New Ball [Archive]

Observer

28-06-2010, 02:57 PM

Molten is out and Spalding is in

NBL going Spalding (http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1441&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=e3be8ba705).

Clips

28-06-2010, 03:33 PM

Hmm, interesting that we made changes to align with FIBA, only to go and change the rock. It is being specially developed, so I wonder how many panels it will have...

According to the article the ball will be used in Junior Championships too, so I imagine this will filter through to all domestic competitions.

Mookie

28-06-2010, 04:08 PM

I hear they considered using the Jabulani first.

It definitely sounds like a commercial decision over a performance one. If Spalding is (a) going to shell out more money; and (b) going to increase availablity of merchandise for punters out there, then clearly this is better for basketball in Australia.

Of course, the difference in ball may affect the Boomers when they play internationally, unless Spalding produces a ball that is similar enough to the Molten...

mattic

28-06-2010, 06:38 PM

Mookie

28-06-2010, 06:46 PM

The Molten logo on the balls in this (http://www.nbl.com.au/index.php?id=15&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=17609&tx_ttnews[backPid]=4&cHash=6fdbcde29d) NBL website article have been smudged out.
Seems a bit petty and pathetic to me. Especially getting the work experience kid to do it in MSPaint.

Wow, that's pretty shoddy work. I did notice something in the corner of my eye that seemed lacking about that photo, but didn't realise what until you pointed it out.

Daevo

29-06-2010, 10:40 AM

That is a very shoddy bit of work & it's a bit of a wasted effort when you can still see the Molten logo clearly in a couple of the player shots at the edges of the site.

Dunkin' Dan

29-06-2010, 12:40 PM

This is such a non-issue IMO. Surely people aren't suggesting that instead of these quick smudge-jobs, the NBL should be spending thousands of dollars getting images professionally photoshopped.

As for the balls themselves, Spalding > Molten.

mattic

29-06-2010, 01:41 PM

Dunkin' Dan

29-06-2010, 02:59 PM

Meet my good friend Mr. Occam: No need to edit the pics at all.
I'd be interested to hear why Mr. Occam thinks they were edited if there was no need for it at all.

Spalding is working with its American headquarters on a custom designed ball for the NBL that will be unveiled at the tip-off of the 2010 season on the 15th of October with a game between the Melbourne Tigers and the returning Sydney Kings.
Hopefully by "unveiled" they just mean from the public's perspective, and not the players'.

Wallitron

29-06-2010, 03:27 PM

Hopefully by "unveiled" they just mean from the public's perspective, and not the players'.

The NBL should be trying as hard as possible to emulate the success of the Football World Cup. It's pretty obvious that Melbourne will have to be using it for months, while Sydney (and everyone else) will get it the week before tip off.

Ricnat

29-06-2010, 05:05 PM

I hear they considered using the Jabulani first.

...

They'll just paint them orange and stick an NBL logo on them :)

I dont care what type of ball they use so long as the players like them and they contribute towards skilfull competetive basketball. I would like to see a pattern that is distinctly NBL though. The current NBL ball helped to identify the league with its yellow striping. I'm not suggesting we go to the old ABA red white and blue though !

jjj

29-06-2010, 06:43 PM

makes you wonder though whether they will go through every other picture in their archive and smudge out the ball logos ...
what a joke. seriously does the new sponsor really expect this. i know you have to service sponsors but does this have to be retrospective.
will the nbl be providing a similar service for all other sponsors... will highlights packages from years past have the fox sports logo pixellated, for instance??

mattic

29-06-2010, 08:24 PM

I'd be interested to hear why Mr. Occam thinks they were edited if there was no need for it at all.
Oh, I'm sure there was a commecial imperative involved. Either the Spaulding guys insisting, which I think is pretty lame. Or somebody at the NBL attempting to pander, which I think it pretty pathetic. That's the extent of my no-needingness.

mattic

29-06-2010, 08:35 PM

They'll just paint them orange and stick an NBL logo on them :)

I dont care what type of ball they use so long as the players like them and they contribute towards skilfull competetive basketball. I would like to see a pattern that is distinctly NBL though. The current NBL ball helped to identify the league with its yellow striping. I'm not suggesting we go to the old ABA red white and blue though !
I agree about a pattern.
What things about a ball can make it do what? (Stop me if I'm being too technical...)

Derek

29-06-2010, 08:55 PM

The current NBL ball helped to identify the league with its yellow striping.

Not really- it's a standard FIBA ball, European leagues use it as well.

