Basketball On The Internet.

IS the NBL closer to breaking news of connections to Asia than the WNBL is of making a free-to-air TV deal announcement?

We know the TV deal revelation is now "imminent" but my (e)mail is more than one or two of the NBL's big wigs have been attending meetings in China and there's talk of possibly adding an Asian-born player to club rosters without him being considered an import.

There's also the prospect of an Asian Cup for club teams. Really looking forward to the next round of NBL revelations.

Meanwhile...

... a WNBL FTA TV deal is imminent.

 

ARE we seeing the start of the AFL-type situation where coveted free agents are being approached in-season, unsettling their week-in, week-out performances?

We saw it in Gary Ablett's last year with Geelong where unrelenting speculation he was heading to the Gold Coast for huge $$ became a constant AFL sideshow.

There it was again this season with Crows star Patrick Dangerfield never ruling out what might happen when free agency was upon him at the end of the 2015 season and, sure enough, off he went to Geelong.

In Dangerfield's defence, his form didn't suffer as it has for other footballers contemplating the move.

Have no doubt Brisbane Bullets have been sending out feelers (or more) for potential free agents to form part of their new-look team for 2016-17 and form has fallen away for some of their likely targets.

Don't doubt Melbourne has sent an - unofficial of course, perish the thought - feeler to Jerome Randle, a lot of people seeing it as it happened. 

Is this something the league should be discouraging or, as with emerging new clubs in other sports, should it allow a new club such as Brisbane the chance to poach an "unprotected player" outside other clubs' first eight?

 

NBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) KINGS 3-12 - It doesn't get any easier but good news is expectations are low.

7 (7) TAIPANS 6-9 - Successful Perth ambush would push Cairns back into the mix.

6 (6) CROCODILES 6-12 - Now we find out if Townsville really does "own" Perth.

5 (5) 36ERS 8-9 - Finally a bye to contemplate erratic form of this season.

4 (4) UNITED 11-5 - Redemption a must now at Sydney's expense.

3 (3) HAWKS 8-7 - Kirk's back might bring them back to the field.

2 (1) BREAKERS 10-5 - Didn't do much wrong but Perth was impressive.

1 (2) WILDCATS 12-5 - Showed all the qualities of a championship contender.

 

WNBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

9 (9) CAPITALS 0-13 - Can surprise Perth and sneak up on Adelaide, the latter vulnerable.

8 (7) LIGHTNING 4-9 - Blew it last round but start confident after beating Caps in Canberra.

7 (8) BOOMERS 7-7 - Chance to make a definite move this round against fellow wannabes.

6 (6) STARS 7-7 - Fully fit can take Townsville to the limit and must to stay in hunt.

5 (5) FLAMES 8-5 - Flickering and need at least a split to avoid slipping into the pack. 

4 (4) RANGERS 7-5 - Must secure at least a split and Fire will be tough in Townsville.

3 (2) SPIRIT 9-6 - Oops. Time to get back on the horse against Sydney after bucking up.

2 (3) FIRE 8-4 - Still showing wide form fluctuations but at best will go 2-0.

1 (1) LYNX 10-4 - First hosting last, shouldn't be too dramatic this round. Unless a bit cocky.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

IT'S been another tough week for Sydney as Damion James tries to settle in and with a trip to Melbourne the starting point of another rough double. Worse still, some bugger hid Joe Connelly's towel! Have they no shame? United took a massive hit last round and will be keen to bounce right back, the Kings walking into an ambush by a team searching for its swagger.

IT'S not as if Cairns beating Perth is something which has never happened before, particularly up in the Far North. It's just that with the way the Wildcats are playing right now, the Taipans would have to execute a strategy or gameplan that would create some measure of doubt in the visitors. As possible as it is to foresee Perth having a letdown bad-game soon, it probably won't be in Cairns.

ABOVE: Where does Nate Jawai sit? Anywhere he wants to! The Beast is coming back to Cairns.

HAVE the Kings cut anyone since their opening road game of this round? Did someone come clean with the towel? So many ponderables as they head along the highway to Wollongong and arch rival Illawarra. The Hawks are monitoring the progress of Kirk Penney's back injury, aggravated in the road loss at Cairns and whether he plays is a huge consideration, with Illawarra backing up in Auckland on Sunday. Can see the Kings lifting but not winning.

