1988 NBL Finals

1988 NBL Finals
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Duration14 July - 7 August 1988
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)Seven Network
NBL Finals
ChampionsCanberra Cannons
  Runners-upNorth Melbourne Giants
Finals MVPPhil Smyth
Seasons
← 1987
1989 →

The 1988 NBL Finals was the championship series of the 1988 season of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Canberra Cannons defeated the North Melbourne Giants in three games (2-1) for their third NBL championship.

Format

The 1988 National Basketball League Finals started on 14 July and concluded on 7 August. The playoffs consisted of two knockout Quarter finals, two best of three Semi-finals and the best of three game Grand Final series. As the two top teams at the end of the regular season, the Adelaide 36ers and North Melbourne Giants both qualified for home court advantage during the Semi-finals.

The finals series were played earlier than usual due to the 1988 Summer Olympic Games which were held at the time the NBL normally held their finals (September–October).

Qualification

Qualified teams

Team Finals
appearance		 Previous
appearance		 Previous best
performance
Adelaide 36ers 5th 1987 Champions (1986)
North Melbourne Giants 1st - 6th in 1987
Canberra Cannons 7th 1987 Champions (1983, 1984)
Brisbane Bullets 7th 1987 Champions (1985, 1987)
Perth Wildcats 2nd 1987 Runner up (1987)
Newcastle Falcons 4th 1987 4th in 1984 and 1985

Ladder

Pos 1988 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Adelaide 36ers 24 19 5 79.17% 4–1 W2 11–1 8–4 2744 2400 114.33%
2 North Melbourne Giants1 24 18 6 75.00% 4–1 W3 9–3 9–3 2903 2697 107.64%
3 Brisbane Bullets1 24 18 6 75.00% 3–2 W1 9–3 9–3 2603 2423 107.43%
4 Canberra Cannons 24 16 8 66.67% 5–0 W7 9–3 7–5 2691 2515 107.00%
5 Newcastle Falcons2 24 13 11 54.17% 3–2 L1 8–4 5–7 2850 2832 100.64%
6 Perth Wildcats2 24 13 11 54.17% 3–2 W1 9–3 4–8 2653 2573 103.11%
7 Illawarra Hawks3 24 11 13 45.83% 1–4 L2 6–6 5–7 2455 2410 101.87%
8 Eastside Spectres3 24 11 13 45.83% 3–2 W2 7–5 4–8 2495 2500 99.80%
9 Hobart Tassie Devils4 24 10 14 41.67% 1–4 L4 7–5 3–9 2298 2414 95.19%
10 Sydney Kings4 24 10 14 41.67% 2–3 L2 7–5 3–9 2460 2554 96.32%
11 Westside Saints 24 9 15 37.50% 1–4 W1 6–6 3–9 2534 2589 97.88%
12 Melbourne Tigers 24 8 16 33.33% 2–3 L1 4–8 4–8 2562 2681 95.56%
13 Geelong Supercats 24 0 24 00.00% 0–5 L24 0–12 0–12 2298 2958 77.69%

Updated to match(es) played on 9 July 1988. Source: NBL.com.au

Playoff bracket

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1 Adelaide 36ers 91 95 X
4 Canberra Cannons 107 4 Canberra Cannons 100 100 X
5 Newcastle Falcons 92 2 North Melbourne Giants 95 117 101
4 Canberra Cannons 120 101 108
2 North Melbourne Giants 105 137 134
3 Brisbane Bullets 98 6 Perth Wildcats 108 113 111
6 Perth Wildcats 113


Elimination Finals

(3) Canberra Cannons vs (6) Newcastle Falcons

14 July
Canberra Cannons 107, Newcastle Falcons 92
Scoring by quarter: 24-16, 23-33, 30-23, 30-20
Pts: Simon Cottrell 23
Rebs: Willie Simmons 23
Asts: Phil Smyth 7		 Pts: Wayne Mcdaniel 37
Rebs: Jerry Everett 19
Asts: Jerry Everett 2
AIS Arena, Canberra
Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Robert Barnett

(4) Brisbane Bullets vs (5) Perth Wildcats

16 July
Brisbane Bullets 98, Perth Wildcats 113
Scoring by quarter: 26-27, 26-28, 23-27, 31-23
Pts: Leroy Loggins 31
Rebs: Leroy Loggins 11
Asts: Leroy Loggins 8		 Pts: Cal Bruton 31
Rebs: Kendal Pinder 21
Asts: Mike Ellis 4
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Referees: Ray Hunt, Geoff Weeks

