Hoops Heaven’s Basketball Hustle – Season 4, Episode 21

We are now just days away from the NBL23 Championship Series and Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle brings you a full preview of the Sydney Kings v New Zealand Breakers battle with all the key match ups, talking points and predictions from Matty Knight and Cody Ellis.

Not only that but this week's episode looks at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers for the Australian Boomers, New Zealand Tall Blacks and South Sudan, Todd Blanchfield's NBL future, Keanu Pinder's big decision, latest on Perth Wildcats and South East Melbourne Phoenix's search for a new coach.

This week's episode of Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle opens up by catching up on what we've missed over the past two weeks with the semi finals decided Game 3's with the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers reaching the Championship Series while there's been more movement at the Brisbane Bullets and the South East Melbourne Phoenix need a new coach.

We then get stuck into talking about the final FIBA World Cup qualifying matches over the past week including the wins for the Australian Boomers against Bahrain and Kazakhstan. That included out of favour Perth Wildcats veteran Todd Blanchfield starring with 51 points across the two games and we discussed his NBL future, and why his best interests might be in finding a new home despite remaining contracted at the 'Cats.

We also talk about two other nations full of NBL players who have qualified for the World Cup. We discuss just how competitive the New Zealand Tall Blacks will be when at full strength while South Sudan has become one of the great stories in world basketball qualifying for the World Cup for the first time despite a tinge of controversy.

It's time then to look back on the NBL semi-final series which both were decided in three games with the Sydney Kings overcoming the Cairns Taipans and the New Zealand Breakers defeating the Tasmania JackJumpers. We breakdown both fascinating match ups and also discuss what's next for Cairns Taipans superstar Keanu Pinder in the biggest decision of his career as to where he signs next.

Three-time NBL champion Matty Knight then joins Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle to talk about the future of Todd Blanchfield, to look at what's happening at the Perth Wildcats, to preview the Championship Series and to talk about the importance of the Tasmania JackJumpers retaining the services of Hoops Heaven Player of the Year Milton Doyle.

After that, Cody Ellis takes a look at the prospective coaching options for the South East Melbourne Phoenix after Simon Mitchell stepped away and then we provide a full preview of the Championship Series between the Sydney Kings and the New Zealand Breakers.

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