Phoenix faces Brisbane Bullets in intercontinental clash
By Adam Maynes
Phoenix Suns (1-3) v Brisbane Bullets (0-1)
Friday 10/13/2017 7pm
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Arizona Sports 98.7FM/Fox Sports Arizona
2016-17 Season Series – N/A
All-Time Series – N/A
Last Matchup – N/A
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to the Portland Trail Blazers 113-104
Bullets’ Last Game – Loss to the Perth Wildcats 96-86
2016-17 Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.7 (9th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 113.3 (30th of 30)
2016-17 Bullets’ Scoring Averages – N/A
Preview
(Thank you to our resident Australian correspondent @MR_RICH1 for many of the links regarding the Bullets below.)
In recent years the NBA has invited teams from around the world to the United States to face off with their American counterparts during the preseason. The Suns have been a franchise that has participated in such “friendlies.”
The last time the Suns matched up against a foreign franchise was in the 2014 preseason where Phoenix hosted Flamenco, the defending championships of Novo Basquete Brasil, the premiere professional league in Brazil. Somewhat expectedly with the matchup being Phoenix’s first actual game of the year, Phoenix and Flemenco battled back and forth with the Suns pulling away in the fourth quarter 100-88, led by 18 points and 4 assists from Isaiah Thomas, and 7 rebounds from Markieff Morris. The Suns went on to a 5-2 preseason record, aaaaaand one of the most dysfunctional seasons in franchise history.
About the NBL
(This is according to NBA.com’s official press release when announcing NBL teams would play NBA teams in the NBA preseason.)
"The National Basketball League in Australasia is one of the of the premier basketball leagues in the world. Established in 1978 the League now has eight teams based in cities across the country — Adelaide 36ers, Cairns Taipans, Melbourne United, New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks. Some of the NBL’s greatest players include former NBA player and five-time Olympian Andrew Gaze, 21-season scoring-machine Leroy Loggins, five-time championship-winner Larry Sengstock, and 500-game veterans Ray Borner and James Crawford. From humble beginnings, the NBL now sells out stadiums with more than 650,000 attending games each season and live TV coverage nationally. The NBL has NBL.com.au, and a live streaming NBL APP. The 2017-18 season will be its 40th as a league."
Brisbane had not participated in NBL play for eight seasons prior to the 2016-17 regular season, but upon their return did have some impressive performances and appeared to be making a surprising run to the playoffs. Unfortunately injuries derailed those chances by mid-season, but they hope to make another run in 17-18.
Phoenix Suns
Much like the Phoenix Suns, the Bullets are entering their 2017-18 season with a brand new look that hearkens back to their traditional apparel. After rocking a wine colored maroon color in their return season, Brisbane has returned to their traditional blue, which according to one report, was supported by over 70% of Bullets fans. They kept one maroon uniform for particular matches, but will stick to their blue and white for the majority of their schedule. Although I have not confirmed, I expect them to wear their blue uniforms in Phoenix tonight.
Unlucky scheduling for Brisbane will make the early part of their regular season schedule difficult as this trip to Phoenix actually occurs less than a week after the start of the NBL season. They opened on Saturday November 7th at the defending NBL Champion Perth Wildcats, losing 96-86. (It should be noted that the Wildcats are the epitome of a dynasty as they have appeared in the NBL Finals in every season since 1987.)
Upon returning from their November 12th game at Phoenix, they have several days to re-acclimate to their native timezone before facing off in round three of the regular season round robin against the Cairns Taipans.
For a complete 2017-18 season preview of the Brisbane Bullets, read here.
Check out two previews of this game by the Brisbane-based Courier Mail here (Bullets planning to let fly from 3-point line in clash with Phoenix) and here (Brisbane Bullets star Travis Trice focused on team result in clash with NBA power the Phoenix Suns).
(They called the Suns an NBA power!!!)
Interesting Statistics
Phoenix Suns
1. Alex Len had three good games before an absolute clunker against the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s been so good overall though that he is tied for 7th in the NBA in rebounds per game with 8.3 this preseason. Now, it remains to be seen if this holds up during the regular season, but by comparison, Len was 46th in the league in rebounds last preseason after averaging 6.4, then averaged only 6.6 during the regular season.
2. Troy Daniels is shooting 15-28 from beyond the arc so far this preseason, which is pretty fantastic. He’s been so good in fact that his 15 connections has him tied for the most in the league with Justin Holiday and Denzel Valentine, both of Chicago, although they made theirs in five games to Daniels’ four.
3. In a very uncommon twist, while Daniels is shooting 53.6% from beyond the arc, he has yet to make a basket from within firing blanks on his 7 attempts.
Next: 3 Fun Goals for Tyler Ulis this Season
Brisbane Bullets
1. The Bullets are three-time Champions of the National Basketball League, winning in 1985, 1987, and 2007. Their 1985 championship is unique because it is the last year that the NBL’s championship format was a one-game win or go home match.
2. Brisbane has three American born players on their roster, Travis Trice (who played collegiately for Michigan State from 2011-15), Perrin Buford (who played two years collegiately for Middle Tennessee State from 2014-16), and Stephen Holt (who played collegiately for St. Mary’s College of California from 2010-14). All three are starters for the Bullets.
3. Brisbane likes to shoot from the outside, and drained an impressive 9-14 in their first game against Perth. However, the traditional FIBA distance is 22.15ft with their corners at 21.61ft from the hoop. The NBA’s 3-point line is a decent step back from the FIBA distance at 23.75ft around the bend and 22ft at the corners. We will see if this extra distance makes a big difference on the Brisbane shooters.