Semifinals

(1) Adelaide 36ers vs (3) Canberra Cannons

Game 1

19 July
Canberra Cannons 100, Adelaide 36ers 91
Scoring by quarter: 19-26, 37-21, 27-17, 17-27
Pts: Tad Dufelmeier 23
Rebs: Willie Simmons 11
Asts: Smyth, Mceachin 4 each		 Pts: Mark Davis 27
Rebs: Mark Davis 15
Asts: Darryl Pearce 4
Canberra lead the series 1-0
AIS Arena, Canberra
Attendance: 5,200
Referees: Ray Hunt, Robert Barnett

Game 2

22 July
Adelaide 36ers 95, Canberra Cannons 100
Scoring by quarter: 21-23, 33-29, 18-27, 23-21
Pts: Mark Davis 26
Rebs: Mark Davis 20
Asts: Al Green 5		 Pts: Phil Smyth 28
Rebs: Willie Simmons 17
Asts: Phil Smyth 6
Canberra win the series 2-0
Apollo Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance: 3,000
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Bill Mildenhall

(2) North Melbourne Giants vs (5) Perth Wildcats

Game 1

20 July
Perth Wildcats 108, North Melbourne Giants 105
Scoring by quarter: 35-32, 28-31, 29-22, 16-20
Pts: Kendal Pinder 25
Rebs: James Crawford 15
Asts: Cal Bruton 6		 Pts: Fisher, Dillon 26 each
Rebs: Fisher, Leader 11 each
Asts: Leader, Graham 4 each
Perth lead the series 1-0
Perth Superdrome
Attendance: 4,500
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Geoff Weeks

Game 2

22 July
North Melbourne Giants 137, Perth Wildcats 113
Scoring by quarter: 27-26, 26-28, 40-27, 44-32
Pts: Tim Dillon 44
Rebs: Tim Dillon 15
Asts: Dillon, Fisher 7 each		 Pts: Kendal Pinder 23
Rebs: Paul Kuiper 10
Asts: Cal Bruton 4
Series tied at 1-1
The Glass House, Melbourne
Attendance: 7,200
Referees: Ray Hunt, Geoff Weeks

Game 3

24 July
North Melbourne Giants 134, Perth Wildcats 111
Scoring by quarter: 31-29, 33-21, 24-37, 46-24
Pts: Tim Dillon 44
Rebs: Tim Dillon 9
Asts: Wayne Carroll 10		 Pts: Kendal Pinder 40
Rebs: Kendal Pinder 17
Asts: Mike Ellis 10
North Melbourne win the series 2-1
The Glass House, Melbourne
Attendance: 7,200
Referees: Ray Hunt, Eddie Crouch

Grand Final series

(2) North Melbourne Giants vs (3) Canberra Cannons

Game 1

30 July
Canberra Cannons 120, North Melbourne Giants 95
Scoring by quarter: 30-25, 25-24, 37-22, 28-24
Pts: Phil Smyth 25
Rebs: Willie Simmons 12
Asts: Phil Smyth 8		 Pts: Tim Dillon 29
Rebs: Tim Dillon 16
Asts: Wayne Carroll, Fisher 3 each
Canberra leads series 1-0
AIS Arena, Canberra
Attendance: 5,200
Referees: Ray Hunt, Bill Mildenhall

Game 2

5 August
North Melbourne Giants 117, Canberra Cannons 101
Scoring by quarter: 33-32, 29-11, 34-28, 30-21
Pts: Tim Dillon 43
Rebs: Tim Dillon 11
Asts: Wayne Carroll 7		 Pts: Jamie Kennedy 27
Rebs: Willie Simmons 13
Asts: Phil Smyth 7
Series tied at 1-1
The Glass House, Melbourne
Attendance: 7,200
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Geoff Weeks

Game 3

7 August
North Melbourne Giants 101, Canberra Cannons 108
Scoring by quarter: 24-26, 23-26, 28-25, 26-31
Pts: David Graham 28
Rebs: Tim Dillon 10
Asts: Wayne Carroll 6		 Pts: Willie Simmons 23
Rebs: Willie Simmons 10
Asts: Herb Mceachin 6
Canberra wins series and NBL Championship, 2–1
Grand Final MVP: Phil Smyth (Canberra)
The Glass House, Melbourne
Attendance: 7,200
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Bill Mildenhall

See also

References