The 1997 NBL season was the 19th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contest the league. The Hobart Devils, Geelong Supercats and Gold Coast Rollers did not return this season. The Melbourne Tigers were the champions.[1]
1997 NBL season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
League | National Basketball League | |||
Season | 1997 | |||
Dates | 11 April – 1 November 1997 | |||
Teams | 11 | |||
TV partner(s) | Australia: | |||
Regular season | ||||
Season champions | S.E. Melbourne Magic | |||
Season MVP | Andrew Gaze (Melbourne) | |||
Finals | ||||
Champions | Melbourne Tigers (2nd title) | |||
Runners-up | S.E. Melbourne Magic | |||
Semifinalists | North Melbourne Giants Perth Wildcats | |||
Finals MVP | Lanard Copeland (Melbourne) | |||
Statistical leaders | ||||
|
Regular season
editThe 1997 regular season took place over 24 rounds between 11 April 1997 and 29 September 1997.
Round 1
editRound 2
editRound 3
editRound 4
editRound 5
editRound 6
editRound 7
editRound 8
editRound 9
editRound 10
editRound 11
editRound 12
editRound 13
editRound 14
editRound 15
editRound 16
editRound 17
editRound 18
editRound 19
editRound 20
editRound 21
editRound 22
editRound 23
editRound 24
editLadder
editThis is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.
Pos | 1997 NBL season | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 30 | 22 | 8 | 73.33% | 4–1 | W1 | 12–3 | 10–5 | 2850 | 2662 | 107.06% |
2 | Melbourne Tigers | 30 | 19 | 11 | 63.33% | 5–0 | W13 | 9–6 | 10–5 | 3092 | 3028 | 102.11% |
3 | North Melbourne Giants | 30 | 18 | 12 | 60.00% | 3–2 | L1 | 9–6 | 9–6 | 2943 | 2881 | 102.15% |
4 | Perth Wildcats | 30 | 17 | 13 | 56.67% | 3–2 | W2 | 10–5 | 7–8 | 2933 | 2825 | 103.82% |
5 | Brisbane Bullets1 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50.00% | 2–3 | L3 | 10–5 | 5–10 | 2731 | 2786 | 98.03% |
6 | Canberra Cannons1 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50.00% | 4–1 | W3 | 11–4 | 4–11 | 2789 | 2773 | 100.58% |
7 | Adelaide 36ers2 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 46.67% | 1–4 | L4 | 7–8 | 7–8 | 2973 | 2922 | 101.75% |
8 | Townsville Suns2 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 46.67% | 0–5 | L6 | 9–6 | 5–10 | 3084 | 3015 | 102.29% |
9 | Newcastle Falcons3 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40.00% | 2–3 | L1 | 7–8 | 5–10 | 2995 | 3173 | 94.39% |
10 | Sydney Kings3 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40.00% | 1–4 | L3 | 8–7 | 4–11 | 2938 | 2991 | 98.23% |
11 | Illawarra Hawks | 30 | 7 | 23 | 23.33% | 2–3 | W2 | 4–11 | 3–12 | 2906 | 3178 | 91.44% |
Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 1997. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
1Brisbane Bullets won Head-to-Head (2-1).
2Adelaide 36ers won Head-to-Head (2-1).
3Newcastle Falcons won Head-to-Head (2-1).
Finals
editPlayoff bracket
editElimination Finals | Semifinals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 92 | 96 | X | ||||||||||||||||
4 | Perth Wildcats | 81 | 88 | X | 4 | Perth Wildcats | 82 | 69 | X | |||||||||||
5 | Brisbane Bullets | 79 | 71 | X | 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 74 | 84 | 83 | |||||||||||
2 | Melbourne Tigers | 111 | 78 | 93 | ||||||||||||||||
2 | Melbourne Tigers | 107 | 112 | X | ||||||||||||||||
3 | North Melbourne Giants | 93 | 108 | 102 | 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 99 | 105 | X | |||||||||||
6 | Canberra Cannons | 104 | 98 | 75 |
Elimination Finals
editSemi-finals
editGrand Final
edit1997 NBL statistics leaders
editCategory | Player | Team | Stat |
---|---|---|---|
Points per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 30.9 |
Rebounds per game | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns | 13.7 |
Assists per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 8.9 |
Steals per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 3.3 |
Blocks per game | Simon Dwight | Canberra Cannons | 4.3 |
Free throw percentage | Dylan Rigdon | Illawarra Hawks | 88.2% |
NBL awards
edit- Most Valuable Player: Andrew Gaze, Melbourne Tigers
- Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Lanard Copeland, Melbourne Tigers
- Best Defensive Player: Mike Kelly, South East Melbourne Magic
- Most Improved Player: Ben Pepper, Newcastle Falcons
- Rookie of the Year: Matthew Nielsen, Sydney Kings
- Coach of the Year: Lindsay Gaze, Melbourne Tigers & Brian Goorjian, South East Melbourne Magic
All NBL Team
edit# | Player | Team |
---|---|---|
PG | Derek Rucker | Townsville Suns |
SG | Robert Rose | Canberra Cannons |
SF | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers |
PF | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns |
C | Mark Bradtke | Melbourne Tigers |
References
edit- ^ Hickey, Matt. "Roar of Redemption: The story of the 1997 NBL Melbourne Tigers". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2024.