If you only see one movie featuring a flame throwing, electric guitar playing, chromed out, War Boy strapped to a big-rig this year make it this one. (You see, it’s funny because it’s so outlandish!)

From the deliciously demented mind of George Miller who brought you such psychedelic classics as the one about the talking pig (Babe) and the other one about dancing penguins (Happy Feet) comes his seemingly, in comparison, most down to Earth movie yet in Mad Max: Fury Road!

In a post apocalyptic world introduced to us in 1979’s Mad Max where people eek out some semblance of a half-life by surviving on mutated lizards and sucking down on mothers milk procured from morbidly obese women who are farmed out like battery hens. (Got milk? No thanks.) We find ourselves in one of the last remaining bastions of inhumanity where a degenerate tyrant rules with mangled fist and his legion of chroming War Boys who practice a perverted Norse mythology and sing praise for Valhalla while paying homage to the God that is V8! From the moment those deliciously retro 80’s titles stamp on the screen you know you’re in for something special.

The star of this show, hand(s) down is Brendan McCarthy – who? That’s right - Brendan McCarthy! Designer and co-writer along with Miller & Nico Lathouris who helped bring this mad boy to life. Whatever Miller was on in the 80’s he’s either never stopped taking it or located his stash and most certainly passed it to the left as we’re rolled out an ensemble of utterly disgustingly unique, warped, twisted, grotesque and assuredly memorable creations you’ll meet this side of the Wasteland, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the first season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne! Snap! (Stick around for the credits to enjoy their unique brandings. Rictus Erectus take a bow.)

Baa-ram-ewe!

Captured in all its HD glory by prolific cinematographer John Seale who’s covered everything from BMX Bandits to Gorillas in the Mist to bloody Harry Potter! The 72 year old (69-70 during filming) pulled a Murtaugh and came out of retirement to show the young whippersnappers exactly how it’s done. Wind swept sand dunes, mesmerising spirals churning from the tyres of speeding motorbikes shot in gorgeous technicolour in striking contrast to the stark backdrop of the Namib Desert and parts of Australia. Throw in the sounds of Junkie XL, the special effects team at Iloura (http://iloura.com.au/showreels/montage) and Stunt-Master Guy Norris (Chuck who?! – only joking, so, so sorry Chuck) and you have a film that is basically Nitro Circus featuring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. And speaking of stunts – my Lord! Real stunts with real vehicles. With Blockbusters these days so often dominated by CGI laden set pieces; it’s like fake abs or calves or breasts – I mean, sure, they look great and everything but there really is no substitute!

Tom Hardy replaces Mad Mel (you’ll always be Mad and a little bit racist to us) as the Road Warrior who struggles to find his voice in the film. It’s a point of contention that Max Rockatansky should be Australian or at least sound Australian. The Brit born Hardy’s accent comes and goes which is a stroke of genius by the actor since at the End Of Days when all the World’s peoples huddle together, society becomes a melting pot of cultures and dialects and – ok, you’re not buying it? What can I say, I’m a fan! *Note to future filmmakers – putting Tom Hardy in a mask or maul is like casting Jessica Alba as the Invisible Woman – WHY WOULD YA?! Thankfully the maul doesn’t stay on for long and the good news is that as soon a Hardy dons that jacket and wields that sawn off, that’s it – he’s Max. And what he lacks in vocabulary he makes up with every driving gesture and guttural grunt that are worth their weight in mother’s milk. Okay, gross.

Charlize Theron is only getting better and proves she can kick your ass with one arm behind her back by having only one arm. Hugh Keays-Byrne repulses as Immortan Joe who, FUN FACT! played the main villain, Toecutter, in the very first Mad Max - take that, cinephiles!  X-Men’s Beast, Nicholas Hoult has a lovely time of it as War Boy Nux whose character has the most telling arc. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Splendid is one to keep an eye on. Three if you can spare them. Riley Keough is Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, which is pretty cool, right? Zoe Kravitz is Lenny Kravitz’s daughter which is not as cool but at least she brings some fight to her character. Model, Abbey Lee frustrates as the Dag and West Australian Courtney Eaton is encouraging with her limited experience being only 16 at the time of principal photography.

The plot is linear which is fine and sometimes feels like Fury Cul-de-Sac and deserves a better third act. Some of the lines elicit unintentional laughter and cringe worthy moments but was always going to be the case with dialogue like, “he’s a schlem who likes biting slanga” – a mouthful in anyone’s language. The script lacks humour – I mean, it’s the post-apocalypse, I get it, but it doesn’t have to be all doom and babies heads. For example, did you hear that Mel Gibson is in talks to direct the sequel to Fury Road? Yeah, it’s going to be called – Post-Apocalypto! There is no level that joke doesn’t work on. My point is the script just needed something to lighten the mood to give us some relief from the constant oppression. But then again, maybe that’s the point. Whoa. I just blew my own mind.

