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1997 Melbourne Tigers season

The 1997 NBL season was the 14th season for the Melbourne Tigers in the Australian-based National Basketball League. The club won its first NBL Championship after defeating the Perth Wildcats 2–1 in the Grand Final series. In 1996, the Tigers lost to cross town rival South East Melbourne Magic Grand Final series 2-1.

The Melbourne Tigers played their home games at the 14,820 seat Rod Laver Arena. Following the 1996 season, the Tigers decided to end long time relationship with import Dave Simmons. The 1997 season the tigers signed import Jarvis Lang, after struggles early, starting 3-9 and injuries plaguing Lang the tigers released him and was replaced by Marcus Timmons. Behind Gaze, Copeland, Bradtke and Timmons, the Tigers reached their fourth NBL Grand Final series, as they finished the 1997 Grand final and finishing the season on a 17–1 run that included a record 16-game winning streak.[3]

The 1997 Melbourne Tigers compiled a 18–11 record in the regular season before going 5–1 in the playoffs to claim their second title. When fully healthy, core of Gaze, Copeland, Timmons and Bradtke were 14-1 and 5-1 in the playoffs. It has been stated that this is one of the best teams ever in NBL history.

Team Leaders

 * Points per game: 31.68 - Andrew Gaze
 * Rebounds per game: 12.64 - Mark Bradtke
 * Assists per game: 6.7 - Andrew Gaze
 * Steals per game: 2.o - Lanard Copeland
 * Blocks per game: 2.1 - Mark Bradtke

Team Leaders

 * Points per game: 26.20 - Andrew Gaze
 * Rebounds per game: 11.20 - Mark Bradtke
 * Assists per game: 8.2 - Andrew Gaze
 * Steals per game: 2.4 - Lanard Copeland
 * Blocks per game: 1.8 - Mark Bradtke

NBL Award Winners
NBL MVP– '''Andrew Gaze All-NBL First team – '''Andrew Gaze and Mark Bradtke Grand Final MVP – Lanard Copeland NBL Coach of the Year – Lindsey Gaze NBL Most Efficient Player– '''Andrew Gaze NBL scoring champion – '''Andrew Gaze NBL 3 Point champion – '''Andrew Gaze

Regular season
The 1997 Melbourne Tigers were determined to go one better and avenge their Grand Final loss to the South East Melbourne magic in 1996. Melbourne decided to let go long time import Dave Simmons after 8 years and 1 championship with the power forward. In Simmons place they decided to sign import forward Jarvis Lang. Motivated by there loss of the year before they looked to win it all in 1997

The Tigers had a slow start to the season starting off the season at 3-9 before making a major change letting go of import Jarvis Lang who was dealing with knee soreness, but turned the season around by winning 16 straight games 17-1 during the end of the regular season and finals. This all was helped from the signing of Marcus Timmons who added a punch both on the offensive and defensive side of the floor. The tigers finished in second place with a good record of 18-11. As expected, the team was led Super Star Andrew Gaze who had one of his best shooting season of his career averaging just on 4 3 Point field goals made making 143 for the season, whilst averaging his typical over 30 point per game. Along side him in the back court lanard Copeland averaged his typical over 22 points for the season, whilst big man Mark Bradtke anchored down low averaging 20 points over 12 rebound. After letting go of Jarvis Lang the signing of Marcus Timmons who had a terrific year helping the tigers on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor averaging over 17 points and over 8 rebounds. Andrew Gaze would be named MVP and both him and Mark Bradtke would be named to All-First NBL team.

Semi-finals
Along with the 1st placed South East Melbounre Magic, the Tigers were given a bye in the Quarter-finals. In their three game Semi-final against the 3rd placed North Melbourne Giants there was little resistance sweeping them in 2 games and moving on to there second consecutive grand final appearance. Andrew Gaze was out standing in the semi finals averaging 36.5 points and 9.5 assists per game. Lying a head of the tigers was cross town rival South East Melbourne Magic, the same team that they lost to the year before in the deciding game 3.

NBL Grand Final
The Tigers opponents in the 1997 NBL Grand Final would again be the South East Melbourne Magic who were the same team that beat the Tigers in the previous grand final in game 3. As heart breaking as it was to the Tigers they have learnt from there mistakes and were determined to win it all this year. All 3 of the games would be help at Melbourne Park, game 3 if needed. Similar to the Tigers the Magic swept there previous round of the finals and were dying to go back rock back. There was a lot of hype for people to watch the best offensive team in the Melbourne Tigers vsing the best defensive team in the South East Melbourne Magic.

Game 1 was a beat down from the Tigers they were on full attack from the beginning of the game and never looked back never trailing in the game winning the game 111-74, Larand Copeland was a game high scoring with 29, whilst Gaze added 23 and 9 assists. The Melbourne Tigers couldn't do a thing wrong landing 3 pointers left right and centre whilst the bigs of Bradtke and Timmons controlled the paint. Frank Drimc was top scorer with 12 for the Magic.

Game 2 was a lot better for the Magic they started Veteran John Dorge over the young Chris Anstey and they didn’t look, The Magic their tough defence shutting down the super stars of the Melbourne tigers, the Magic pounced back to beat the Tigers, winning the close game. The scores were 84-78 with Chris Anstey pouncing back from an average game one dropping 21 points in game 2. Lanard Copeland was the Tigers high scorer with 28.

For the second straight year the Melbourne Tigers will play the South East Melbourne Magic in a Game 3 to Decide who will win the championship, the Tigers we’re hoping there wasn’t a repeat of last years game 3 decided. The Tigers new what do to win and they came out firing, they were attacking from all areas and pulled away early and didn’t look back, every time the Magic made a run the tigers would answer to make sure that there was no repeat of last years loss in the final game of the season. The Melbourne Tigers would go on to win the Nbl championship with a score line of 93-83 top scorer again was Larand Copeland with 26 points, Gaze added on 22 and 9 assists. Lanard Copeland would be named Most Valuable Player.