DOES Townsville have Perth's number? The Crocs beat Perth IN Perth after hauling in a double-digit deficit, then beat the Wildcats in Townsville, the Conklin smash on Damian Martin colouring the third encounter that same week in Perth. Now with Omar Samhan to offer additional keyway resistance and a winning Crocs mindset, this should be a ripper. That said, in first place and rolling, Perth definitely will be out to make a statement and has to start favourite.

ALL TOGETHER NOW: Omar Samhan leads the spelling lesson of his name. "It starts with an O..."

AGAIN, Kirk Penney's back situation plays a huge role in how his Hawks rate ahead of their game across the Tasman in his home country. New Zealand is keeping a close watch on Perth's progress and because it owns the season-series with the Wildcats, only has to match their win-loss record to finish in front - or in first, with all those homecourt playoff advantages that come with that. Illawarra can get this but only at full strength. Otherwise New Zealand's weaponry will wear it down.

JUST when you start to have a little faith in Bendigo, the two-time WNBL champion drops a game it shouldn't, a la to Melbourne last week. Now in rolls Sydney, which lost an overtime thriller to Townsville last week and played great. How much of that performance was aided by the emotional end of the SEC was a factor, making this the classic coin toss to open the round. Bendigo, just.

THE form of the Victorian WNBL teams has been so patchy it's hard to predict on a weekly basis which version of their teams will show up - the committed playoff wannabe or the flighty "not today" crowd. So does Melbourne bring the best version of itself to Dandenong or does it slip back after last round's double to the previous round's rabble? Will the Rangers be fierce and focused or frazzled and faltering? If both bring their best, I'd favour the Rangers in a gem. But these guys must drive Guy Molloy and Larissa Anderson crazy.

UNCONVINCING of late, Townsville will need to do better than last time in Logan where it just squeezed past SEQ 88-85. New Star Jordan Hooper is a hooper who will make a difference and Ify Ibekwe is better than advertised, especially her passing ability. With Rachel Jarry (concussion) not risked, SEQ manhandled the Lightning and, at home, can get this. The Fire must start favourite, Suzy Batkovic keen to control the Qld derby. But this one will be another beauty.

NOT SO IFFY: Ify Ibekwe, scores, rebounds and blocks shots. Picture: TREVOR KINROSS

CANBERRA scared the living daylights out of the Melbourne teams last week but ultimately came up empty, its record tumbling to an unlucky 13. Does it end there in Perth? Well, only if the Lynx take the Caps lightly, easy to do when your opponent is 0-13 and only your coach seems concerned about the visitors' potential. Don't doubt Andy Stewart is awake to the pitfalls of this game. But will his team be? Perth should have the answers but Canberra will ask the questions.

BACKING up inside 24 hours and travelling on game day diminishes Canberra's chances of beating one team within its talent range in the Lightning. Adelaide squandered its game with SEQ last round and still hasn't fully recognised which players perform and which pout. If it gets the rotations right, Adelaide should win at home. But then Adelaide also is "home" for Abby Bishop. And Steph Talbot.

ANYONE WANT A BALL? Tara Robinson (Lightning) looking to hand-off. Picture: TREVOR KINROSS

IF Sydney is the playoff-bound team it has looked at various times this season, it has to beat the Boomers in Melbourne. Both clubs will be backing up from Friday night games and how they went there - form guide, any injuries etc - is relevant. Expecting Melbourne to extend its focus to four straight games will be one challenge for Guy Molloy as the Flames' best is very good.

WHAT a tough end to the round for Dandenong, having to travel up to Townsville to take on the Fire in a "one-off". Steph Cumming's return north should be fun but Townsville has had some crazy performances at home this season, with some very heavy wins and similarly shock losses. That's why you can't immediately rule out a Dandenong upset. If the Fire are rolling, the Rangers won't be delivering any shocks.

Online

Heat on in Adelaide: http://bit.ly/1m5MYjJ

Wright stuff in Texas: http://bit.ly/1Ot05m3

KNOCK KNOCK

Who's there?

K-K-Khazzouh

K-K-Khazzouh who?

I am the Walrus, K-K-Khazzouh, they are the eggmen