Basketball On The Internet.

JEROME Randle was more than Cairns could handle last night as he steered Adelaide 36ers to an 88-79 NBL victory at Titanium Security Arena.

Randle's 24-point effort - in 23 minutes and off a plane two days earlier - ranks sixth for the highest scoring debuts of the "modern" 40-minute era.

It also was the best debut by a 36ers' import since Rick Brunson went off for 25 in April, 1996 - yes, nearly 20 years ago - and Brunson did that in a 48-minute game and not freshly off a tarmac.

For those who have asked, Willie Farley debuted with a 22-point game in October, 2001 - also after a full preseason, including a China tour, and also in the 48 minutes format.

The best debuts by Sixers imports are all fairly decent, with Dwayne Nelson scoring 23 in 1984, Bill Jones 24 in 85, Dan Clausen 30 in 1984, Mark Davis 32 in 1985 and Butch Hays leading the 36ers with the appropriate amount - 36 - in 1991.

Just bear in mind though that anything from 1984 to 2009 was produced in a 48-minute game. And not one of those fine players stepped off a plane and onto the pine some 48 hours later.

Randle's effort was even more confounding when you factor in his height, reputedly 175cm.

RICH OLD DAYS: He opened as West Adelaide's 1979 import with a 32-point game.

Whenever he was on, Adelaide had Cairns' measure, even weathering a 13-0 Taipans run which tied it at 65-65 seconds from the end of the third.

Adam Gibson led from the front and Cam Gliddon tried to do the same to get his team back into it, Cam Tragardh efficient and Mark Worthington again spreading his talents across the stats sheet.

THE best debut by an import in Adelaide in the FIRST run of 40-minute games was by West Bearcats playing-coach Ken Richardson, who opened the NBL's inaugural 1979 season with a 32-point game in what would be an MVP season.

A year later, Rocky Smith began life as a St Kilda Saints star with a 36-point debut in an MVP and championship season.

They don't make players like them anymore.

IT remains a mystery to me that most longtime NBL followers all recall that import Bobby Locke got off a plane in Melbourne, was driven to Geelong and walked on the court to debut with a 50-point game,

That isn't actually the mystery part. 

It remains extraordinary too that Derek Rucker announced his arrival as a Brisbane Bullet with a 48-point game.

What always baffles me is why the majority of us remember that, but tend to overlook, omit or forget altogether that Calvin Talford debuted for Hobart with a half century too!

If you didn't know it or had forgotten, Talford knocked in 50 against Brisbane in his first NBL game.

I don't know why we skip that one. Maybe as a Hobart import, he never received the kudos or accolades he might have if he had played for a mainland or eastern states outfit.

He sure had hops.

Tonight: Really now, in what universe do we expect a team to be able to put its best foot forward less than 24 hours after playing in a different city and travelling on game day? That's what Adelaide has to produce to take the Kings tonight in Sydney, where Josh Childress makes his long-awaited and inspiring return. The odds are definitely stacked toward the home team.

Later in Perth, a couple of factors may make a big difference to Townsville's chances in the Jungle. Wildcats captain Damian Martin won't be playing and now neither will import Casey Prather, both currently slated to return Sunday against Illawarra. That and what SHOULD be a burning desire for redemption after Wednesday's piddly first half against Melbourne should ensure some bite in the Crocs. That said, Perth's size still should get it the win.

Last night: 36ers 88 (Randle 24, Gibson 15, Johnson 13, Petrie, Ere 12; Petrie, Johnson 8 rebs; Gibson 8 assts) d TAIPANS 79 (Tragardh 16, Starks 15, Gliddon 13, Weigh 10; Worthington 9 rebs; Worthington 5 assts) at Titanium Security Arena.

Online

Jerome Randle's personal milestone: http://bit.ly/1LQswge 

36ers beat Cairns: http://bit.ly/1OVpvw1