Post-Apocalypto!

The post Movie Review: Mad Max – Fury Road appeared first on andrise.com.

Time had not been kind to the Little Rascals.

Who in the heck is the Suicide Squad and why should you care? These are both pertinent and valid questions.

‘Suicide Squad’ aka ‘Task Force X’ aka ‘You Naughty Little Rascals’* (*may not be a real thing) is DC’s (think Batman, Superman, Flash) answer to the Justice League or Marvel’s Avengers or Old People’s, The Expendables.

A veritable rogues gallery of less-than-willing super villains offered a chance at reducing (or escaping) their confines by taking part in government sanctioned, black ops missions whose odds of success are, as the squad’s name suggests, less than amazing.

Written & directed by David Ayer (Training Day, Fury) 2016’s Suicide Squad will be the 3^rd of 11 DC Comics’ Shared Universe Films and will act as the precursor to DC’s Justice League; Part 1 scheduled for release in November, 2017.

So who are these aforementioned scoundrels and who’s going to be playing them? We take a look (from left)

• Character: Slipknot
• Abilities: Can secure a trailer safely with his rope and knot tying skills. Oh. And kill you and junk.
• Actor:  Adam Beach
• You might know him from: The go to Native American Actor for, like, everything. Clint Eastwoods Flags of Our fathers or Windtalkers with Nicolas Cage.
• What to expect: Beach will bring a deep, spiritual, softly spoken performance as the villain with a penchant for restraints. We’re thinking Christian Grey; 50 Shades of Dead.
• Fun Fact: The nu-metal band from Iowa, Slipknot also has 9 members and also contains a clown. Coincidence? Yes, of course. Don’t be ridiculous.

• Character: Captain Boomerang
• Abilities: Can play ‘catch’ with himself.
• Actor: Jai Courtney
• You might know him as: Yippee Ki Yay, Motherfucker Jr in A Good Day to Die Hard opposite Bruce Willis or Kyle Reese in the upcoming, Terminator Genisys.
• 
  What to expect: If those mutton chops are anything to go by we’re looking at an ostentatious performance full of off colour “down under” jokes. We hope. Austin Powers meets Wolf Creek’s, Mick. Yeah, baby, huhhuhunhun!
• Fun Fact: Courtney trained at the same acting school as yours truly. Unlike Captain Boomerang, they didn’t want me to come back. (enter sad face here)

• Character: Katana
• Abilities: Like Tom Crusie in The Last Samurai. But actually Japanese. And a woman.
• Actor: Karen Fukuhara
• You might know her from: The picture above.
• What to expect: Samurai sensibility culture clash with the squad’s own methods & behaviour. We’ve seen the strong, silent, samurai type done so many times. Something new would be refreshing.
• Fun Fact: Armed with Soultaker, a sword that captures the souls of her victims and allows her to talk with them. That’s fun, right?

Character: Enchantress
Abilities: Muggle-born Witch, best friend to Harry & Ron. Wait, that’s not right. Magic.
Actor: Cara Delevingne
You might know her from: The fashion catwalks of London or Ole’ Pari’ or the upcoming film adaptation of young adult novel, Paper Towns.
What to expect: With a tomboyish quality and piercing eyes expect some resistance and distrust toward the swamp thing as the character’s Jekyl and Hyde persona of June Moone / Enchantress vie for control.
Fun Fact: Those are her real eyebrows.

Character: Rick Flag
Abilities: Having a kick ass name.
Actor: Joel Kinnaman
You might know him from: TV’s The Killing & the 2014 RoboCop reboot.
What to expect: The reluctant leader of the squad who already looks like he doesn’t want to be there. Kinda like everyone in RoboCop reboot. Zing! Hard man with a conscience yadayadayada Has his work cut out for him if he’s to keep this rag-tag bunch in line.
Fun Fact: Kinnaman was shortlisted to play Mad Max but lost out to Tom Hardy who was originally cast as Rick Flag but dropped out and was replaced by Kinnaman. Whaaaaat?!

