Basketball On The Internet.

THE lights will be on, PA blaring, the scorecube flashing the action at Titanium Security Arena in Adelaide tonight with the venue's first near $1million facelift since it opened in 1992.

One of the NBL's primary basketball venues, it has had the odd coat of paint during the past 24 years but this time Arena management has gone the whole hog, rewarding its loyal fans for putting up with a malfunctioning scoreboard, muffled and distorted PA and yesteryear's lighting with a genuine upgrade.

The scorecube cost $200,000 and change, the lighting $250,000 and the PA $450,000 and fans pouring in tonight for the 36ers-Kings battle - it is close to another sellout - will have no problem spotting the differences.

The ability to turn the main arena lightning on and off is a huge move forward and gives the club a real opportunity to upgrade and vary game presentations.

They can now turn off the lights on the crowd to have the game stand out (a la Lakers) or add colours into the lighting.

The scorecube will include replays and action, while it now won't matter where you are sitting in the 8,000-strong facility to hear what's being said.

Don't want to give too much away but it will be a whole new world at the NBL tonight.

 

WHY do we immediately want to suspect the worst?

Melbourne Boomers announce they are ready to sell their WNBL license and the truth is, it is a bold and good move, at least two solid interested parties already making overtures.

Since Bulleen three years ago changed its name to Melbourne to encapsulate more of the city, it steadily has turned the franchise to a break even point and now is boasting a 40 per cent increase in crowds.

And that's despite its team not exactly setting the world alight just now. Perhaps license-holder, the Bulleen Templestowe Basketball Club, wants to get its focus back to the many other roles it has in its community and is ready to throw open the gates and let its colt run into a fresh paddock.

It is definitely a positive move, as its New Zealand's announcement of its coaching and administrative succession plans at the Breakers.

Dean Vickerman is ready to come home and his understudy at the NBL club, Paul Henare, ready to take on the role from 2016-17 onward.

Why should we view that with suspicion or derision?

Deano has been at the Breakers for a loooong time, has won the club a fourth championship and is part of its history and fabric. If he is ready to move on and he's primed Henare, then what makes the announcement dubious?

Zero.

Slotting Dillon Boucher into the front office to replace stalwart Richard Clarke, who is bound for the Brisbane Bullets where he will team again with head coach Andrej Lemanis for 2016-17 and beyond, also makes perfect sense.

It's no secret why the NZ Breakers are alongside Perth Wildcats as arguably our best run, most efficient and professional organisations.

 

QUESTION TIME

*How great is it to see our former greats in action on TV again on Fox Classics? And how good was that Bullets championship team which boasted players such as Mackinnon, Bruton, Ere, Rychart, Bradtke, Black, Gibson, Hill, Boucher?

*Wasn't it great to watch that and remember Ebi Ere when he could get 12 points in a quarter, not take a whole game?

*Do you think those fans at the United-Taipans game who asked the nearest bloke to take a photo of them with Chris Goulding knew it was NBL Executive Director, Larry Kestelman, taking their picture?

*Is that Doctor Evil (above) coming to Adelaide tonight and wondering if the venue changes are valued at One. Million. Dollars. ?

*Did Corey Williams seriously ask Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos on national TV why he says "alright" so much? How do you think that kind of deeply-observed analysis would play with say, Gregg Popovich?  

*Was Illawarra's Kirk Penney showing his amazing powers of ESP when interviewed at halftime of the double-overtime thriller in NZ when he said: "We're going to need all 10 guys to step up"?

*Does Andrew Gaze know how tough it will be coaching Melbourne Tigers in the SEABL? And will the team's first major signing of Corey Williams be announced imminently?

*Has anyone sent BA boss Anthony Moore a dictionary so he can clarify what he really meant by "imminent" when addressing a TV deal for the WNBL?

*Is Cam Tragardh going all samurai/ninja with his man bun?
 

NBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) KINGS 5-17 - It wasn't pretty in Perth but if the Kings shooters get hot, who knows?

7 (3) TAIPANS 9-13 - Just like that Cairns tumbled but it is still breathing.

6 (7) CROCODILES 7-15 - Went down in a blaze of glory and can take the Breakers.

5 (6) BREAKERS 11-10 - Looked good for just short of 40 minutes and must find formula.

4 (2) 36ERS 11-9 - Lucky escape in Townsville and must get split or better this round.

3 (4) WILDCATS 14-8 - Resembled themselves against Sydney and regain Matty Knight.

2 (5) UNITED 16-7 - Looking like those 9-0 guys from last year again.

1 (1) HAWKS 14-8 - Question mark over Penney's hammy makes them susceptible to Perth.

 

WNBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

9 (9) CAPITALS 0-17 - Could surprise and get a split but 0-19 more likely.

8 (8) LIGHTNING 5-11 - No dice at Dandenong and second leg to Perth makes it hard.

