The NBL Grand Final showdown will commence on Thursday with the NZ Breakers and the Perth Wildcats to battle it out in what will be a pretty damn awesome affair.

Both teams had great regular seasons and deserve to be there. Townsville and Gold Coast showed a bit of resistance in the semis but this is the showdown we all wanted!

The match-up between the back courts of Kevin Lisch (MVP) and Olympic hopeful Damien Martin of Perth against the MVP runner up Cedric Jackson and the evergreen CJ Bruton is mouth watering in itself and will no doubt have a huge say in the outcome.

There is also an injury scare surrounding gun forward Thomas Abercrombie but I'm not reading to much into that. This will be a ripper and hopefully ONE HD gets its act together to show the games either live or only slightly delayed.

Playing the games after midnight is an absolute disgrace and CEO of the NBL Larry Sengstock has some work to do over the off-season to find the game a broadcasting partner that cares about the game's brand. Give it back to Fox Sports or even investigate ABC TV but tell ONE HD to shove it!

I’m tipping Perth to get one over the ditch and take this thing in three games. Here’s how other basketball ‘experts’ in the area voted:

Dave ‘00’ Evans (Goodies Cafe) – NZ in 3
Mick ‘Smithers’ Whalen (Nautilus Apartments) – NZ in 2
Toni Bennett (Coral Sea Villas) – NZ in 3
Steve Hull (Ironbar) – Perth in 2 – "Abercrombie’s fitness a factor."
Carol Evans (Goodies Cafe) – Perth in 2
Kerry Larson (The Newsport, SMSS and Happy Pools) – Perth in 3
Sam ‘Enterprise’ Evans (Goodies Cafe and Ironbar) – Perth in 3
Glen Saville (Wollongong Hawk legend and one of the all time greats) – NZ in 3, "NZ won’t let another one slip at home after the Townsville loss."
Nathan Evans (Goodies Cafe) – NZ in 2
Daryl ‘German’ Taylor (Happy Pools) – NZ in 2
Lucas Agrums (Quicksilver and the only bloke who resides up here with an NBL ring) – NZ in 3 (If CJ Bruton goes off!)
Bruno Bennett (local boob) – Perth in 3
Jodi Gibson (U Beauty) – "Whatever u say honey 'cause you’re always right, Perth in 3."
Michael Gabour (PD Radio 90.9FM) – NZ in 3, "It’ll go the distance but they’ve been the best team all year!"
Brad Cooper (Senior Crocs coach) – NZ in 2, "They know what it takes!" 
Roy Weavers – (The Newsport and SMSS) – NZ in 2

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Let's move onto a sport that has no problem getting TV coverage - the AFL.

Newcomers GWS Giants and the Gold Coast Suns have established themselves as practice matches for other clubs. I say that with all due respect as they have young lists and are a work in progress but they will be whipping material for a few years yet.

I heard recently that Suns' coach Guy McKenna needs to get five wins this season or he's out of a job. They can definitely beat GWS twice but after that it might be pretty slim pickings.

The Dees (sorry Mick Whalen) look shakey right now but still should have the cattle to beat these guys but maybe a Richmond or a Brisbane, if decimated by injury, could fall victim.

As a Lions supporter I'm hoping it's not Brisbane but after the way they played against Carlton I'm not getting my hopes too much up. With both our colours injured (Brown and Black) we might be vulnerable to all clubs.

It must be frustrating for coach Vossy because as a player he could turn a game on its head but on the sidelines with a clipboard in his hands he has nowhere near as much influence. Good luck Guy McKenna and if you get sacked for not reaching five wins it just shows what a brutal caper the coaching gig is.

This week's winners

Gary Ablett (40 touches in a losing massacre - how good's this bloke!)
Melbourne Storm (Premiership favourites)
Adelaide Crows (Undefeated in 2012 under tutelage of rookie coack Sandilands)
PD Crocs (Very impressive on Saturday)
Collingwood (first win for Bucks but a little shakey?)
Carlton (looking ok)
Nth Melbourne (Unlucky not to be undefeated and my smokie to make the 8)
Dave '00' Evans (Fantastic achievement getting the Taipans' Clubperson award!)

This week's losers
  
Richmond (Now in the seventh year of Terry Wallace's 3 year plan)
Mark Neeld (It can be lonely in the big man's shoes)
Tiger Woods (?)
Melbourne Tigers (Sacking Gleeson for Anstey?)
Fevola (Hope you can dance cause my footy club now sucks!)
Hawthorn (Gotta close games out!)

This week on the Saturday morning sports show (90.9 FM) Roy, Kez and I will be talking with Michelle Timms as well as local legends and another huge name.