1981 NBL Finals

1981 NBL Finals
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Duration27–28 June
Number of teams4
TV partner(s)ABC
Grand Final
ChampionsLaunceston Casino City
  Runners-upNunawading Spectres
Finals MVPNot awarded
Seasons

The 1981 NBL Finals was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball League's 1981 season, which began in February. The finals began on 27 June. The tournament concluded with the Launceston Casino City defeating the Nunawading Spectres in the NBL Grand Final on 28 June.

Format

The NBL finals series in 1981 consisted of two semifinal games, and one championship-deciding grand final. The finals were contested between the top four teams of the regular season, with the finals weekend hosted at the neutral Apollo Entertainment Centre in Adelaide.

Qualification

Qualified teams

Team Finals
appearance		 Previous
appearance		 Previous best
performance
Launceston Casino City 1st - -
West Adelaide Bearcats 2nd 1980 Runner-up (1980)
Nunawading Spectres 2nd 1980 Semi-finalist (1980)
Brisbane Bullets 2nd 1980 Semi-finalist (1980)

Ladder

Pos 1981 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 St. Kilda Saints1 22 17 5 77.27% 5–0 W6 10–1 7–4 2134 1927 110.74%
2 Launceston Casino City 22 14 8 63.64% 4–1 W3 7–4 7–4 1895 1810 104.70%
3 West Adelaide Bearcats2 22 13 9 59.09% 3–2 W1 10–1 3–8 1848 1823 101.37%
4 Nunawading Spectres2 22 13 9 59.09% 3–2 L1 8–3 5–6 1706 1566 108.94%
5 Brisbane Bullets1 2 3 22 13 9 59.09% 3–2 W1 6–5 7–4 1712 1592 107.54%
6 Newcastle Falcons2 3 22 13 9 59.09% 0–5 L6 9–2 4–7 1779 1714 103.79%
7 Canberra Cannons 22 12 10 54.55% 3–2 W3 10–1 2–9 1700 1719 98.89%
8 Illawarra Hawks 22 9 13 40.91% 3–2 L1 8–3 1–10 1889 1949 96.92%
9 City of Sydney Astronauts 22 8 14 36.36% 4–1 W2 5–6 3–8 1711 1898 90.15%
10 Coburg Giants4 22 7 15 31.82% 0–5 L5 6–5 1–10 1690 1746 96.79%
11 Bankstown Bruins4 22 7 15 31.82% 1–4 L1 5–6 2–9 1746 1897 92.04%
12 Forestville Eagles 22 6 16 27.27% 1–4 L3 5–6 1–10 1719 1888 91.05%

Updated to match(es) played on 21 June 1981. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.

1St. Kilda Saints chose to participate in the 1981 FIBA Club World Cup in Brazil, instead of the 1981 NBL Finals. They were replaced by the Brisbane Bullets.

24-way Head-to-Head between West Adelaide Bearcats (5-1), Nunawading Spectres (3-3), Brisbane Bullets (2-4) and Newcastle Falcons (2-4).

3Head-to-Head between Brisbane Bullets and Newcastle Falcons (1-1). Brisbane Bullets won For and Against (+15).

4Head-to-Head between Coburg Giants and Bankstown Bruins (1-1). Coburg Giants won For and Against (+24).

Playoff bracket

Semifinals Grand Final
      
1 Launceston Casino City 71
4 Brisbane Bullets 69
1 Launceston Casino City 75
2 Nunawading Spectres 54
2 West Adelaide Bearcats 71
3 Nunawading Spectres 74


Semifinals

Date Home Score Away Box Score
27 June 1981 Launceston Casino City 71–69 Brisbane Bullets {{{venue}}} {{{crowd}}} boxscore
27 June 1981 West Adelaide Bearcats 71–74 Nunawading Spectres {{{venue}}} {{{crowd}}} boxscore

Grand Final

Date Home Score Away Box Score
28 June 1981 Launceston Casino City 75–54 Nunawading Spectres {{{venue}}} {{{crowd}}} boxscore

See also

References