The 2016 NBL Finals was the championship series of the 2015–16 NBL season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Perth Wildcats defeated the New Zealand Breakers in three games (2–1) to claim their seventh NBL championship.
Format The 2015–16 National Basketball League Finals were played in February and March 2016 between the top four teams of the regular season, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final and final series, where the higher seed hosts the first and third games.
Qualification
Qualified teams Team Date ofqualification Round ofqualification Finalsappearance Previousappearance Previous bestperformance Melbourne United 29 January 2016 17 22nd 2014 Champions (1993, 1997, 2006, 2008) Perth Wildcats 5 February 2016 18 30th 2015 Champions (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2014) Illawarra Hawks 6 February 2016 18 19th 2014 Champions (2001) New Zealand Breakers 12 February 2016 19 7th 2015 Champions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Ladder
Seedings
Melbourne United Perth Wildcats Illawarra Hawks New Zealand Breakers
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.
Bracket
Semi-finals series
(1) Melbourne United vs (4) New Zealand Breakers
Regular season series
New Zealand won 3–1 in the regular season series:
(2) Perth Wildcats vs (3) Illawarra Hawks
Regular season series
Perth won 4-0 in the regular season series:
Grand Final series
(2) Perth Wildcats vs (4) New Zealand Breakers
Regular season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular season series; 347-327 points differential to New Zealand:
See also 2015–16 NBL season
References