The Sal's NBL is gearing up for a sparkling finish to season 2019 with the Final 4 heading to Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, and while we finally know the four teams that will be there, the Semi Final match-ups are yet to be determined.
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Following a 43pt win over the Manawatu Jets on Thursday night the Southland Sharks have booked their place in Christchurch where they will have a chance to defend their 2018 title. The Sharks have won five games on end and look to be hitting form at the right end of the season.
The make-up of the positions one to four will be of most interest from here, particularly given the Rams (2nd), Hawks (3rd) and Sharks (4th) will be more than mindful that avoiding the Saints (1st) in the Semi Finals might well be their best chance of stamping a ticket through to the Grand Final.
Those Semi Final match-up could be known by as early as this Saturday's game between the Hawks and Sharks. If the home team gets the win the Sharks cannot move out of 4th place, that's where they'll stay and a 2018 Grand Final rematch between the Saints and Sharks will feature as the opening Semi Final (3:10pm) on Saturday July 20 at Horncastle Arena.
That will leave the Rams and Hawks to play the later Semi Final (6:30pm).
The current top four looks like this;
Wellington Saints (played 15) 30pts
Canterbury Rams (played 15) 24pts
Hawke's Bay Hawks (played 14) 22pts
Southland Sharks (played 15) 20pts
Head-to-Head scenario;
Saints have H2H on Rams, Hawks and Sharks.
Rams have H2H on Sharks and lead the Hawks 1-0 (8pts)
Hawks trail the Rams 0-1 (8pts) and lead the Sharks 1-0 (14pts)
Sharks trail the Rams 0-2 and Hawks 0-1 (14pts)
Games to come featuring the top four teams;
June 29 - Hawks vs Sharks
July 5 - Rams vs Saints
July 11 - Hawks vs Rams
The outcome;
The Saints will finish first, locked in.
The Rams, Hawks and Sharks remain in a battle for seeds 2, 3 & 4.
If the Hawks beat the Sharks the Sharks will finish 4th and only the Rams and Hawks can change positions over the last two rounds.
