.

Lady Reds (12-6) v Unley Park A - This was must win the Lady Reds if they were going to finish top 2 - SPOILERS: they didn't win. Halftime was close with the Reds down 3. The 2nd half Unley's best player went nuts and scored 17 of their 22 points - they couldn't keep her off the glass and she made FT after FT. Reds struggled from the floor and were missing a lot of jumpers. Tough day - we will meet them again. Loss 19-34. Jordy 7, Rachel 6, Tracey 4.

Palky's Player of the Week - Week 18: I dunno ... Liam I guess haha!

Week 19 Game Times: 
A's v Gateway A - 5.10 @ Saints
B's v SPOC A - 3.30 @ Saints
C's v D's - 2.40 @ Saints
E's v F's - 2.40 @ Mars Crt 2 ... short 3 point line =)
G's Spicer A - 3.30 @ Mars Crt 3
Lady Reds v St Casmir - 1.00 @ Immanuel