# 1991 NBL Finals

The 1991 NBL Finals was the championship series of the 1991 season of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Perth Wildcats defeated the Eastside Spectres in three games (2-1) for their second NBL championship.

## Format

The 1991 National Basketball League Finals started on 25 September and concluded on 27 October. The playoffs consisted of two best of three Elimination Finals, two best of three Semifinals and the best of three game Grand Final series. As the two top teams at the end of the regular season, Perth and Eastside both qualified for home court advantage during the Semifinals.

## Qualification
### Qualified teams

| Team | Finals appearance | Previous appearance | Previous best performance |
| Perth Wildcats | 5th | 1990 | Champions (1990) |
| Eastside Spectres | 7th | 1990 | Runner up (1981) |
| Geelong Supercats | 4th | 1984 | Runner up (1982) |
| Adelaide 36ers | 7th | 1989 | Champions (1986) |
| North Melbourne Giants | 4th | 1990 | Champions (1989) |
| Melbourne Tigers | 3rd | 1990 | 5th (1989, 1990) |

## Ladder

This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.
| Pos | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte | 1991 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Perth Wildcats | 26 | 22 | 4 | 84.62% | 5–0 | W8 | 12–1 | 10–3 | 2750 | 2508 | 109.65% |
| 2 | Eastside Spectres$^1$ | 26 | 17 | 9 | 65.38% | 5–0 | W5 | 10–3 | 7–6 | 2932 | 2792 | 105.01% |
| 3 | Geelong Supercats$^1$ | 26 | 17 | 9 | 65.38% | 3–2 | W2 | 11–2 | 6–7 | 3143 | 2980 | 105.47% |
| 4 | Adelaide 36ers$^2$ | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 4–1 | L1 | 11–2 | 5–8 | 3028 | 2876 | 105.29% |
| 5 | Melbourne Tigers$^2$ | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 3–2 | L2 | 10–3 | 6–7 | 3104 | 3044 | 101.97% |
| 6 | North Melbourne Giants$^2$ | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 3–2 | W1 | 8–5 | 8–5 | 3047 | 2840 | 107.29% |
| 7 | Sydney Kings$^3$ | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 4–1 | W4 | 9–4 | 5–8 | 2821 | 2775 | 101.66% |
| 8 | Gold Coast Cougars$^3$ | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 0–5 | L6 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 2781 | 2805 | 99.14% |
| 9 | Brisbane Bullets | 26 | 13 | 13 | 50.00% | 2–3 | W1 | 8–5 | 5–8 | 2912 | 2968 | 98.11% |
| 10 | Canberra Cannons$^4$ | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 1–4 | L1 | 7–6 | 2–11 | 2741 | 2781 | 98.56% |
| 11 | Southern Melbourne Saints$^4$ | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 1–4 | L2 | 6–7 | 3–10 | 2872 | 3094 | 92.82% |
| 12 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 26 | 8 | 18 | 30.77% | 1–4 | L2 | 6–7 | 2–11 | 2811 | 3047 | 92.25% |
| 13 | Illawarra Hawks | 26 | 6 | 20 | 23.08% | 2–3 | L1 | 4–9 | 2–11 | 3032 | 3196 | 94.87% |
| 14 | Newcastle Falcons | 26 | 5 | 21 | 19.23% | 2–3 | W1 | 4–9 | 1–12 | 2803 | 3071 | 91.27% |
Updated to match(es) played on 22 September 1991. Source: NBL.com.au
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.
$^1$Head-to-Head between Eastside Spectres and Geelong Supercats (1-1). Eastside Spectres won For and Against(+1).
$^2$3-way Head-to-Head between Adelaide 36ers (3-1), Melbourne Tigers (2-2) and North Melbourne Giants (1-3).
$^3$Head-to-Head between Sydney Kings and Gold Coast Rollers (1-1). Sydney Kings won For and Against (+8).
$^4$Head-to-Head between Canberra Cannons and Southern Melbourne Saints (1-1). Canberra Cannons won For and Against (+44).