Character: Harley Quinn
Abilities: Betty Boop with a baseball bat.  
Actor: Margot Robbie
You might know her from: The Wolf of Wall Street, Focus, Neighbours (TV).
What to expect: Big things from this girl as the Jokers love interest. After Wolf of Wall Street and the solid Focus Margot is on the verge of stardom and is going to swing for the fences (cuz she has a baseball bat) and make some bold choices in her effort to join Hollywood’s elite.
Fun Fact: A Harlequin is the name of a mischievous character that originated in the commedia dell’arte – you know what, never mind, she looked great in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Character: Deadshot
Abilities: He’s a deadeye dick with the guns.
Actor: Will “Big Willie Style” Smith
You might know him from: MIB, Bad Boys, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
What to expect: Smith’s star has fallen somewhat with his recent endeavours missing the mark. Not known for playing second fiddle, Smith will be at the (dead)centre of this film no doubt banging heads with the squad’s leader, Kinnaman’s Rick Flag. We hope we get more, Mike Lowrey (Bad Boys) and less Cypher Raige (After Earth).
Fun Fact: Worked with Harley Quinn’s Margot Robbie in the 2015 thriller, Focus.  Oddly, though, not a prequel.

Character: Killer Croc
Abilities: Looks great in/as boots. Is basically a big crocodile.
Actor: Adewale Akinnyoye-Agbaje
You might know him from: Mr Eko from Lost or Kurse from Thor: The Dark World
What to expect: Broody, intense, unpredictable and a little snappy. (geddit) The fact that he’s wearing a hoodie suggests he’s none too happy about his appearance / condition and may be the brunt of the squads jokes a la Beast / The Thing / Mark Zuckerberg.
Fun Fact: No stranger to the comic book genre, Adewale played Kurse in Marvel’s Thor and was circling to play the Black Panther which will now be played by Chadwick Boseman due for release in 2018

Character: El Diablo / Chato Santana
Abilities: Originally fashioned as Zorro with a dash of demonic possession. Ole’  Now, sadly, a heavily tattooed, Latino gang member with a proclivity for pyromancy.
Actor: Jay Hernandez
You might know him from: Hostel / Crazy/Beautiful
What to expect: Hot-blooded rebel and a bit of a bully. I don’t know why. I think it’s the jacket.
Fun Fact: El Diablo is ‘The Devil’ in Spanish. El Taco is Mexican – and means ‘delicious.’

So there you have it, a brief look at Task Force X. Granted there are some notable absentees in Viola Davis’s (TV’s How To Get Away With Murder) Amanda Waller (= Nick Fury) and Jared Leto’s (Dallas Buyers Club, 30 Seconds to Mars) Joker but we all know he doesn’t play well with others.

It’s very intriguing how/if this movie is going to work. It will be a breath of fresh air having the perspective of the bad guys but what happens when that novelty wears off? The real trick is going to be putting a bunch of assholes together for 90 minutes and making us give a damn. Having said that, Ayer did it with Training Day and he did it with Fury. Can he do it again with the Suicide Squad? Slated for release August, 5^th 2016 – we’ll see.

The post Feature: Who in the heck is the Suicide Squad? appeared first on andrise.com.

You barely have time to put on your 3D glasses before you’re whizzed back into a warzone that has the same on-screen intensity as the crescendo of the New York battle against the Chitauri in the first Avengers and you know you’re in for one hell of a ride!

Written & Directed by Joss “Grr. Argh.” Whedon: The Ultimate Avenger. Most infamous for co-writing Toy Story and creating low budget serials like Buffy, Angel, Firefly before graduating to small, indie hits like Serenity & Avengers – okay, we get it – you’re talented. This is Whedon at his most Whedonest. Whedonisms – the cinematic landscape is littered with. When Iron Man squeals in delight upon finding a hidden room or quietly, respectfully requests the Hulk to, “go to sleep”. Quips fire straight and true as if shot by Hawkeye, himself! However, not all of them land.

Joss Whedon: The Ultimate Avenger

Robert Downey Jr continues his scenery-chewing romp as Tony Stark as Iron Man as Robert Downey Jr. Chris Evans is settling in comfortably as the First Avenger, growing bolder and more righteous as he builds towards the ominously named, 2016 Cap movie; Civil War. Hemsworth looks great and paints Thor with a perfect balance of omnipotence and grandiose humour. Mark Ruffalo is a standout as Bruce Banner/ Hulk and is so compelling to watch. His performance as Banner is so restrained yet expressive that his Brandoesque, mumbling, whispers sound like shouting and only add to the ever-looming threat that he can “Code Green” at any moment. His performance is tragic, hopeful, vulnerable and all-powerful, all at the same time and his dynamic with the Black Widow is one of the film’s highlights.

Don Cheadle lights up the screen as James Rhodes / War Machine. By the very fact that he even cracks a mention is a testament to his talent. Having only four or five lines, one of them being a retelling of another! Give him his own movie already!