DN

mattic

29-06-2010, 09:09 PM

Aw, it was such a lovely story :-(

paul

29-06-2010, 09:51 PM

It certainly gave a point of difference from the traditional, single coloured basketball - which I believe is what Ricnat was referring too. I too hope the new ball isnt just orange leather, but has something unique about it.

Out of interest the Euroleague, Eurocup, Spanish ACB and France Pro A dont use the FIBA Molten ball.

Wallitron

30-06-2010, 12:01 PM

Someone send the attached version to Howie

Ricnat

01-07-2010, 05:59 PM

Not really- it's a standard FIBA ball, European leagues use it as well.

DN

Shows how much Euro ball I watch ! Don't have Foxtel at home

Ricnat

01-07-2010, 06:01 PM

I agree about a pattern.
What things about a ball can make it do what? (Stop me if I'm being too technical...)

Remember when they bought a new ball into the NBA a couple of seasons back and all the players hated it, so they switched back to the old brand. They were talking about issues with the way the ball felt a bit slippery, grip was a problem.

mattic

01-07-2010, 06:17 PM

Righto, ta.

j-mac

02-07-2010, 04:09 PM

Remember when they bought a new ball into the NBA a couple of seasons back and all the players hated it, so they switched back to the old brand. They were talking about issues with the way the ball felt a bit slippery, grip was a problem.
That was a change from leather to synthetic though.

Ricnat

02-07-2010, 05:16 PM

That was a change from leather to synthetic though.

Either way - new ball compromised quality of the game. What's to say that Spalding don't come up with something that acts differently to the way teh current balls do? Unlikely it will happen, but there is enough evidence to suggest that there have been issues with "new balls" in various sports over the years.

Clips

17-08-2010, 10:28 AM

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2010/08/13/BASKETBALL_STANDARD_WEB_JJ192922_14165.JPG

From the link Curious posted to the Bully the other day (http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/08/14/162961_crocs.html) about Will Blalock, did anyone else notice the Spalding NBL ball?

8 panel, looks to be synthetic leather like the GF7's?

Mookie

17-08-2010, 10:29 AM

Very observant, Mr Holmes.

I don't mind it at all.

Clips

17-08-2010, 10:33 AM

Very observant, Mr Holmes.

I don't mind it at all.
It has an American ABA look to it, and I would half expect to see long socks and afros getting ready to rebound as the ball flashes colours in it's rotation.

That being said, I thought the colour of the Molten would be a distraction when that came out too.

Mookie

17-08-2010, 10:42 AM

It reminds me quite a lot of the Molten actually...

http://www.productreview.com.au/uploads/images/items/78167_molten_nbl_composite.jpg

Prodigal

17-08-2010, 10:55 AM

I don't mind it at all.

I've spoken to some guys from the Hawks. Apparently all the clubs were sent out 2 versions of the new ball for evaluation. One was a more expensive leather, the other a cheap shitty synthetic. The Hawks guys were unanimous in their preference for the more expensive ball. Guess which one the NBL has decided to go with?

Mookie

17-08-2010, 11:05 AM

I'm hanging here..... which one??? ;)

Clips

17-08-2010, 11:07 AM

The one the tigers voted for.

Wallitron

17-08-2010, 03:54 PM

The one the tigers voted for.

http://www.rebelsport.com.au/ecom/rebel/artwork/product_images/large/1501000500028000.jpg

Daevo

17-08-2010, 07:39 PM

Does it have "2010-2011 Champions" on the reverse?

meg

17-08-2010, 08:11 PM

What about Chuck's signature?

Wallitron

17-08-2010, 11:35 PM

It has a picture of McPeake's head, it takes up the entire other half of the ball.

CoachYT

18-08-2010, 05:00 PM

They'll just paint them orange and stick an NBL logo on them :)

I dont care what type of ball they use so long as the players like them and they contribute towards skilfull competetive basketball. I would like to see a pattern that is distinctly NBL though. The current NBL ball helped to identify the league with its yellow striping. I'm not suggesting we go to the old ABA red white and blue though !

As opposed to every other non-US league that used the same Molten 'hot cross bun' ball?

DDFan

18-08-2010, 08:10 PM

As opposed to every other non-US league that used the same Molten 'hot cross bun' ball?You missed post #15? :shock:

You nailed it with the "hot cross bun" analogy though. :p

I'll probably have to wait for the Easter long weekend before anyone gets that one.

Clips

18-08-2010, 11:17 PM

You missed post #15? :shock:

You nailed it with the "hot cross bun" analogy though. :p

I'll probably have to wait for the Easter long weekend before anyone gets that one.

Oh Jesus christ... you've got these jokes down to a t...

CoachYT

19-08-2010, 07:14 AM