Change for the better
Prather bows to Perth’s tireless worker
JORDAN GERRANS THE Dolphins’ and Marlins’ paths to the Queensland Basketball League finals are a lot clearer with a change to the playoff format for this season.
The 2017 edition of the QBL does not tip-off until late April but the finals format has been tinkered, in a move that is expected to help the teams in the north of the state qualify.
The QBL has adopted the McIntyre Final Eight System in a move that has Cairns Basketball boss Mike Scott rejoicing.
The Marlins won the 2016 QBL title while the Dolphins missed out but under the new finals system, Scott estimates the Marlins would not have missed the finals in the last decade with the Dolphins reaching the post-season every second year.
The Dolphins and Marlins will just need to finish in the top eight this season instead of worrying about where their northern rivals also finished.
“We are very happy,” Scott said. “It is really good for us because it takes the pressure off the performance within the pool.
“It makes your overall performance what matters and where you finish on the ladder.
“It’s less complicated and more comfortable that when you have a good side, you should make the playoffs.
“We are comfortable that we just need to finish in the top eight and then top four now to host a final.
“The changes are exciting for teams in the north who have been strong for years.”
The QBL will still be split into three geographically based pools from Cairns to the Gold Coast for the regular season but they will no longer apply in the finals.
Under the previous system, only a certain number of sides from each pool could make finals, meaning perennially stronger northern teams could miss out to southern rivals due to the capped number of qualifiers from each region.
“The negatives of the old system is that you could finish third on the ladder and miss out on the playoffs, which happened to Cairns and Townsville in previous years,” Scott said.
“The change was driven by the southern teams, who raised it, and wanted to change the system to a top eight. They drove it for a straight top eight.” PERTH import Casey Prather can’t help but marvel at the “dirty work” of Damian Martin, saying the skipper’s unrelenting approach has helped inspire the whole team.
The hot combination of Prather and Bryce Cotton has earned league-wide plaudits in recent weeks.
But the influence of Martin has played an equally important role in the Wildcats’ resurgence this season, with the NBL club now just two wins away from snaring the title.
Martin produced a series of crucial defensive displays in Sunday’s 89-77 grand final game-one win over Illawarra.
“That was game-changing,” Prather said yesterday.
“That just shows you the heart of Damo. When you see a leader do that, it makes everyone want to follow.
“I was just watching the film of Damo doing a little bit of the dirty work. I was just amazed.
“Damo sets the tone for the other guys. So you saw Matty Knight dive on the floor (after that), and Jesse Wagstaff diving on the floor.
“It just makes me want to do more, and the other guys feel the same way.”
Martin has never been a big scorer and tallied six points.
But his defensive work was crucial in shutting down Illawarra’s sharpshooters.
The Boomers guard will be aiming to produce another huge display in game two in Wollongong tomorrow.