Enter “enhanced” twins, newbies – Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Olsen, the younger sister of another set of famous twins – Marie-Kate & Ashley, yes, those twins, and a respected actor in her own right starring in the critically acclaimed indie, Martha Marcy May Marlene. Olsen plays the Scarlet Witch whose abilities include telekinesis and hypnosis that literally bring the Avenger’s nightmares to life. Taylor-Johnson, no stranger to kicking ass from Kick-Ass fame joins as her brother, the speedster, Quicksilver. If you’re fans of the comics then you already know the relationship these guys have to Magneto and the mutants. Quicksilver already appeared on our screens in 2014 in Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past played by Evan Peters and I have to say that if they transposed that Quicksilver into this film, who is arguably more Whedonesque than Whedon’s own, then it would have made for a better fit. Odd casting with performances that just miss the mark and accents that seem to come and go. You can’t help but feel they wasted an opportunity with these two. It’s just a shame that X-Men: DOFP got there first, but all’s fair in love and civil war.

And what’s Avengers: Age of Ultron without its villain? Well, it’d just be Avengers: Age of – which is just ridiculous! James Spader brings all of his Boston Legal-Blacklist snarkiness to the titular character as the very, forward thinking, lovechild of the Science Bros; Stark and Banner, who in an attempt to stop all the fighting inadvertently create the very thing they fear. With an entrance reminiscent of Ledger’s Joker (easy DC v MCU fan-boys) and eerily brought to life by motion capture, Spader’s performance is both unnerving and utterly engaging which is never more true than in his movements of listening. It’s Ultron’s childlike-naivety, all knowingness and flippant attitude toward genocide that makes him so terrifying and a worthy foe for the Avengers. But to be fair, he was born yesterday.

You want action, there’s plenty of it. Every time Iron Man flies it’s exhilarating and the battle between him and the Hulk is a smash. (Gotta give me one) If they keep this up there’s not going to be much of the MCU left to film!

Mo-Cap, SFX, Enhanced & genocidal robots aside, the test of a good story is its ability to stay grounded. Which is where the true stars of the film shine. They don’t have superhuman strength, or super speed or a magic hammer. They’re not geniuses, playboys, billionaires or philanthropists. They are the blue-collar workers of the Avengers, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye.

Scarlett brings some much needed light and shade to her character, which is absolutely imperative being the only woman in the original line up. In 20 years we may look back and compare what Scarlett is doing today in the same light as Nichelle Nichols did for women as Star Trek’s Uhura all those years ago albeit without the racial undertones. Even though the divide is much less prevalent today, there is still the very real and prominent issue of equal rights and pay for females across the board. Yes, concessions can be made that this type of film is marketed to teenage boys and young male adults who buy the comics and merchandise but there are a growing number of very vocal female fans that are crying out to be represented in films such as these and girl, do they deserve it! As the Wonder Woman (I realise – DC, apologies) movie struggles to get off the ground, losing and gaining another director, Scar Jo’s Black Widow has never been more important. Whedon, ever the frontrunner for strong female leads from Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy to Angel’s David Boreanaz. It’s progressive writing such as his and layered performances from Johansson that’s starting to make it less about the spandex and more about what’s underneath. I mean, um, er, what’s on the inside. You know what I mean!

Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow: The Hero we deserve.

Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton / Hawkeye is of the same ilk. He is the everyman. Sure, people want to be Tony Stark or Thor or Cap but people can relate to Clint. He has the family life and the never-ending list of projects to do around his home and he goes out there and gives it his all and backs up the bigger guys because it is his job. When the story literally flies off into the air he is what keeps it grounded because he remains both relatable and accessible, and together with Johansson, forms the real heart and soul of Age of Ultron.

The post Movie Review: Avengers – Age of Ultron appeared first on andrise.com.

The first and last moments you see Paul Walker on screen are both warm and poignant and the most recent release of the much beloved Fast & Furious franchise is a fitting tribute to the late actor’s legacy.

Furious 7, Furious Seven, Fast & Furious 7, whatever colour you paint it, is a film that seeks to outdo itself at every turn and delivers in souped-up spades.

In capable hands with writer Chris Morgan (Tokyo Drift, 2009’s Fast & Furious, Fast Five & Furious 6), and directed by Australian, James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring) the Horror director who at first seems an odd choice until you realise the commercial success he’s had with his own billion dollar franchises.