## Playoff bracket

| Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| | | | | | 1 | Perth Wildcats | 102 | 105 | X | | | | | |
| 4 | Adelaide 36ers | 129 | 132 | X | 4 | Adelaide 36ers | 99 | 104 | X | | | | | |
| 5 | Melbourne Tigers | 115 | 96 | X | | | | | | 1 | Perth Wildcats | 109 | 81 | 90 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Eastside Spectres | 83 | 86 | 80 |
| | | | | | 2 | Eastside Spectres | 99 | 115 | X | | | | | |
| 3 | Geelong Supercats | 139 | 116 | 113 | 6 | North Melbourne Giants | 93 | 104 | X | | | | | |
| 6 | North Melbourne Giants | 119 | 136 | 125 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Elimination Finals
### (4) Adelaide 36ers vs (5) Melbourne Tigers
#### Game 1

* Seven Network
* 25 September
* boxscore
Melbourne Tigers 115, Adelaide 36ers 129 :
| Scoring by quarter: 40-34, 27-23, 28-30, 20-42 |||
| Pts: Andrew Gaze 39 Rebs: Gaze, Simmons 8 each Asts: Andrew Gaze 8 | Pts: Darryl Pearce 29 Rebs: Mark Davis 14 Asts: Butch Hays 11 |
| Adelaide leads series, 1-0 |||
* The Glass House, Melbourne Attendance: 7,200 Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Geoff Weeks

#### Game 2

* Seven Network
* 27 September
* boxscore
Adelaide 36ers 132, Melbourne Tigers 96 :
| Scoring by quarter: 37-27, 32-22, 34-24, 29-23 |||
| Pts: Mark Davis 31 Rebs: Mark Davis 15 Asts: Butch Hays 17 | Pts: Andrew Gaze 40 Rebs: Dave Simmons 13 Asts: Colbert, Giddey 3 each |
| Adelaide wins series, 2-0 |||
* Apollo Stadium, Adelaide Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Geoff Weeks

### (3) Geelong Supercats vs (6) North Melbourne Giants
#### Game 1

* Seven Network
* 25 September
* boxscore
Geelong Supercats 139, North Melbourne Giants 119 :
| Scoring by quarter: 36-30, 38-31, 31-30, 34-88 |||
| Pts: Shane Heal 36 Rebs: Terry Dozier 13 Asts: Shane Heal 11 | Pts: Scott Fisher 44 Rebs: Scott Fisher 10 Asts: Marty Clarke 6 |
| Geelong leads series, 1-0 |||
* Geelong Arena Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Robert Barnett

#### Game 2

* Seven Network
* 27 September
* boxscore
North Melbourne Giants 136, Geelong Supercats 116 :
| Scoring by quarter: 38-31, 37-25, 31-25, 30-35 |||
| Pts: Paul Maley 42 Rebs: Maley, Fisher 13 each Asts: Scott Fisher 6 | Pts: Vince Hinchen 27 Rebs: John Dorge 9 Asts: Shane Heal 7 |
| Series tied, 1-1 |||
* The Glass House, Melbourne Attendance: 7,000 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Robert Barnett

#### Game 3

* Seven Network
* 29 September
* boxscore
Geelong Supercats 113, North Melbourne Giants 125 :
| Scoring by quarter: 29-35, 31-28, 30-30, 23-32 |||
| Pts: Bobby Locke 31 Rebs: Dorge, Dozier 11 each Asts: Shane Heal 7 | Pts: Pat Reidy 32 Rebs: Scott Fisher 14 Asts: Fisher, Leader 6 each |
| North Melbourne wins series, 2-1 |||
* Geelong Arena Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Robert Barnett

