Basketball On The Internet.

NEW Zealand coach Dean Vickerman raised an interesting discussion point when he asked whether he could reintroduce Charles Jackson during the last quarter against Perth.

His import had fouled out in a mere 8:50 of (in)action and Vickers already had gone into the game resting playmaker Cedric Jackson.

Duane Bailey also fouled out and when Mika Vukona limped off with a muscle strain, the Breakers were getting very thin on the ground.

In an unusual but not unprecedented move, Vickerman asked the Perth coaches at three-quarter time if they'd object if he inserted Charles Jackson again.

The Wildcats were 11 up at that break and happy to agree but it was ruled out as an option by the NBL.

Fair enough, I guess. There must be some protection of the integrity of the game.

But then also, it is preseason when the last thing you want to do is risk injured players and, after all, there's no sheep stations at stake.

"You don't want to end up with four fit players on the court, and it is a preseason game," Vickerman said.

Last week in Adelaide when the 36ers played against the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and Harry Froling fouled out during the third quarter, the Sixers didn't object to his return. (He finished with seven fouls - he really is a chip off the old block!)

So there you go.

Maybe the Blitz rules need a small tweak to accommodate such a situation.

Or not.

It's an interesting one.

FOULS MOUNTING: The Breakers eventually sought an unusual "return" request.

Blitz Bitz

*It was Bob Turner's 62nd birthday yesterday, Turner, along with late great Kings owner and entrepreneurial guru Mike Wrublewski responsible for the 1987 Schweppes Australian Basketball Classic - the NBL's historic first preseason tournament.

*It was at that inaugural tournament at Homebush in Sydney where new Wildcats coach Cal Bruton - one of the two legends with their names on the Blitz Cup - arrived with his first Perth team, resplendent in sharp tracksuits and looking a million dollars. They won it and truly started a dynasty that continues today. (Except they now look about $2.3million...)

*Yesterday's Blitz summary also is a little melancholy because it is the final farewell of any further references to being surprised Oscar Forman has grabbed an offensive rebound. I'm going to try and catch up with Ossie today to take a moment and serenely toast the passing of a recurring gag which had extraordinary longevity. Sadly, it is time to move on...

*Considering the pride and dress sense/code in US basketball, it was unexpected to see only new Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos in jeans for his debut game against Illawarra when the other seven head coaches were in dress pants. Settling in a bit too well to the laid back Aussie lifestyle perhaps.

*McDonald's is, apparently, the healthy choice for several of our elite athletes. But I'm not naming names.

*Nathan Jawai patting Reuben Te Rangi on the head at a free throw stoppage is not something you see every day.

*Speaking of big Nate, the ball has slipped from his grasp a few times now and with his high perspiration rate, maybe it is time to suggest sweat-bands or towelling inserts into the sides of his shorts.

*Ironic but on the same day Brian Conklin mentions he hasn't had too many technical fouls, he cops one against Cairns.

*The crowd managed to briefly drown out the overblown obnoxious music festival during the Cairns-Townsville match but only because mascots Joe Blake and The Croc were wrestling after a time-out break.

*Speaking (not having to yell, as you do at the stadium) of the horrendous nonstop music, the team responsible even has it blaring during breaks in play when game host Russell Hinder is interviewing people. Sorry, but I'd like to have heard the legend, Leroy Loggins, speaking about Brisbane. It's a seriously ridiculous situation not duplicated anywhere else in the world. There might be a reason for that. 

*Yes, two fouls on Alex Loughton by 7:22 of the first period and three on Matt Burston by the 6:07 mark may seem excessive. But it's preseason for the refs as well.

*"It's something, a block or a charge," commented Cairns coach Aaron Fearne as Torrey Craig fell to the floor but flipped in a shot as his Crocs' defender also hit the pine. Yep. Confirmation. It's preseason for the refs as well.

BIG FELLA: Nathan Jawai, may need towelling inserts to keep his hands dry.

