Basketball On The Internet.

LOOK out! There's a new kid on the block putting up his hand as a genuine contender and fans of the Brisbane Bullets should start packing Nissan Arena. Their steady dismantling last night of South East Melbourne was precise and efficient, in a game which often threatened to explode.

The first quarter bordered on the bizarre, with players mixing stupid, irresponsible fouls with wild referee over-reactions, a grand total of 19 fouls called, including two unsportsmanlikes in the opening minutes. It was crazy.

Nathan Sobey, for the second game in a row, subbed out in two minutes with two fouls, Phoenix phenom Alan Williams on three fouls in the first quarter, Aron Baynes in and hurt, Tyrell Harrison in and hurt, Gorjok Gak playing 3:30 before being injured and out for the duration.

What the??

Players spent more time on the floor pursuing loose balls in this game than in all of the other matches this season combined.

It wasn't pretty, by any stretch. But Brisbane showed with its 33-19 second period when it led by as many as 19 points, it is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Williams on his fourth foul in the first half didn't hurt the Bullets, who had Chris Smith grabbing rebounds and making his presence felt, Mitch Norton (despite shooting 1-of-11) running the show with a 10-point, 9-assists double and others such as Isaac White, Josh Bannan and Baynes picking up the slack.

This looked over at halftime but Gary Browne had other ideas, leading Phoenix from the front with an 11-point third period, getting to the rim and dragging his team back into contention.

Williams picked up his fifth foul with 3:55 to go in the third and South East at 63-72, Mike Kelly's successful coach's challenge allowing him back into the contest.

He fouled out a quarter later, again on an erroneous foul which Kelly's second challenge failed to over-turn. Protecting him by playing some zone allowed the Phoenix to keep within reach and when Browne drove to the hoop and Sobey had a brain fade and hung on the ring, Bullets coach Justin Schueller had seen enough.

Pulling his men back into line - South East had the deficit back to six - he saw Bannan (17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists), White and Smith again drive Brisbane out of trouble, Harrison also making a few nifty moves with 14 points at 77 per cent and eight rebounds in 16:43 of action.

Brisbane's depth is of high quality, providing 50 of its 108 points, Schueller prepared to gamble on his strategies and combinations, and to trust his lieutenants, not just his generals.

It is exciting stuff, albeit from a small sample size but Tasmania again will be in for a battle when they meet in Hobart shortly. 

BRISBANE BULLETS 108 (Bannan 17, Harrison, Smith 14, White, Sobey 13, Baynes 12, Norton 10; Bannan 11 rebs; Norton 9 assts) d SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 92 (Browne 25, Creek 20, Williams 14, Cummings 12; Browne 8 rebs; Browne 5 assts) at Nissan Arena. Crowd: 2,834

SERIOUSLY though, 77 free throws, 53 fouls? Our referees need to exercise more discretion but the players must show greater discipline and a whole lot less whingeing.