Hoops Heaven’s Basketball Hustle – #NBL24 Episode 15

Post-Christmas Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle and we talk Christmas Day games in the NBL, look at how far Melbourne United and Perth Wildcats are ahead in #NBL24, and why they need to meet in a playoff series.

We look at what Casey Prather joining Brisbane Bullets means for rest of NBL24, Zylan Cheatham's spectacular return with New Zealand Breakers and what an NBL threat they are, and look at South East Melbourne Phoenix's bounce back and the foul woes of Alan Williams.

Also Cody Ellis talks why he is so happy with what Justin Tatum is doing at Illawarra Hawks, why Kristian Doolittle from Perth Wildcats is quickly becoming his favourite player, concerns for Sydney Kings, Trevor Gleeson of NBL running and Simon Mitchell names #TheGalen Best NBL Team Man.

For all the ways to listen click here: https://linktr.ee/basketballhustle

We discussed the Christmas Day games in the NBL and the crowds that were impressive which turned out in Sydney and Hobart but we just don't quite know if it reached the TV audience hoped to make it a raging success to draw in the casual fans.

The Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats open air game at John Cain Arena could well have been the game of the NBL season so far with a bit of everything, including going to overtime and a remarkable Bryce Cotton performance but the collection of stars from Melbourne United got them home as we look at what a series between the two would look like.

The Brisbane Bullets are now in a bit of a hole at 7-11 having lost four straight but they will welcome three-time NBL champion Casey Prather to give them a much-needed boost for the rest of the season as they look to stay in the playoff hunt.

Zylan Cheatham made a spectacular return as the New Zealand Breakers beat the Brisbane Bullets and we talk about what a force they can be the rest of NBL24 with the combination Cheatham has with Will McDowell-White feeding him, and playing alongside Anthony Lamb.

South East Melbourne Phoenix showed tremendous heart to beat Tasmania JackJumpers on Christmas Day but the saga of Alan Williams and his foul trouble continues to be fascinating to follow which we discuss.

Talk then turns to the Illawarra Hawks who bounced back tremendously from a loss to Tasmania JackJumpers to beat the Sydney Kings on Christmas Day but concerns are growing over the Kings and underperforming import Denzel Valentine and coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.

We also look back on the Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats Boxing Day game which featured 79 free-throws where Bryce Cotton got the 'Cats over the line and while the Snakes are doing a lot right, they're also their own worst enemy at times.

After we get this week's The Galen Best NBL Team Man from Simon Mitchell and it's Lachlan Olbrich from the Illawarra Hawks, Cody Ellis also discusses why Kristian Doolittle has quickly become one of his favourite players and wants to see him receive a lot more credit for his contributions to Perth Wildcats.

Attention then turns to the New Year's Round of NBL action to come and we preview each upcoming game to end 2023 and bring in 2024 thanks to TABtouch.

To wrap things up this week we also talk about the news that Trevor Gleeson has returned to the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks likely ruling him out of a return to the NBL next season.

All made possible thanks to the support of Hoops Heaven (www.hoopsheaven.com.au) and TABtouch (www.tabtouch.com.au).