## Semifinals
### (2) Eastside Spectres vs (6) North Melbourne Giants
#### Game 1

* Seven Network
* 4 October
* boxscore
North Melbourne Giants 93, Eastside Spectres 99 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22-25, 18-26, 28-23, 25-25 |||
| Pts: Paul Maley 32 Rebs: Paul Maley 12 Asts: Scott Fisher 4 | Pts: Bruce Bolden 29 Rebs: Bruce Bolden 13 Asts: Bruce Bolden 5 |
| Eastside leads series, 1-0 |||
* The Glass House, Melbourne Attendance: 7,200 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Geoff Weeks

#### Game 2

* Seven Network
* 11 October
* boxscore
Eastside Spectres 115, North Melbourne Giants 104 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24-24, 29-21, 34-24, 28-35 |||
| Pts: Bruce Bolden 27 Rebs: Bruce Bolden 18 Asts: Perry, Lockhart 7 each | Pts: Paul Maley 25 Rebs: Paul Maley 18 Asts: Mark Leader8 |
| Eastside wins series, 2-0 |||
* The Glass House, Melbourne Attendance: 7,200 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Geoff Weeks

### (1) Perth Wildcats vs (4) Adelaide 36ers
#### Game 1

* Seven Network
* 5 October
* boxscore
Adelaide 36ers 99, Perth Wildcats 102 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28-22, 20-25, 31-34, 20-21 |||
| Pts: Mike McKay 23 Rebs: Mark Bradtke 11 Asts: Butch Hays 9 | Pts: Ricky Grace 24 Rebs: Pinder, Crawford 10 each Asts: Ricky Grace 8 |
| Perth leads series, 1-0 |||
* Apollo Stadium, Adelaide Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Robert Barnett

#### Game 2

* Seven Network
* 10 October
* boxscore
Perth Wildcats 105, Adelaide 36ers 104 :
| Scoring by quarter: 27-24, 29-25, 28-25, 21-30 |||
| Pts: Ricky Grace 27 Rebs: James Crawford 10 Asts: Ricky Grace 9 | Pts: Butch Hays 23 Rebs: Bradtke, Davis 9 each Asts: Butch Hays 8 |
| Perth wins series, 2-0 |||
* Perth Entertainment Centre Attendance: 8,200 Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Robert Barnett

## Grand Final series
### (1) Perth Wildcats vs (2) Eastside Spectres
#### Game 1

* Seven Network
* 19 October
* boxscore
Eastside Spectres 83, Perth Wildcats 109 :
| Scoring by quarter: 19-34, 22-21, 22-23, 20-31 |||
| Pts: Bruce Bolden 22 Rebs: Dean Uthoff 13 Asts: Darren Perry 8 | Pts: Ricky Grace 21 Rebs: Andrew Vlahov 11 Asts: Ricky Grace 7 |
| Perth leads series, 1-0 |||
* The Glass House, Melbourne Attendance: 7,200 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Bill Mildenhall

#### Game 2

* Seven Network
* 25 October
* boxscore
Perth Wildcats 81, Eastside Spectres 86 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22-21, 25-22, 15-26, 19-17 |||
| Pts: Ricky Grace 17 Rebs: Andrew Vlahov 11 Asts: Ricky Grace 7 | Pts: Bruce Bolden 25 Rebs: Kent Lockhart 12 Asts: Perry, Uthoff 4 each |
| Series tied, 1-1 |||
* Perth Entertainment Centre Attendance: 8,200 Referees: Bill Mildenhall, Eddie Crouch

#### Game 3

* Seven Network
* 27 October
* boxscore
Perth Wildcats 90, Eastside Spectres 80 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22-27, 25-31, 13-22, 26-29 |||
| Pts: Pinder, Crawford 19 each Rebs: James Crawford 14 Asts: Mike Ellis 7 | Pts: Bruce Bolden 29 Rebs: Bruce Bolden 15 Asts: Kent Lockhart 4 |
| Perth wins series, 2–1 Grand Final MVP: Pete Hansen (Perth) |||
* Perth Entertainment Centre Attendance: 8,200 Referees: Eddie Crouch, Bill Mildenhall