Basketball On The Internet.

WELCOME to Round 17 of the NBL season, a truly rare one with just four games and all on the weekend. Yes, welcome to a trip down Memory Lane. Illawarra fans? Put your feet up! Maybe catch an old movie?

This is the round we'll get a look at new Wildcat Will, the Magnate farewelling his Brisbane roots and having the name Magnay emblazoned across the back of Perth's red jersey.

Don't despair Bulletheads, new import BJ Johnson should be hitting the hardwood for the annual Pineapple PitStop in Cairns, the Mango Mash, the PawPaw PowWow, the Queensland Quake or the Banana Banger.

Yeah. OK. So I forgot what they call the Queensland derby. But it's something like that, right? The Tropical Trophy?

And returning home to Sydney is Jarrad Weeks who epitomises the type of relentless go-getter Kings coach Adam Forde has cobbled into his depleted team.

So right, there's only a quartet of games but they could prove the Fantastic Four.

   ROUND 17

THE round tips off with another in the grand tradition of Throwdowns where South East Melbourne will make Melbourne feel unwelcome and completely out of kilter having to use the visitors' changerooms. How far away is Keifer Sykes from returning? Without him, the Phoenix are just the Nix. Their winning streak struck off, United will be looking to make a statement. Here's a simple one. Dean Vickerman, STOP SUBBING and let a quintet build on its rhythm.

Club CEO Vince Crivelli expects to hit the court late in the first quarter.

LOOK out! The Reptile Rumble is upon us! Hang on. No, that was Cairns-Townsville. Damn it. No, here we go, it's time for another Queensland derby showdown between the Bullets and Taipans in Cairns, another much-anticipated Lychee Lynchin' and one Brisbane must win to maintain its magical mystery tour to the post-season golf courses. Expect the Orange to show spirit, which can and has overcome greater talent. But if the Bullets show spirit, then their talent will overcome.

The Golden Circle? The Dragonfruit Destruction? The Cacao Clash?

ISAAC Humphries returns to Sydney as a 36er and this is the game which will define Adelaide's season. Lose this and forget the maths equations and geographical locations - finals are a pipe dream. The Kings are now running on the smell of an oily rag but Adam Forde - Coach of the Year? - keeps finding the petrol tickets to accumilate surprising results. In this case though, it may be the old Ford versus the gunning Ferraris.

Have flip-flopped more on this result than Cam Gliddon playing D.

ILLAWARRA ended any vague notions of a late playoff charge by New Zealand, a team still loaded with talent but about to run into a Wildcats team rejuvenated by the addition of Will Magnay. The Breakers now are suiting a team which could have been a championship contender and will give Perth as much as it can handle. NZ has no fear of the Wildcats at all but right now, this is Perth's game to lose. And it doesn't do that a hell of a lot.

It won't be a Mother's Day Massacre, just breakfast in bedlam.

SAFEST Bet Of The ROUND: Pretty soon after Josh Giddey registers a stat in the points, rebounds and assists categories, the TV commentary debate will be how long before he compiles his third triple-double.