1985 NBL Finals

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.

1985 NBL Finals
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Duration24 August - 7 September 1985
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)ABC
SAS (Adelaide)
TV0 (Brisbane)
NBL Finals
ChampionsBrisbane Bullets
  Runners-upAdelaide 36ers
Finals MVPNot awarded
Seasons

Format

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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

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Qualified teams

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TeamFinals
appearance
Previous
appearance
Previous best
performance
Brisbane Bullets4th1984Runner up (1984)
Adelaide 36ers2nd19846th in 1984
Canberra Cannons4th1984Champions (1983, 1984)
Nunawading Spectres5th1984Runner up (1981)
Coburg Giants4th19844th (1983, 1984)
Newcastle Falcons3rd19845th in 1984

Ladder

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Pos 1985 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1Brisbane Bullets12620676.92%4–1W212–18–528322328121.65%
2Adelaide 36ers12620676.92%4–1L111–29–431552693117.16%
3Nunawading Spectres22619773.08%4–1W310–39–425742388107.79%
4Canberra Cannons22619773.08%3–2L27–612–126072439106.89%
5Coburg Giants2618869.23%4–1W411–27–629472730107.95%
6Newcastle Falcons26161061.54%2–3L19–47–628642796102.43%
7Geelong Cats26151157.69%2–3L18–57–628712674107.37%
8Perth Wildcats26131350.00%3–2W39–44–92816284499.02%
9Illawarra Hawks326101638.46%1–4L16–74–92690297590.42%
10St. Kilda Saints326101638.46%2–3L17–63–102699281096.05%
11Sydney Supersonics2691734.62%2–3L36–73–102804293495.57%
12Bankstown Bruins2662023.08%3–2W13–103–102527269493.80%
13Melbourne Tigers2652119.23%1–4L23–102–112362290381.36%
14Hobart Devils2622407.69%0–5L82–110–132519305982.35%

Updated to match(es) played on 18 August 1985. Source: NBL.com.au

Playoff bracket

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Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1Brisbane Bullets93
4Canberra Cannons1104Canberra Cannons76
5Coburg Giants871Brisbane Bullets121
2Adelaide 36ers95
2Adelaide 36ers151
3Nunawading Spectres976Newcastle Falcons103
6Newcastle Falcons103


Elimination Finals

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(3) Canberra Cannons vs (5) Coburg Giants

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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
AIS Arena, Canberra
Attendance: 5,200
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Trevor Dallas

(4) Nunawading Spectres vs (6) Newcastle Falcons

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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
The Glass House, Melbourne
Referees: Ray Hunt, Bill Mildenhall

Semifinals

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(2) Adelaide 36ers vs (6) Newcastle Falcons

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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
Apollo Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance: 3,000
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Bill Mildenhall

(1) Brisbane Bullets vs (6) Canberra Cannons

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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
Sleeman Sports Centre, Brisbane
Attendance: 2,700
Referees: Ray Hunt, Geoff Weeks

Grand Final

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(1) Brisbane Bullets vs (2) Adelaide 36ers

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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
Sleeman Sports Centre, Brisbane
Attendance: 2,700
Referees: Ray Hunt, Eddie Crouch

See also

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References

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