NBL Basketball / Andy Morris / 05 November 2008 / Leave a comment Bet Now

There is no truth in the rumour that Sydney Spirit are thinking of relocating home games to the moon because there would be more atmosphere, writes Andy Morris.

But if you're off to the Olympic Park Sports Centre this week for the Round 8 clash with the Tigers and you fancy talking to the guy nearest to you, remember to take a megaphone.

If this franchise makes it to the end of the season, it will be a minor miracle.
How they can continue to function on attendances that are a joke is a mystery.

South Dragons arrived in Round 5 for a clash that should have had the ingredients of a cracker, the old Sydney-Melbourne rivalry and a chance to pull off an upset. And yet just 1,476 people turned up.

The arena holds 10,500 people for basketball, and the empty spaces in the stands for the televised game were an absolute embarrassment to the sport and the league.

It's another Sydney v Melbourne clash this time, with the Tigers bringing their 6-3 record and intending to inflict on Spirit their eighth defeat of a dismal campaign.

Sydney find themselves next to bottom on the ladder, above only the 0-10 Gold Coast Blaze. But the one consolation is that despite the absence of fans they're not doing too badly at home where they have won three of their five matches.

The Tigers were pushed somewhat by the Blaze last time out before winning 123-111 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre. Meanwhile the Spirit were beaten for the second time this season by the Dragons, this time putting up a reasonable showing before losing by 11 points.

The Tigers have been indifferent on the road so far, as their last two games illustrate. They crushed the Taipans by 24 points in Cairns in Round 3 but were a sorry sight in their last away game when they were thrashed by 28 points by the Dragons.

However, the Tigers have already won by 12 points in Sydney and they should be good enough for the win here.

This round starts when the Blaze go in search of their first competition points at home to the Crocodiles. Every round I weigh up the fact that their first win has to come some time, but every time I just fail to see it happening this time.

They did come mighty close in their last outing, losing by just two points in Wollongong, but against the Crocs - the only team to win away at the Dragons so far this season - it would be foolish to predict anything other than another loss.

The Breakers surprised me in Round 7 with a good away win in Townsville. I did not believe the New Zealanders had it in them to sustain a title challenge because their road trips would be a major factor, but they are 2-1 on the road now.

They take a very impressive 5-1 home record into the clash with the 36ers, and I can't see any way for Adelaide to stop them extending that sequence. Adelaide have lost all four of their away matches, and it will be a similar story here.

There is a flurry of activity on Saturday with four matches, the most intriguing of which sees the Breakers in action again at the Tigers.

Andrej Lemanis' New Zealand team will have to step it up another notch this time as the Tigers are 4-1 at home. But they have scoring potential all around this team as they showed last time out when CJ Bruton racked up 21, Kirk Penney 18, Phill Jones 17 and Tony Ronaldson 16.

I think the Breakers will keep the scores close but just find the Tigers on their home court a little bit too hot.

Adelaide hosts the Taipans and will be looking at this one as a must-win game. The 36ers' home form has contrasted markedly with what they produce on the road - they're 3-1 at home and winless away. Cairns, the only team to win in Auckland so far this term, have not been able to use that victory as a spur as they have lost badly at both the Dragons and Hawks since then.

I tip Adelaide in this one, while still believing that their away form will prevent them playing post-season.

What is there to say about the Dragons hosting the Blaze? Top at home to bottom on the ladder - it can only be another convincing Dragons victory.

Perth is another team much stronger at home than on the road. They host the Crocodiles at Challenge Stadium looking to take their 6-6 record into positive territory.

The Wildcats have only played once at home since October 1 - an 89-77 win over the Hawks - so their fans might take a little while to get roused. But they should have enough to hold off the Crocs who are 1-2 on the road.

Tips: Tigers to beat Spirit, Crocodiles to beat Blaze, Breakers to beat 36ers, Tigers to beat Breakers, 36ers to beat Taipans, Dragons to beat Blaze, Wildcats to beat Crocodiles.