Blitzkrieg
(Who shot out the lights)

*Breakers forward Tai Wynyard was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the stripe for his 12 points against Perth.

*Shane McDonald delivered 16 points, nine in the final quarter, as NZ rallied against the Wildcats.

*The Taipans shot 14-of-16 from the stripe, only Matty Burston flubbing a bonus and Cam Gliddon missing 1-of-2.

RUCKER PARKED: Derek Rucker joins the Blitz commentary team. A sign of things to come?

Blitz Glitz
(Celebrities at the Blitz)
Spotted in the crowd at Townsville RSL Stadium...

*Leroy Loggins, arguably the NBL's all-time greatest player - no argument from me - and that other legend with his name on the Blitz Cup, was in the house.

*Another birthday boy, NBL Board member, former FIBA president and longtime NSW basketball advocate, Bob Elphinston, also was in the house.

*Former Prime Minister and Treasurer Paul Keating apparently was in a quiet corner, trying to unravel the NBL salary cap. (Now you know that may not be 100% accurate, because there was no quiet corner.)

 

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

*Duane Bailey had a fairly hard hit on Shawn Redhage.

What we learnt

*Shooters can shoot. Jermaine Beal (hamstring) did not look at all hamstrung as he swished a three with his first touch against NZ.

*Not even the ceiling is safe when Nate Jawai misses a jam, the ball bouncing precariously high off the rim.

*Shane McDonald is one of the best stories of the Blitz, having been thrown a career lifeline by the Breakers after settling into life as a PE teacher. His 16-point game and big plays down the stretch almost led to a stunning upset.

*Even when Greg "The Ninja" Hire isn't having a good shooting night, you still can count on him to grab a lot of boards (11) and maybe sink the one 3-pointer (after three missed long bombs, including one which ricocheted off the backboard) which clinches the game.

*Markel Starks, then Cam Gliddon, passing up wide open looks on separate plays and instead settling for less obvious options, really didn't make anyone happy.

*When both the Taipans and Crocs are given flop warnings, either the floor wipers aren't working hard enough or we need to revisit correct defensive stance.

*Even if there's just three seconds on the game-clock before the end of a quarter and Cairns is in the backcourt inbounding to Shaun Bruce, he still will have enough time to race up the floor and pull up for a buzzer-beating three.

*Markel Starks death-staring a referee for a non-call on a shot attempt as he jogs back into D may not look so smart when Wortho is busy grabbing the offensive rebound and being fouled in the process.

*Yes, it is preseason so Mark Worthington can be forgiven for trying to get an AFL preliminary final score update during the break in Blitz action.

ANYONE KNOW THE SCORE: Mark Worthington is keen to know about Freo and the Hawks.

BlitzWrap
G5: PERTH WILDCATS 86 (Wagstaff, Jawai 13, Redhage 12, Knight 11, Jervis 10; Hire 11 rebs; Redhage 5 assts) d NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 80 (Te Rangi 17, McDonald 16, Wesley 13, Wynyard 12; Te Rangi, Wynyard 6 rebs; Te Rangi 3 assts). Premiership Points: Perth 5.5, New Zealand 1.5
G6: CAIRNS TAIPANS 82 (Tragardh, Craig 15, Weigh 12, Gliddon 10; Loughton, Torrey 7 rebs; Worthington 4 assts) d TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES 67 (Conklin 18, Maynard 13, Steindl 12; Conklin 8 rebs; Jett 3 assts). Premiership Points: Cairns 6.5, Townsville 0.5

Blitz Points
Taipans 12
Wildcats 7
Breakers 6.5
United 5.5
36ers 4.5
Kings 2.5
Crocodiles 2.5
Hawks 1.5

Today: 11.30am, Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings; 2pm, Melbourne United v Adelaide 36ers; 5.30, Cairns Taipans v New Zealand Breakers; 8.30, Perth Wildcats v Townsville Crocodiles.

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