After the NBL ladder was bunched up for much of the season, the Adelaide 36ers have started to move away from the pack. Let's see if that stays the case we offer our 2016-17 NBL Round 16 betting tips.
NBL Round 16 Betting Tips
Adelaide 36ers Vs Brisbane Bullets (Thursday, January 19th at 7:00pm AEDT)
The 36ers are in a commanding position as they sit three games clear on the top of the ladder during these late stages of the 2016-17 NBL season. They are all but a lock to play finals and with 2two home games this weekend, they’ll look to push further ahead. Nathan Sobey is in career best from, dropping 32 points against Melbourne last week then backing it up with a 19-8-5 game against the Wildcats. Mitch Creek has also been dominating. He came off the bench scoring 27 points and 19 boards over the two games last weekend.
The Bullets, meanwhile, are a bit of a roller coaster. For a while it looked like their first season back in the competition would be a fairytale, but now it seems destined to be one to forget. They are currently in last position and coming off the back-to-back losse, which certainly isn't the best time to be facing the top team on their home court. With Randle, Sobey and now Mitch Clark all firing doesn't look like anyone can stop the 36ers.
Tip: Adelaide 36ers at the line (-8.5) - $1.94 at CrownBet
Illawarra Hawks Vs New Zealand Breakers (Friday, January 20th at 7:30pm AEDT)
When the Hawks are switched on, they can beat any team. Rotnei Clarke is the best off-the-bench player in the league and is continuing to rack up stats with another 20-point performance against the Bullets last weekend. The Hawks just need to find a more team-balanced performance and a little consistency.
Kevin Dillard is the shining light for the Breakers. Along with fellow import Paul Carter, Dillard has reinvigorated the Breakers back court. In his first two games in the league, Dillard has scored 19-6-6 and 28-4-5 Including the buzzer-beater for the win against the Brisbane Bullets.
Despite the Breakers recent form (coming off back-to-back wins), we’ll be following the Hawks this weekend. They are set to lock in a finals birth and should put up a solid performance.
Tip: Illawarra Hawks at the line (-3.5) - $1.85 at CrownBet
Brisbane Bullets Vs Melbourne United (Saturday, January 21st at 4:30pm AEDT)
Melbourne struggled last weekend. Goulding and Casper Ware both had a rare off-night and the 36er were able to run away with a 27-point victory. This loss was just a stumbling block, however, with Melbourne hitting back against the Taipans 92-85. Ware and Goulding were back to their best , combining for 58 points.
Torrey Craig has been carrying the Bullets for much of the season and its starting to show. In the NBL, one player can't win games. Brisbane need more contributors. Daniel Kickert had a couple of big games last weekend with 20 points and 24 point respectively, but we can't expect that every week. Now with Adam Gibson out with a calf injury, it's becoming clearer that the Bullets season is all but over.
Tip: Melbourne at the line (-3.5) - $1.95 at CrownBet
New Zealand Breakers Vs Perth Wildcats (Sunday, January 22nd at 5:00pm AEDT)
Damian Martin’s return has steered the Wildcats season back to what we know and expect. Martin’s defensive presence is unrivalled in the league and with Casey Prather and Bryce Cotton shooting the lights out, its clear the Wildcats are ready to pounce on the league. Unfortunately, they haven't capitalised as much as expected, with two tough losses last week. They need to start putting wins on the board and they look primed to do just that.
The Breakers have found a late surge of form. The inclusion of Kevin Dillard and Paul Carter has really set them up for a late run to the finals. Both these teams need to notch up some wins if they want to play finals. Being a Grand Final rematch, there’s no love lost between these two teams. Its going to be an absolute rippe. Will Damian Martin be able to contain Kevin Dillard? Will Casey Prather shoot the lights out? Either way its going to be tight.
Tip: Either Team by under 7 points - $2.38 at CrownBet
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
