Basketball On The Internet.

THE NBL Blitz is just about upon us and as the league looks to launch its season, it would do well to check out how well the SEABL concluded its own.

The SEABL’s gala awards dinner and Grand Final day were a huge success.

The live-streaming presentation of the Brisbane-Hobart and Mount Gambier-Nunawading championship deciders was as good as it gets in that medium, the production values putting NBL.TV to shame.

So too the commentary, though you have to watch that “WE need to do this” or “WE need to do that” sneaking into a telecast going national and international.

Apologies for club allegiances don’t really cut it, even when Andrew Gaze is leaping about calling Melbourne Tigers’ close finishes.

(Thank Naismith THAT’S over now, with United barely putting a foot wrong.)

But the commentary’s occasional home zealousness is a small observation, given the call was incisive and professional otherwise.

After enduring some of the pap served up even internationally, the SEABL can take a well-deserved bow.

Nathan Strempel’s hosting work during the finals and afterwards came across the streaming broadcast well – the guy is a deadset pro – and the successful conclusion of its 2014 season again leaves you wondering why in Naismith’s name would the SEABL willingly want to be administered by Basketball Australia?

FROM most accounts, if the Blitz isn’t completely sold out, it is pretty darn close so toupees off to Big Joe and the crew in Brisbane preparing for the Loggins-Bruton Cup.

There will be live streaming – the SEABL has set the bar pretty high (well beyond PERFORM’s sights) – clinics and many surprises during the three-day carnival at Auchenflower Stadium.

The draw is:

Friday 19 September - Session 1

6:00pm Melbourne United vs. Townsville Crocodiles

8:30pm New Zealand Breakers vs. Adelaide 36ers

Saturday 20 September - Session 2

1:30pm Perth Wildcats vs. Cairns Taipans

3:30pm Melbourne United vs. Sydney Kings

Saturday 20 September - Session 3

6:30pm Adelaide 36ers vs. Wollongong Hawks

8:30pm New Zealand Breakers vs. Townsville Crocodiles

Sunday 21 September - Session 4

12:00pm Cairns Taipans vs. Sydney Kings

2:00pm Perth Wildcats vs. Wollongong Hawks

4:00pm Loggins-Bruton Trophy Presentation

Brisbane basketball fans and those wanting a return for the Bullets, make sure you get a piece of this.

THRILLED to see the new clothing sponsorship of the NBL will have the eight clubs wearing distinctive new uniforms, not one set off a blueprint with only the colors and names varying.

Melbourne United, which has gone from strength-to-strength since the initial shockwave of ditching the Tigers name, already has released its new uniform and it certainly is different.

Sponsors have been jumping on board and United has been in Fed Square and at Luna Park building its base. You have to love what is evolving, even if you don't like how it began.

Personally, as someone who always has been impressed with the stark power of the big white V on a navy uniform - be it basketball or state-of-origin AFL - I might have gone with something similar, with a big white U for United.

But eh, I bow to Melbourne's off-court team which already has done more in five months to get its message and brand out than its predecessor did in a decade or more.

HOW News Corp summed up SEABL’s Finals Day: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/tom-daly-lifts-to-bring-mount-gambier-to-hot-seabl-mens-win-and-brad-hill-shines-for-the-pioneers/story-fnii09ki-1227059364491