This time around we see the big bad brother of the hospitalised F6 villain, Deckard Shaw (Statham) out for revenge against our merry band of street racing, anti-heroes. Diesel is back producing and staring as the gruff alpha, Domenic Toretto and say what you like about the testosterone filled tank top, he may be one note but geez it’s a good one. Walker, always watchable, returns as Brian O’Conner who is struggling to adjust to family life and yearns once again for the thrill of the chase. Rodriguez & Brewster are back, Brewster literally relegated to babysitting duty and in an attempt to flesh out the male dominated cast and perhaps inject some fresh blood into the series, Nathalie Emmanuel enters as hacker Megan Ramsey who you can see a lot more of in TV’s Game of Thrones. Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges takes a front seat in this one but is given more of an expository role in an effort to explain the plot’s high-concept technobabble and Tyrese Gibson is at his motor-mouth best as Roman Pearce. Kurt Russel adds a bit of class as the spec ops suit while Jason Statham is menacing and terminator like in his persistence as the inexorable, Deckard Shaw.

Dwayne “I used to wrestle” Johnson gets by on his affable charm and seems to have the mantle of one liners in his sites with lines like, “Woman, I am the cavalry.” In lesser hands it could come across as patronising and chauvinistic. Shakespeare, tis not.  Djimon “Where is the diamond?” Hounsou and Ong Bak’s Tony Jaa round out the rogues gallery but are rather one dimensional characters (is there another kind) the latter donning an evil moustache to become Walker’s nemesis in an East meets West duel that allows for some interesting and thrilling fights.

Doth Mother know you weareth her chain-gun?

The plot is somewhat convoluted and redundant but when has that ever stopped the Fast & Furious? There are some daytime television moments of melodrama that clunk by but that has never been what the Fast & Furious does well. What it does do well is give us cars, fist fights, gyrating bodies, shootouts, exotic locations and over-the-top action sequences. We travel across the globe at breakneck speeds to an adrenaline inducing soundtrack featuring Iggy Azalea (keep an eye out for the cameo) & Wiz Khalifa (so hot right now). There are cars jumping out of planes, cars jumping down the sides of mountains, cars jumping out of buildings and cars jumping out at helicopters. Who says cars can’t fly? Bullets, bodies, cars fly every-which-way as each new set piece seeks to out do the last and as I guiltily watched while my logical brain called bullshit I couldn’t help but wonder and get excited as to where the series would take me next. I for one will be looking forward to the next film in the franchise, Fast and Furious Infinite: Furious In Space, where you live your life a quarter light-year at a time.

Hey, we can dream.

Stunts, gyrating booties and hopefully pondering aside, in terms of being a well-made movie, it can sometimes suffer from the 2Fast, 2Much syndrome but Wan covers the action well enough to not jolt you from the experience. That being said, it’s quite a marvel that considering the obstacles they had to overcome to complete the final reel, both emotionally and technologically, it’s quite an achievement.

Whether this is the end of such a beloved, fan franchise or a set up for the next instalment, it is a pitch perfect way that allows the fans to say farewell to the blue-eyed boy with the 900 horsepower smile whose down to earth charisma and charm was what helped us all fall in love with franchise in the first place.

Dear heavenly spirit, thank you for providing us with the direct-port nitrous injection, four-core intercoolers, ball-bearing turbos and titanium valve springs…and thanks for Paul Walker.

2.5 tuna sandwiches on white, no crust. (Add another if you’re a fan)

The post Movie Review: Fast & Furious 7 appeared first on andrise.com.

The take your time to draft guy – Draft picks are rarely sprung upon people. The draft orders are set before the draft starts. Heck, most sites even send a friendly email reminder when it is your turn to pick. You know the draft has started so there is no reason not to make your pick in a timely manner instead of using 23 and a half hours of the allotted 24 hours for each pick; especially when you are in round 3 and the season is only a week away. It’s a sure fire way to piss off the rest of the league.

Pick up and drop everyone guy – Wow, congrats, you kept Gallinari on your squad for 17 minutes. I hope you are proud of yourself. Just wait the day or so for him to clear waivers with the 30 other players you added and dropped so you can do it again tomorrow.

Lame trash talk guy – You know the guy. “Hey u. ur team is nuthin! I’m gonna beat ya so bad cuz u know nothin about ball. I got Bron I got skillz. U hater. U cant do anything to stop me!!!!!11!”. Yeah. This guy. May he get crotch rot before one million flesh eating insects feast upon his crotch.

The guy who only drafts ‘has beens’ – This guy usually heads straight to the league’s trash talk area to tell you how he will annihilate you with Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Ben Gordon , Jason Richardson and Amar’e Stoudemire before adding that  ‘snagging’ Leandro Barbosa late in the draft was the icing on the cake. Yeah, good team, dude. If it were 2008.

Make stupid and insulting trades guy – Yeah, dude. Offering me Terrence Ross and Ricky Rubio for LeBron James is clearly a fair trade for both of us. No matter how hard you try to sell it, it’s not going to happen; and you know what? Don’t act all pissed off and offended when the trade is declined. Don’t be this guy. Repeat: Don’t be this guy.

