Basketball On The Internet.

THE curtain went up last night on the first event under new NBL management and frankly, again, every box was ticked.

It makes for a pleasant change, given how long it's been NBL fans who've usually been ticked.

But the Blitz tipped off at Townsville RSL Stadium in full colour, with opening night teams looking sharp in new uniforms and enough in the play to suggest expectations of a monster NBL season ahead are well warranted and also will comfortably be satisfied.

EMOTIONS HIGH? Don't let anyone fool you into thinking preseason doesn't get heated.

Just don't think clubs take it easy when they hit the hardwood.

Yes, they'll rest players with niggles and push minutes into some players we may not see in-season - but how else can coaches assess their abilities to make the transition if not during the preseason?

Nonetheless, as Kings coach Damian Cotter told me yesterday: "We all want to win."

Exactly. No matter what culture you're trying to build, if winning isn't part of it, you're already treading water.

CROC HUDDLE: Townsville get the message at a time-out last night.

Blitzbitz

*It was all oranges and apples when Cairns and Perth hit the court.

*Sidelined Brian Conklin (ankle) promised in a courtside interview he'd be suiting for Friday's "Reptile Rumble" with Cairns.

*He also told us of his excitement his "pregnant baby" was on its way. (Think we all knew what he meant.)

*Mitch Young rejecting Charles Jackson's two-hand slam dunk attempt was one of the plays of the night.

*You know Mark "Statman" Slocombe is around when the NBL Blitz Media Guide includes the names of all the past winners of the Ray Borner Medal. Great to have him back involved.

*Surprised to arrive at the stadium and be greeted by Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge, finally back from his last coaching commitment in the Philippines. And yes, he really did buy me an authentic "Manilla" folder at the Office Works in Manilla.

HARD YAKKING: Matt McQuade, left, and Liam Santamaria, working the live stream.

Blitzkrieg
(An intense shooting campaign - who shot out the lights)

*The lights didn't go out too often last night but Cedric Jackson did knock down a tournament-high 23 points and looked very confident from beyond the arc. Scary.

*Casey Prather had 20 for the Wildcats, and his two missed dunks also were right up there on the spectacularity scale.

 

Blitz Glitz
(Celebrities at the Blitz)

*Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill was on hand.

*Townsville Fire WNBL champs, including Opals star Suzy Batkovic, Rachael Sporn Medallist Mia Murray and assistant coach Claudia Brassard were among many team members on hand supporting the event. (Not sure Mia counts though, considering she was working.)

BREAKER BREAKER: Dean Vickerman spreading the Gospel.

Blitz Biff

(Why can't we all just get along?)

*Markel Starks and Jarrod Kenny had no trouble forming a mutual on-court dislike, the Taipans import taking issue with the Tall Blacks' close attention.

*Even way out of his weight class, Shaun Bruce wasn't taking any nonsense, stepping up to Perth's Tom Jervis after a particularly crude foul. You can take the boy out of Horsham...

*Townsville's Mitch Young clearly got under the skin of Tai Wesley and Charles Jackson.

Watch as these side storylines evolve during the regular season.

THANKS BEVO: The authentic Manilla folder...

What we learnt
(Um...What we learnt)

*Matt Nielsen, upgraded for the night as Wildcats coach, still has work to do on his referee banter. "Hey! Come on," was a little non-specific as his initial "tirade".

*Casey Prather is shorter than expected.

*Markel Starks needed to fire up after halftime for Cairns, and did.

*Corban Wroe is Brad Robbins Lite.

*Aaron Fearne was kidding when he asked for a goal tend on the volleyball spike reject Nate Jawai delivered to Shaun Bruce's shot attempt.

*Damon Heuir now knows the difference between a good foul to end a quarter, and a bad one.

*Nate Jawai had one of his own shots rejected last night, a dunk attempt the ring just didn't allow.

*Mark Worthington has (yet another) new lease of life. Wortho is ageing like a fine wine.

*Was just starting to wonder whether Prather took jumpshooting lessons from Julius Hodge, when he swished a triple.

*Townsville without Brian Conklin, Jordair Jett, Mitch Norton and Mirko Djeric still has a lot of heart.

*Luke Schenscher had a super-productive night but also had a falcon (a ball to the head) during the process.

*Cedric is still an entertainer.

*Shane Froling as extremely proud the first stat his son Harry received as an NBL player was a foul for an elbow. I swear, Shane teared up. "That's mah boy..."

*David Barlow's injury may keep him out for the season, which is why Melbourne United will be suiting well-travelled Brad Hill. FoxSports actually considered a documentary on Brad but bailed because of the expense. "Too many locations."

 

BlitzWrap

G1: CAIRNS TAIPANS 68 (Starks 15, Worthington 14, Gliddon 11; Craig 8 rebs; Gliddon 4 assts) d PERTH WILDCATS 61 (Prather 20, Knight 14, Jawai 9; Jervis 9 rebs; Redhage 3 assts). Premiership Points: Cairns 5.5, Perth 1.5

G2: NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 79 (Jackson 23, Bartlett 18, Wesley 13; Vukona 8 rebs; Jackson 6 assts) d TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES 75 (Kay 18, Schenscher 16, Steindl 12; Kay 11 rebs; Maynard 6 assts). Premiership Points: NZ 5, Townsville 2

TONIGHT: 6pm, Melbourne United v Illawarra Hawks; 8.30, Adelaide 36ers v Sydney Kings.

Be there! (Or watch it live at nbl.com.au or foxsports.com.au)