Basketball New Zealand

Dominion Finance NBL

In an effort to increase exposure and avoid code clashes, Basketball New Zealand has re-jigged the schedule for next month’s Dominion Finance NBL Playoffs.

The first week of the playoffs - expanded to six teams in 2008 for the first time since 1998 – will feature elimination games on four straight nights, starting Tuesday, June 10, while the best-of-three NBL Finals will start on Tuesday, June 17 and conclude on Friday, June 20.

With the second semifinal on Saturday, June 14, and a potential deciding game three of the NBL Finals on Saturday, June 21, previously clashing with All Blacks two rugby test matches against England, the decision was made to increase exposure and avoid clashes with other major sporting codes.

“Going up against the All Blacks is never a smart thing to do,” Basketball New Zealand CEO Dale Stephens said.

“And we felt in the best interest of basketball, in getting better crowds to the games, a better TV audience at home and lifting the general interest in what will be an enthralling postseason, that we needed to re-shuffle the schedule.

“It was a quick decision we had to make and we’re happy with the outcome.

“We’ve also managed to incorporate Thursday night games into the playoffs, which were not previously there, which continues the familiarity with basketball on Thursday nights built up by the NZ Breakers and in the NBL the last two seasons.”

With the compacted League standings, the playoffs match-ups will not be sorted until the final round of the regular season, which concludes on Saturday, June 7.

No teams have been officially eliminated from playoffs contention, with the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets, Property Brokers Manawatu Jets and Marley Canterbury Rams chances surviving on life support.

If the season ended today, the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat would host cross-city rivals, the Youthtown Auckland Stars, in a third installment of the Battle of the Bridge in 2008, the CPS Nelson Giants would welcome the Easy LPG Bay Hawks in a repeat of the 2007 NBL Finals, while the Waikato Pistons and Century City Wellington Saints would await their opponents in the semifinals.

2008 Dominion Finance NBL Playoffs Schedule

NBL Elimination Quarterfinals

Tuesday, June 10
QF1: 3rd vs 6th, TBC
Wednesday, June 11
QF2: 4th vs 5th, TBC

NBL Semifinals

Thursday, June 12
SF1: 2nd vs Winner QF1, TBC
Friday, June 13
SF2: 1st vs Winner QF2, TBC

NBL Finals

(Highest seed gets home-court advantage for games two and three)

Tuesday, June 17
Game 1: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, TBC
Thursday, June 19
Game 2: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, TBC
Friday, June 20
Game 3: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, TBC*

(* if necessary)