Basketball On The Internet.

NOW that’s the way to open a World Championship! No second-guessing, no self doubt, no let up defensively, the Opals opened in most impressive fashion tonight against Cuba.

Yes, Penny Taylor was the stand-out in a devastating 90-57 demolition of the Americas champion but it was Australia’s defence which also stood tall.

A 23-6 first quarter in which they gave up one field goal – ONE! And that was after a 22-0 run in which Taylor, Marianna Tolo, Belinda Snell and Leilani Mitchell all featured.

The Opals forced two 24-second violations and narrowly missed a third due to a desperation long bomb heave at the buzzer, not to mention forcing seven first quarter turnovers.

Fast forward to the third quarter – because in the second, other than Taylor advancing on to 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, the defence softened appreciably – and again after the main interval the Opals produced a 23-7 quarter!

They gave up two field goals, one at 8:18 and the next at 3:50.

So in two quarters of elite-level international basketball, Australia gave up three baskets!

Think on that a moment before you just dismiss it as a nice stat.

(Even as the super-powered tournament favorite USA beat Tom Maher’s China 87-56 with a devastating 21-8 third period, it still gave up three buckets in that one term.)

Cayla Francis and Rebecca Allen made terrific debuts while Snelly and Laura Hodges showed the benefit of their experience.

Erin Phillips did far more than her numbers indicated and Leilani Mitchell also had a fine debut offensively, with eight assists.

Gabrielle Richards was probably surprised at how much time she saw, given her last-minute inclusion and did well, while Rachel Jarry worked hard to shake off a miserable start.

Two missed open layups in the first quarter, a run of turnovers (she finished with {ouch!} seven) were troubling.

But as she settled into the game, 13 points and six rebounds better reflected what she can bring in this vastly new-look and – yes I’ll say it – refreshingly different Opals team.

Love the way they played.

Love the way they committed.

Yes, Lizzie, LJ, Suzy are all missing and maybe medal aspirations have been tempered somewhat.

(How STUPID is FIBA to rank USA #1 and Australia #2 in the world, then have them on the same side of the draw meaning no Gold Medal playoff is even possible? Someone should investigate such mind-numbing idiocy. But I digress.)

If the Boomers want inspiration for how to turn your dream into reality, they should look no further than their female counterparts.

Remember too, Cuba had a late 10-0 run to make the scoreline a wee bit more flattering, though not much.

Back to Taylor.

Too many have forgotten when the Opals in 2006 won the Gold Medal at the World Championship, it was a gal named Penny who was named tournament MVP.

And two years later when she devastatingly injured her ankle in a quarter-final at the Beijing Olympics, that signalled the end of Australia’s hope of repeating as gold medallists.

She bravely played in the Gold Medal game but was well below the player we saw rip Cuba apart with consummate ease, the player we missed so sorely in London when injuries were threatening to devastate her stellar career.

So many have her as Robin to Lauren Jackson’s Batman but in truth, she is Batman to LJ’s Superman. And you can debate the better super hero until the Avengers come home.

The point is how blessed we have been to have players of this calibre representing us on the world stage.

The Opals may have looked very different as they torched Cuba but their singular commitment to represent their country to the best of their ability – and beyond – was comfortingly familiar.

Here’s my News Corp match report: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/penny-taylor-leads-australian-opals-as-they-smoke-cubans-in-fiba-world-championship-opener/story-fnii09gt-1227072837708

And while I’m at it, when Lizzie went out, The Age’s Roy Ward wrote this terrific piece on incoming Gabe Richards: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/bendigo-to-istanbul-in-a-day-gabe-richards-flies-out-to-replace-opals-star-liz-cambage-20140922-10k7k8.html

Well worth a read. Now roll on Korea!