1985 NBL Finals
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (June 2020) |
| 1985 NBL Finals | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | 24 August - 7 September 1985 |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC SAS (Adelaide) TV0 (Brisbane) |
| NBL Finals | |
| Champions | Brisbane Bullets |
| Runners-up | Adelaide 36ers |
| Finals MVP | Not awarded |
The 1985 NBL Finals was the championship series of the 1985 season of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL). The Brisbane Bullets defeated the Adelaide 36ers to win their first NBL championship.
Format[edit]
The 1985 National Basketball League Finals was played between 24 August and 7 September between the top six teams of the regular season, consisting of two Elimination Finals, two Semifinals and the Grand Final. All Finals games were sudden death and for the first time the higher placed teams were given home court advantage. The top two teams of the regular season, the Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers, automatically qualified to host their respective Semifinals.
Qualification[edit]
Qualified teams[edit]
| Team | Finals appearance |
Previous appearance |
Previous best performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Bullets | 4th | 1984 | Runner up (1984) |
| Adelaide 36ers | 2nd | 1984 | 6th in 1984 |
| Canberra Cannons | 4th | 1984 | Champions (1983, 1984) |
| Nunawading Spectres | 5th | 1984 | Runner up (1981) |
| Coburg Giants | 4th | 1984 | 4th (1983, 1984) |
| Newcastle Falcons | 3rd | 1984 | 5th in 1984 |
Ladder[edit]
| Pos | 1985 NBL season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
| 1 | Brisbane Bullets1 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 76.92% | 4–1 | W2 | 12–1 | 8–5 | 2832 | 2328 | 121.65% |
| 2 | Adelaide 36ers1 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 76.92% | 4–1 | L1 | 11–2 | 9–4 | 3155 | 2693 | 117.16% |
| 3 | Nunawading Spectres2 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 73.08% | 4–1 | W3 | 10–3 | 9–4 | 2574 | 2388 | 107.79% |
| 4 | Canberra Cannons2 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 73.08% | 3–2 | L2 | 7–6 | 12–1 | 2607 | 2439 | 106.89% |
| 5 | Coburg Giants | 26 | 18 | 8 | 69.23% | 4–1 | W4 | 11–2 | 7–6 | 2947 | 2730 | 107.95% |
| 6 | Newcastle Falcons | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 2–3 | L1 | 9–4 | 7–6 | 2864 | 2796 | 102.43% |
| 7 | Geelong Cats | 26 | 15 | 11 | 57.69% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 2871 | 2674 | 107.37% |
| 8 | Perth Wildcats | 26 | 13 | 13 | 50.00% | 3–2 | W3 | 9–4 | 4–9 | 2816 | 2844 | 99.02% |
| 9 | Illawarra Hawks3 | 26 | 10 | 16 | 38.46% | 1–4 | L1 | 6–7 | 4–9 | 2690 | 2975 | 90.42% |
| 10 | St. Kilda Saints3 | 26 | 10 | 16 | 38.46% | 2–3 | L1 | 7–6 | 3–10 | 2699 | 2810 | 96.05% |
| 11 | Sydney Supersonics | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 2–3 | L3 | 6–7 | 3–10 | 2804 | 2934 | 95.57% |
| 12 | Bankstown Bruins | 26 | 6 | 20 | 23.08% | 3–2 | W1 | 3–10 | 3–10 | 2527 | 2694 | 93.80% |
| 13 | Melbourne Tigers | 26 | 5 | 21 | 19.23% | 1–4 | L2 | 3–10 | 2–11 | 2362 | 2903 | 81.36% |
| 14 | Hobart Devils | 26 | 2 | 24 | 07.69% | 0–5 | L8 | 2–11 | 0–13 | 2519 | 3059 | 82.35% |
Updated to match(es) played on 18 August 1985. Source: NBL.com.au
Playoff bracket[edit]
| Elimination Finals | Semifinals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Brisbane Bullets | 93 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Canberra Cannons | 110 | 4 | Canberra Cannons | 76 | |||||||||
| 5 | Coburg Giants | 87 | 1 | Brisbane Bullets | 121 | |||||||||
| 2 | Adelaide 36ers | 95 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Adelaide 36ers | 151 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Nunawading Spectres | 97 | 6 | Newcastle Falcons | 103 | |||||||||
| 6 | Newcastle Falcons | 103 | ||||||||||||
Elimination Finals[edit]
(3) Canberra Cannons vs (5) Coburg Giants[edit]
24 August
|
| Canberra Cannons 110, Coburg Giants 87 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 19-22, 27-22, 24-19, 40-24 | ||
| Pts: Herb Mceachin 29 Rebs: Dave Nelson 11 Asts: Phil Smyth 7 |
Pts: Ray Borner 27 Rebs: Ray Borner 18 Asts: Borner, Carroll 4 each | |
(4) Nunawading Spectres vs (6) Newcastle Falcons[edit]
24 August
|
| Nunawading Spectres 97, Newcastle Falcons 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 20-26, 28-24, 18-22, 31-31 | ||
| Pts: Ron Lemons 38 Rebs: Lemons, Cottrell 12 each Asts: Brendan Joyce 12 |
Pts: Ian Davies 26 Rebs: Jim Bateman 12 Asts: Ian Robilliard 4 | |
Semifinals[edit]
(2) Adelaide 36ers vs (6) Newcastle Falcons[edit]
31 August
|
| Adelaide 36ers 151, Newcastle Falcons 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28-34, 42-27, 35-23, 46-19 | ||
| Pts: Al Green 45 Rebs: Mark Davis 14 Asts: Darryl Pearce 6 |
Pts: Michael Johnson 37 Rebs: Jim Bateman 13 Asts: Ian Davies 2 | |
(1) Brisbane Bullets vs (6) Canberra Cannons[edit]
31 August
|
| Brisbane Bullets 93, Canberra Cannons 76 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26-20, 24-15, 18-22, 25-19 | ||
| Pts: Leroy Loggins 28 Rebs: Leroy Loggins 12 Asts: Cal Bruton 7 |
Pts: Dave Nelson 17 Rebs: Phil Smyth 9 Asts: Jamie Kennedy 4 | |
Grand Final[edit]
(1) Brisbane Bullets vs (2) Adelaide 36ers[edit]
7 September
|
| Brisbane Bullets 121, Adelaide 36ers 95 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26-27, 29-18, 23-29, 43-21 | ||
| Pts: Leroy Loggins 41 Rebs: Chris Mcgraw 10 Asts: Larry Sengstock 6 |
Pts: Mark Davis 28 Rebs: Mark Davis 18 Asts: Darryl Pearce 8 | |
| Brisbane wins the NBL Championship | ||