1981 NBL season

The 1981 NBL season was the third season of the National Basketball League (NBL).

1981 NBL season
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Duration14 February – 21 June (Regular season)
27 June – 28 June (Finals)
Number of games22
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)ABC
Regular season
Minor premiersSt. Kilda Saints
Season MVPMike Jones (Illawarra)
Top scorerMike Jones (Illawarra)
Finals
ChampionsLaunceston Casino City (1st title)
  Runners-upNunawading Spectres

Regular season

The Regular Season took place over 18 Rounds between 14 February 1981 and 21 June 1981. Each team played 22 games, against every opponent twice.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Ladder
# Team Played Won Loss Win% Last 5 Streak Home Away For Against Points%
1 St. Kilda Saints1 22 17 5 77.27% 5-0 Won 6 10-1 7-4 2,134 1,927 110.74%
2 Launceston Casino City 22 14 8 63.64% 4-1 Won 3 7-4 7-4 1,895 1,810 104.70%
3 West Adelaide Bearcats2 22 13 9 59.09% 3-2 Won 1 10-1 3-8 1,848 1,823 101.37%
4 Nunawading Spectres2 22 13 9 59.09% 3-2 Lost 1 8-3 5-6 1,706 1,566 108.94%
5 Brisbane Bullets1 2 3 22 13 9 59.09% 3-2 Won 1 6-5 7-4 1,712 1,592 107.54%
6 Newcastle Falcons2 3 22 13 9 59.09% 0-5 Lost 6 9-2 4-7 1,779 1,714 103.79%
7 Canberra Cannons 22 12 10 54.55% 3-2 Won 3 10-1 2-9 1,700 1,719 98.89%
8 Illawarra Hawks 22 9 13 40.91% 3-2 Lost 1 8-3 1-10 1,889 1,949 96.92%
9 City of Sydney Astronauts 22 8 14 36.36% 4-1 Won 2 5-6 3-8 1,711 1,898 90.15%
10 Coburg Giants4 22 7 15 31.82% 0-5 Lost 5 6-5 1-10 1,690 1,746 96.79%
11 Bankstown Bruins4 22 7 15 31.82% 1-4 Lost 1 5-6 2-9 1,746 1,897 92.04%
12 Forestville Eagles 22 6 16 27.27% 1-4 Lost 3 5-6 1-10 1,719 1,888 91.05%

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.

1St. Kilda Saints chose to participate in the 1981 FIBA Club World Cup in Brazil, instead of the 1981 NBL Finals. They were replaced by the Brisbane Bullets.

24-way Head-to-Head between West Adelaide Bearcats (5-1), Nunawading Spectres (3-3), Brisbane Bullets (2-4) and Newcastle Falcons (2-4).

3Head-to-Head between Brisbane Bullets and Newcastle Falcons (1-1). Brisbane Bullets won For and Against (+15).

4Head-to-Head between Coburg Giants and Bankstown Bruins (1-1). Coburg Giants won For and Against (+24).

Finals
Main article: 1981 NBL Finals

The NBL finals series in 1981 consisted of two semi-final games, and one championship-deciding grand final. All three of these finals games were sudden death.

Playoff bracket
Semi Finals Grand Final
      
1 Launceston Casino City 71
4 Brisbane Bullets 69
1 Launceston Casino City 75
2 Nunawading Spectres 54
2 West Adelaide Bearcats 71
3 Nunawading Spectres 74

Semi Finals

Grand Final

Awards

Statistics leaders
CategoryPlayerTeamStat
PointsMike JonesIllawarra Hawks671 pts / 22 games[1]
Free throw percentageMike JonesIllawarra Hawks87.6% (113/129)[1]

Regular season

References
  1. "All Time Leaders". nbl.gearbox.performgroup.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  2. "All NBL First Team". andthefoul.net. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
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