The guy who makes outlandish position votes – This guy needs a forward but can’t bear to lose any of his guards. The solution is put forward a position vote proposal that a guard like Jamaal Crawford becomes Guard/Forward citing the he believes he saw the Clippers play Paul, Reddick & Crawford at the same time. So what, dude? I might use a screwdriver to start a car, but that doesn’t make it a key.

Guy who thinks he has the next Linsanity – You’ve seen him. He is related to the Pick up and drop everyone guy. He’s see’s someone like Anthony Morrow get a bit of court time and make a few baskets due to injury or foul trouble and wastes no time snatching him from the Free Agents list. Rest assured; the next time you will see Morrow is a week or 2 later waiting to clear waivers.

The MIA guy – This is the guy who signs up early, changes his team name 3 or 4 times in the first week or 2, gloats about the awesomeness of his picks and disappears 2 weeks into the season. Was he a figment of your imagine? Nah.. May he rest in pieces…. Many pieces.

The excuses guy – How ever confident they may be, they lose more than they win; but they will not rest on why they lost the games. Apparently they are only manager to experience injuries, their internet was down, the alignment of the moon wasn’t right, the room they set their roster had bad feng shui; they won’t stop at anything to tell you why didn’t win.

This guy – The guy who takes the time to sit down at a computer to list the guys you don’t want to be when it comes to fantasy sports.

Agree with this list, or not? Tell us in the comments section below. What other ‘guys’ have you come across in fantasy sports that we shouldn’t aspire to be?

The post 10 Fantasy Basketball Guys you don’t want to be appeared first on andrise.com.

Peter Crawford:  coming off an injury riddled season the NBL veteran is hoping he still has legs

Daequon Montreal: SEABL star made famous by a huge 46 point effort in the SEABL Grand Final

Jamar Wilson: Underutilised at Cairns and looking to prove he still has game

Tom Daly: Fat Golfer who lost weight.. Oh.. Tom.. Fringe NBL local product

Sam Johns: exciting young prospect suits up in the NBL for the first time

Who did the 36ers lose this season?

Gary Ervin: Mighty Mouse returned ‘home’ to the Wollongong Hawks

Jason Cadee: Ran to the Kings as quick as he runs the floor

Daniel Johnson: Seeking a huge pay day in Europe

Jarrid Frye: One would question if the 36ers actually ‘lost’ him though. More like abandoned cargo at the airport.

Who will be the keys to success?

Whilst a defensive liability at times the main key for the 36ers success is filling the 16 points per game hole that Daniel Johnson leaves. Assuming Montreal is an effective player at the next level and Anthony Petrie taking on a slightly bigger load this may be a relatively easy feat to achieve.

Though the 36ers don’t look like the best team on paper they will need to learn quickly to share the load and use a bit of everything that everyone brings to the table. By playing as a team and everyone chipping in the 36ers could put up a bit of a fight. If that doesn’t work they will be relying on the three ball all season long.

Who will be the X-Factor that could elevate the 36ers if they step up? 

Each year Joey Wright gets talked about by fans as a potential coach of the year and personally I have never seen it. He won a title with maybe the most stacked team in NBL history and underachieved with the Gold Coast Blaze. It is time for Joey to put his money where his mouth is and show that he can do more than argue with refs from the side line, continually looking disappointed, and blaming Adam Tatalovich for everything;  and actually coach.

Another factor lies on their wings. Is Peter Crawford capable of playing at the level consistent with his history and will Mitch Creek show finally show the potential that is often talked about? If the answer is no to both these then the 36ers, with their weak bench will bust very early in the season.

Where will the 36ers finish on the ladder?

Last year’s grand finalists won’t see a repeat of last season. I can see the 36ers finishing outside the top 4 ending the season in 5th or 6th place on the ladder.

What reason does an average fan have to watch the 36ers this season?

1. The open break: With Jamal Wilson looking to run the floor with the option to kick it off to Creek, Crawford, Montreal, Johns, Gibson, or even Petrie will be enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats

2. Mitch Creek: We all know that Mitch Creek is capable of soaring above the ring and it is time for the dude to make it happen out there on the court. His high flying acrobatics could help put the 36ers back on the map

3. Adam Gibson: When Gibbo’s hand gets hot it is on fire. Watching an ‘en fuego’ Gibbo hit shot after shot to keep his team in the game is one thing that makes basketball great

Next: our Season Preview of Melbourne United.

The post 2014-15 NBL Season Preview – Adelaide 36ers appeared first on andrise.com.