7 (7) BOOMERS 7-11 - Injuries have hurt but an Australia Day surge isn't impossible.

6 (6) STARS 9-8 - Nailing Townsville was big so Canberra should be easy pickings. Should.

5 (1) FIRE 11-6 - Consistency hasn't been the byword at Townsville but will rock Caps.

4 (5) SPIRIT 11-7 - On the top four doorstep. Beating Flames is the door key.

3 (3) FLAMES 12-6 - Possibly their season's most important game against Bendigo.

2 (4) RANGERS - Great work last round and have real chance to extend winning streak.

1 (2) LYNX 12-6 - First by proxy only now and must keep winning without Tomlinson.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

SYDNEY already has taken Adelaide's scalp once and enters the upgraded Titanium Security Arena off a thorough beating last week. The Kings stayed with Perth for a half while the 36ers had to work hard to shake off Townsville and won't be taking Sydney lightly. New lighting, new sound, new scorecube, Adelaide should make it five straight wins.

THEY'VE been battles but New Zealand already twice has beaten Townsville and the champs were back last round. Yes, they lost in double-overtime to Illawarra, but three up, seconds to go and Mika Vukona shooting free throws in regulation, the Breakers only have themselves to blame for coming up short. The Crocs also have themselves to blame for lacking foul discipline against the Sixers, crap officiating notwithstanding. The Breakers must win this.

ILLAWARRA is waiting on medical advice today to see whether Kirk Penney jumps on a plane to Perth, having injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter against the Breakers. If he doesn't play, you remove the Hawks' leading scorer so that must impact the equation against the Wildcats. If he does, he will have to be 100 per cent. Perth has had Illawarra's measure this season and it appears likely to continue.

THIS is the big one for Adelaide, the 36ers in their "black-out" uniforms against league-leading Melbourne and Titanium Security Arena sure to be rocking. In the corresponding "black-out" game last season, Melbourne shot the lights out with only Chris Patton - remember to check he's on the scoresheet this week Dean - NOT hitting a 3-pointer. A three-point win gives the Sixers the season-series. Melbourne is rolling again and the odds favour a United win. But I'm hunching Adelaide.

TORRID NIGHT: Torrey Craig drives on NZ's Reuben Te Rangi in their previous clash in Cairns.

THE 2014-15 grand finalists are 1-1 this season, both winning at home which makes this a danger game for New Zealand in Cairns. Everyone south of Cairns knows the Taipans are gone as a postseason team but as long as there is hope, they will be hellbent on the W. To get it, they need a lot more players standing up and taking responsibility from the get-go, the Breakers brittle at times. If Cairns is connecting from range, it can make it 2-1 against its arch rival.

BENDIGO ON THE MARCH: Spirit guard Kerryn Harrington leading the way.

IF Bendigo is to make it back into the WNBL postseason, it has no option - it must beat the Flames. Sydney is 12-6, the Spirit 11-7 so a win ties their records. That makes this huge in the context of finals but it's not as if Sydney doesn't know that too. Get set for a cracker, with the depth of both teams to be tested. Homecourt may prove the difference.

DANDENONG reversed its previous loss to Adelaide in Adelaide just before the Rio recess, beating both the Lightning and the referees in one fell swoop. There's no real reason to believe the result should be otherwise when the teams meet at Stud Road. Even if you wonder whether the returning Opals might feel jaded, you'd think that would impact more on Adelaide's Leilani Mitchell than the Rangers' Sara Blicavs. Expect a good contest and a Rangers win.

CANBERRA will be seeing Stars at SEQ as they stare down an 18th straight loss but this might be tighter than expected. Reigning MVP Abby Bishop has been struggling this season but found her form again while away with the Opals so if Talbot, Montgomery and Stallworth rally - remember DeNesha will be playing with focused purpose against the club which cut her - this could be the round's surprise.

WHILE Townsville's homecourt hasn't been the fortress of recent seasons, the Fire are reigning champs and the Capitals are winless and will be coming in off a game at Logan. Can't see an upset here but can see Townsville reasserting its desire for a first place finish.

ADELAIDE gave Perth a fright in Perth, the Lightning sabotaging a shot at success with a rookie on the court making rookie errors down the stretch when the match was there to be won. But that falls on the coach. With Louella Tomlinson (ankle) out until the finals, most like, the Lynx are vulnerable at The Discotheque but whether can Adelaide make the right moves to capitalise is highly doubtful.

QUESTION marks hang over Melbourne's M*A*S*H unit and Dandenong, which actually also is in the race now for the regular season championship, will hit the Boomers as hard as possible. How many of the Boomers' main personnel suit will obviously be a factor but Dandenong cannot afford a misstep ahead of its lamb barbecue on Australia Day.

 

KNOCK KNOCK

Who's there?

Adnam?

Adnam who?

Addin' 'em spew seconds to the highlight reel.