Slam dunk: Breakers' US import overdue for recognition as Player of the Week

Breakers star Mike Chappell continues to knock on the door of the Australian NBL Player of the Week award.

The award for round 17 went to Adelaide 36ers guard Charles Thomas after a superb performance that helped his team crown the Sydney Kings.

Thomas had 36 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals as the 36ers scored a stunning, 113-93 upset victory over the current ladder leaders and reigning NBL champions in Adelaide last weekend.

Chappell was again among the nominations for the award after sinking 25 points in his side's 110-100 win over the Hunter Pirates at the North Shore Events Centre.

The US import seems to be nominated every week but is still waiting to become only the second Breakers player to grab the honour after Phill Jones claimed the award in round five.

Thirteen players from 10 of the NBL's 12 teams have received Player of the Week honours this season.

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The first 500 kids through the door at the North Shore Events Centre tomorrow night for the New Zealand Breakers game against the Perth Wildcats are in luck.

They will receive a free 24-page, full-colour autograph book. The book contains biographical information and pictures of all the Breakers players and coaching staff.

Doors open at 5pm with two further games in the Pero Cameron Trophy schools competition before the game.

Breakers fans will also get another chance to meet their heroes on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm at Harvey Norman Manukau and can win double passes to the team's next home game.

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The New Zealand women's team have been handed the hot potato in this year's Athens Olympics - drawing the United States first up.

Other teams the Tall Ferns will meet in group B are China, South Korea, Spain and the Czech Republic. The top four finishers in the six-team group qualify for the quarter-finals.

Group A features Australia, Brazil, Greece, Japan, Nigeria and Russia.

The women's competition runs from August 14 to 28.

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Brendon Polyblank loves pasta, but a stint in the Italian league has left a sour taste in his mouth.

The Tall Black and Wellington Saints forward is back in New Zealand four months earlier than expected after falling out with Italian club Roseto Basket Town.

What started as an exciting opportunity to test himself in one of the world's toughest competitions soon became a frustrating test of patience and ended with a protracted pay dispute.

"When I got there everything was going great.

"I did well, averaged about 12-13 points in the pre-season ... then the season started."

Polyblank started the first game but found himself coming off the bench after the return of two injured United States stars.

That was no problem given the quality of the starting five, which included recent NBA player Luke Recker and four other Americans.

But despite promises of big minutes, Polyblank's court time continued to dry up.

"In the end I was only getting about 10 minutes and I was out of the game before I had warmed up. I was like 'what do you expect from me when I can't get into the game'?"

It was a "disappointing" way to end a stellar season that saw the 1.95m 25-year-old break into the Tall Blacks and help the Saints to the NBL title.

But Polyblank said the experience of playing in what is widely considered as the third-best league in the world behind the NBA and the Spanish league had taught him a lot.

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Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves will coach the Western Conference All-Stars at this year's NBA All-Star game, to be played on February 16 in Los Angeles.

Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on teams with the best winning percentage in each conference following the Sunday games played two weeks before the All-Star game.

With their victory on Tuesday over the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves ensured themselves the best winning percentage by the February 1 deadline.

Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers has been named head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars.

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Jim O'Brien resigned as coach of the Boston Celtics yesterday, and assistant John Carroll will take over for the rest of the NBA season.

Jim Harter, another assistant, was fired after O'Brien's departure was confirmed at a news conference.

Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge cited "philosophical differences" with O'Brien as the reason for the resignation.

"Jim and I share different philosophies on how best to attain our shared goal of a 17th championship," Ainge said. "I felt those differences could be overcome and he felt differently."

O'Brien was hired in January 2001 after Rick Pitino resigned. He led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002 and the conference semifinals last year, losing to the New Jersey Nets both times.

Boston are 22-24 this season and have been struggling to hold on to a playoff spot.