DeAndre Daniels:  The second round NBA Draft Pick has been stashed in Australia by the Toronto Raptors

Earnest Ross: Guamanian fresh out of college and built like a linebacker

Asst Coach Jamie O’Loughlin: joins the team with recent SEABL head coaching and national youth coaching experience

Who did the Wildcats lose this season?

James Ennis: The super-skinny dunker signed with the Miami Heat.

Erik Burdon: Singing for the Animals, or playing in the SEABL. Not too sure

Mathiang Muo: Dude was in the team, then he wasn’t. Thanks, Earnest Ross

Asst Coach Andy Stewart: Highly liked Assistant Coach has moved on

Who will be the keys to success?

Whilst DeAndre Daniels’ addition to the roster adds scoring punch the key to the Wildcats is the depth and experience of this roster playing together. When you consider that there are only two player changes to the roster that annihilated the 36ers in last season’s grand final; the idea is scary.  Their commitment to the team and each other is admirable. Oh, and it is quite a luxury to sub Shawn Redhage out for Jesse Wagstaff, or Matty Knight for NBL Rookie of the Year, Tom Jervis.

Daniels is a player that has little problem with making his shots but is known to have trouble dealing with contact and passing out of double team pressure. A lot rides on how well the Wildcats can keep this guy open. A Matty Knight screen or two will do that.

Who will be the X-Factor that could elevate the Wildcats to absurdly good?

To have a reliable scorer off the bench is a highly sought after commodity in the world of hoops. If Earnest Ross can come off the bench and add the scoring punch that he seems capable of then the season could be a long one for all teams not based in Perth. Same if Tom Jervis continues to impact the game like he did last season. Jesse Wagstaff is another one that has been sitting between the cusp on solid NBL player and NBL Superstar. If the dude can make the jump to the next level then the Wildcats could be scary good.

NCAA Final Four standout, DeAndre Daniels also plays a pivotal role in the team’s success. It is evident that the guy doesn’t like passing the ball, much preferring to shoot it. A quick look at his stats tells you that the dude average 0.6 assists per forty minutes on the court. That was the worst of any of the top 100 NBA draft hopefuls. Should Daniels go into ‘star mode’ and not involve his team in a team heavy system, watch the offence dry up.

Where will the Wildcats finish on the ladder?

Though this season the NBL seems to have made huge strides in obtaining a large amount of talent, with most teams looking a lot stronger on paper, anything less than 1st place on the ladder and another NBL Championship would be considered a disappointment.

What reason does an average fan have to watch the Wildcats this season?

1. Damian Martin: Has there ever been another point guard that is capable of leading their team in steals, blocks and boards? Getting goose bumps from hearing 11,000 fans roar with excitement after a Damian Martin chase down block is an amazing feeling. He is the sort of guy you just point at and say “That is how you play defence”

2. Jermaine ‘Dolla’ Beal: In my opinion Beal was the Wildcats best player last season, at his best in the clutch. Often in the latter stages of a game Beal took over, nailing a late shot  to remove the hope from the other team or making a late play to seal the game. It is moments like these that make watching basketball one of the greatest things

3. Transition Offence: When a team executes their defence as well as the Wildcats do, you can expect quick transition baskets. We saw James Ennis last season anticipating the steal and the fast break dunk, but this season expect to see similar from Daniels, Ross and even Jesse Wagstaff who has been throwing them down in the pre-season with gusto

Next: our Season Preview of Melbourne United.

The post 2014-15 NBL Season Preview – Perth Wildcats appeared first on andrise.com.

Who did the Kings add this season?

Josh Childress:  import small forward with NBA credentials

Kendrick Perry: super-fast import point guard, straight out of college and time with the Orlando Magic Summer League team – a serious talent

Angus Brandt: Aussie big man returning from Oregon State University to his hometown

Josh Duinker: another Sydney big returning home, after time in Europe, using his duel-nationality with a Dutch passport

Jason Cadee: the speedy point guard is yet another Sydney-sider returning home after playing with the Adelaide 36ers and Gold Coast Blaze

Coach Damian Cotter: stepping up from his assistant role is the experienced state and national women’s coach

Who did the Kings lose this season?

AJ Ogilvy: the talented big man is off to Europe

Sam Young: the NBA gun for hire was never long for these shores

Jesse Sanders: the consummate team point guard

Charles Carmouche: import shooting guard

Brad Hill: swingman joins Wollongong Hawks

James Harvey: veteran shooting guard and co-captain has not resurfaced with another NBL roster

Who will be the keys to success?

Much is expected of big-name import Childress. His NBA pedigree and recognisable ‘fro will be the drawcard that pulls the fans in and gives his team that “can-win” feeling, going into battle against the NBL’s heavyweights.

