Basketball On The Internet.

HANDS up if you think the Boomers would have beaten New Zealand in the Oceania opener if Patty Mills hadn't played.

Unfair question?

OK. Would the Boomers have won Game 1 in Melbourne if Dante Exum had not been injured and Mills never recalled?

Tough one isn't it?

Dante isn't yet where Patty is, though one day his size and athleticism may take him further.

But he's not there yet. So could the Boomers have been humbled in front of 15,000-plus in Melbourne and instead of hitting Wellington tonight one-up, been staring down a barrel?

It didn't happen, fortunately, though Dante's ACL tear did, unfortunately.

The point remains that Mills is still the heart of the Boomers.

He had those 3-point goggles back on at Rod Laver Arena and the fans were loving it.

But for all that invaluable preparation he missed, how badly did we need him?

And how valuable was that preparation when it came down to those hectic final few minutes?

David Andersen stood up to be counted - as always - and Matty Dellavedova played right to the siren. How important his final basket on that siren, to swell the margin to 12, was, remains to be seen.

But 12 is better than 11, better than 10, way better than three.

Seeing Andrew Bogut back in the green-and-gold also was a treat, as has been watching the steady emergence of Ryan Broekhoff as a force.

Game 1 wasn't his best night but his battles with Tom Abercrombie are key. I think Ryan may be my new favourite player ... with abundant apologies to Joe and Brad. (And Patty, Bogey, Ando, Gibbo, Bubbles etcetera)

You love them all when they're playing well but have no illusions about the magnitude of what's in store for them here tonight.

At Oceania 2009, New Zealand lost by seven in Australia, then won by 22 in Wellington. The Tall Blacks even trailed that one at halftime.

Mika Vukona led that onslaught so how Bogey and Andersen play around the hoop is pretty important.

As is Broekhoff - is he "The Hoff" yet? - on Abers.

Delly on the clear-and-present-danger which is Corey Webster, is absolutely vital.

This is a Tall Blacks team which is in sync - no-one's still working out his role - and playing in front of friends and family.

Which brings us back to Patty, the player who can sink them.

Never been a believer in different sets of rules for players but have always believed in flexibility, especially for those who have earned it.

Let's be blunt. While we understand why it happened, Patty should not have been left out of the original 12 for Oceania.

Hands up if you're happy he's there now?