Basketball On The Internet.

RATINGS for Friday's (Thursday night's) seventh game of the NBA Finals reached a level befitting the final game of a championship series.

It delivered a 17.7 rating, five percent up from last year's Finals between Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.

As for legacy? It is the second-most watched NBA game ever to grace ABC's airwaves behind a Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers game from 2010.

And you thought the NBA didn't want Memphis and Indiana in the Finals...

What this series will be remembered for is the way digital boomed across assorted platforms - especially for Game 7.

The NBL should take note.

Courtesy of that game, ESPN3 generated its largest NBA game ever with 189,000 people watching a total of 32 million minutes through PCs, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and the newly added Apple TV.

Have no doubt there is a definite shift underway in the world of media.

I see it every day at the newspaper and as live TV viewing continues to wane, those mobile viewers are gaining in relevance and significance.

Stay tuned. All over the place.

FIRST it was the Kings last week, now it is the Tigers throwing open their NBL doors for prospective young stars to try their luck for a contract.

Melbourne coach Chris Anstey is looking to supplement his 2013-14 line-up with prospective 23-and-younger players keen to score a development player gig with the Tigers.

The Tigers are targeting prospects currently playing in the SEABL, Big V Championship or Big V Youth League Championship but if you are interstate and want to jump in your car, pretty sure you won't be rejected from the tryouts, especially if you were originally born in Victoria.

Tryouts will be at the Tigers training facility at the King Club, Tulip St, Cheltenham next Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am-midday.

"Excited about getting a close look at some of our best young players on July 2&3. If you are under 23 and want an opportunity, see you then," Anstey tweeted today.

Of course, for direct contact about this opportunity, you can email the big fella at chris.anstey@tigers.com.au sooner than later, especially if you are contemplating making the journey from interstate because the club is keen to first be truly Melbourne-representative.

The Tigers' development players become part of Melbourne's 13-man squad, involved in all team activities, access to all staff, medical, fitness, psychologist and strength-&-conditioning.

It's also a kick-start into the main team.

Owen Odigie is a prime example, spending last season as a development player.

The 198cm forward is now a fully contracted part of the Tigers' main rotation for 2013-14.

I HAVE a confession to make. I have only been an LA Clippers fans since Blake Griffin arrived in Los Angeles.

And I am not really truly committed, preferring instead to annually just enjoy the NBA for the great basketball entertainment that it is.

I have friends who are strident Miami Heat fans who I recall were equally obnoxious Lakers fans (and probably will be again at some point).

And I have associates who are "hardy" Chicago Bulls fans - at least since Michael Jordan got there - who probably have no idea who Reggie Theus is, for example.

But Chris Paul's arrival, Chauncey Billups, Jamal Crawford ... there's been more to like about the Clippers, even enough to buy the club jacket.

Now Glenn Rivers - I knew him before he received his doctorate - is going to coach the Clips and I am genuinely excited. A little.

LA's "other team" lost to Memphis in the first round last season and, rightly or rightly, it cost coach Vinny Del Negro his job.

Rivers brings the Clippers credibility and personal connections. Hell, he would probably be coaching the US Olympic team in Rio if Mike Krzyzewski had not re-considered.

He steered Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship, got to a Game 7 in 2010, got to a Game 7 of the Eastern finals in 2012.

The Celts won their way into the 2012-13 playoffs without Rajon Rondo this season, though tomato sauces assure me they won't be having a ketch-up anytime soon, such was their antipasto.

So yep. I have circled the Clippers-Celtics on Christmas Day. A new rivalry is born?

Not really. Rivers just trades the Celtics-Lakers rivalry for the Clippers-Lakers derby rivalry.

Got to get to Staples Center again next season.

ADAM Gibson's first trip to Starplex to face Central District Lions as a member of Forestville Eagles on Saturday resulted in a 41-point win between the teams ranked third and fourth pre-tipoff.

Gibson brought his trademark toughness, scoring 15 points, including three triples, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Another NBL championship winner, Neil Mottram, also returned, grabbing 11 rebounds.

Former Cairns Taipans forward Kane Oakley scored six points, nine rebounds and had two assists, import Jake Rios had 28 points as the Eagles threw down the gauntlet to pacesetting West Adelaide Bearcats, which was upset by Rashad Tucker's Southern Tigers.

Another NBL star, Darren Ng, stuck 37 points as Woodville Warriors moved into second place by beating North Rockets 82-68.

Rockets playing-coach Pero Vasiljevic led his team with a 25-point, 18-rebound double, the SBL finals race heating up.

LOS Angeles Lakers apparently are shopping Pau Gasol and his $19million contract.

Tell me this. If six clubs which made the NBA playoffs this season shed their coaches, how is Mike D'Antoni still employed by the Lakers?

I am an unabashed fan of Gasol's, even despite his occasional soft days, and there would be a number of great NBA destinations where he would be an impact player.

Not sure there are as many places D'Antoni would have a similar impact.

It's not that I don't like the guy but he needs to watch some of the USA-Spain Gold Medal game from London and get some perspective on what Gasol potentially can bring, instead of putting him into "will fail" scenarios.

THE Opals left China on a high after winning Game 3 in their best-of-three series in China.

Got the news story up at: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/opals-beat-china-6959-in-final-game-of-tour/story-fndekpx4-1226668776761

AND in case you missed my more extended interview with Spurs guard Patty Mills, you can catch that at: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/crows-video-spurs-aussie-basketballer-patty-mills-on-to-a-championship-with-san-antonio/story-fndekpx4-1226667780549

WERNER Linde, Glenn Rivers and Darren Ng walk into a bar. The barman looks up from wiping glasses and says: "What's up Doc?"