Basketball On The Internet.

WHAT a start! That was just what the doctor ordered – spectacular game, great crowd, quality TV coverage and unprecedented social media fan interaction.

Dr Kestelman, his chief surgeon Dr Loeliger and their team of nurses and interns have not only revived their NBL patient but steadily taken him off life support, affected a complete rehabilitation and last night watched with a proud tear in the eye as it blazed new heights on so many levels.

There are billboards across Adelaide proclaiming the patient was up and about but who would have guessed he’d be slam dunking opening night in such grand fashion?

Given the performance of the past 100 days, I’m guessing we shouldn’t really have been surprised.

Any teething issues – scoreboard malfunctioning, ridiculous music show (toned down after halftime – Fox Sports yet may be our saving grace on that front) – were the fault of the host club. And even though the T-shirts for the crowd showed up at 4pm, tip-off was 7pm so again, 36ers staff could have done more to distribute them onto seats, rather than hand them out.

(Three hours is a lot of time to lay out T-shirts, isn’t it?)

Gripes and groans exorcised – oops, one to go … both teams in shades of blue? Come on now - how great was that?

If the NBL wanted evidence it was back in business, last night delivered it.

MATT HODGSON - GREAT STORY: Photographer Kelly Barnes doing his best work already too!

The game had the requisite action, a great story in Matt Hodgson and while Breakers import Charles Jackson doesn’t yet look NBL import quality – wee bit too much time with puzzlement across his dial and not enough work in the trenches  - he can throw down a decent dunk, or four.

As for the FoxSports coverage? Frankly, I loved it. As I write this, I must confess I’ve only watched until the start of the third quarter but what I’ve seen so far was spot on.

Anthony Hudson made a terrific debut as the main man and Shane Heal had done his research – there’s four words rarely used with many of his predecessors – to provide a strong voice content.

Not miking up or head-setting players for benchtime BS was excellent and respects the game. Great to see, or not see, in this instance.

Getting a halftime grab of the coach’s addresses – a la NBA Finals and WNBA coverage – was insightful.

Toupees off to executive producer Leigh Carlson and his team. The coverage had me from the intro and that hasn’t happened since the halcyon days of the late, great Clinton Grybas.

I know. One swallow doesn’t make a summer holiday but it was a refreshingly positive start, very much in keeping of the past 100-or-so days.

It’s Cairns at home to Illawarra tonight in what should be another absolute gem. The Hawks' loss to injury of Rhys Martin and the home court advantage makes me lean to the Taipans.

Last night: 36ERS 90 (Hodgson 18, Johnson 15, Ere 13, Gibson 11, Teys 10; Hodgson 9 rebs; Gibson 8 assts) d BREAKERS 71 (Ce Jackson 14, Bartlett 13, Ch Jackson 12, Wesley 10; Vukona 8 rebs; Ce Jackson 6 assts) at Titanium Security Arena. Crowd: 4520.

Online

How the 36ers won: http://bit.ly/1jPs87i  

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