However, the play of Perry may be even more important. The 6’0″ point guard with the 6’6″ wingspan and the 42″ vertical can really get to the bucket and put the pressure on defensively. Whilst being young, he has an air of maturity about him as a leader, one who will likely put in some impressive performances for the Kings this season against some formidable point guard opponents. He reminds me of a young Cedric Jackson.

In the paint, the combo of Brandt, Duinker and incumbents Tom Garlepp and Cody Ellis will rotate to provide coach Cotter with a multi-talented four-headed monster. Their ability to find at least two good performances between the four of them every time the Kings hit the floor, will be integral to success. Garlepp is clearly one of this team’s leaders – by example.

Who will be the X-Factor that could elevate the Kings if they step up?

As odd as it may sound, captain Ben Madgen could indeed be the Kings’ X-Factor this season. Lost in the hoopla of the arrival of the flashy imports, the return of the hometown crew and the departure of Ogilvy, Young and coach Shane Heal, is the fact that Madgen is still the guy who made the 2013 All-NBL First Team and recently was part of the Australian Boomers program.

Madge can fill it up from any area on the court and remains the heart and soul of this club. His grittiness, which extends to a commitment to on the defensive end of the floor, will win games for the Kings this season, whilst the focus of the crowd (and the opponents) is on the alley-oops his teammates are throwing down. Don’t sleep on him.

Meanwhile, Cadee is the other player who will change the face of games this season. His pace and ability to nail big threes will come to the fore off the bench. There will be games where he pushes 20 points this season, pushing the Kings to victory.

Where will the Kings finish on the ladder?

This season’s NBL competition will be incredibly tight. The spread of talent is incredible. That said, we’re not here to sit on fences — it’s time to make a call.

Behind a strong second half push, as the new team gels, the Kings will scrape into the playoff race in 4th place on the ladder.

What reason does an average fan have to watch the Kings this season?

1. High-flying excitement: in a pre-season game last month I counted no less than four alley-oops with Childress and Perry throwing down on the end of them. This team is built to entertain.

2. Josh Childress: the man is a genuine NBA talent; one who the average NBA fan knows.

3. Hard work: the likes of Madgen, Garlepp, Kevin White and Daniel Joyce put in workmanlike performances whenever they hit the floor for the Kings. If you’re a purist who appreciates players going the hard yards, these guys will not disappoint.

Next: our Season Preview of the reigning champion Perth Wildcats.

The post 2014-15 NBL Season Preview – Sydney Kings appeared first on andrise.com.

Diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia in 2012, Gibson checked in to the game with 29 seconds to go in the third period of an intra-club scrimmage. To the roar of the crowd, Gibson gets the inbound pass and burns past first round darft pick, Dante Exum for a dunk in traffic.

I have never been a huge fan of the Utah Jazz but you simply have to respect the gesture. Treating the little dude and his family to a day they will remember.

It is moments like this that make you realise that in this day and age of self-centredness that there chivalry still exists; and those knights wear Jazz jerseys.

The post Utah Jazz sign 5yo to a one day contract appeared first on andrise.com.

So I thought I’d try my pen

And attempt to frame

When the Leopards entered the Lion’s den

====================

Intimate Alexandria was the venue

Hanging with many banners

But unfortunately for Luo and Xingyu

As hosts the Kings forgot their manners

====================

29-15 Sydney jumped out of the gate;

A margin too hard to redress.

Particularly with players as great

As debutant Josh Childress.

====================

Watching his poise and hang-time,

It has become obvious early;

(Yes, I know it doesn’t rhyme)

Kendrick Perry’s a star clearly.

====================

Despite his team’s unhappy score

It was great to see legend Brian.

The crowd gave him a roar;

One worthy of the Lion!

====================

Goorj shouts at his men,

“Box out Angus Brandt!”

As he grabs rebound ten

But they just can’t

====================

By half-time the margin was 22;

Many of them points in the paint.

Then the fouling out of Liu,

Was Brian’s next complaint.

====================

Madge’s shooting continued the deluge.

And upon Garlepp you can always rely;

His numbers weren’t huge;

But sometimes stats lie.

====================

The imports made the crowd grin;

Throwing down four alley-oops.

Final score: a 21 point win;

Man, I love the return of NBL hoops!

====================

Box Score: http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/12275/02/96/30/9948cUx4YMO1o/

Sydney Kings TV game video (featuring commentary by Matt McQuade, Bruce Bolden and Brad Rosen):

The post Sydney Kings vs Dongguan Leopards: A Poem appeared first on andrise.com.