Hoops

Tigers-Breakers Game, Crowd, Commentators

Gaze has such a feel for the game.
Agree with him about soft defence, maybe players adjusting to refereeing interpretations re handchecking.
Transition defence of both teams poor.
His comments re Penney in the 3rd quarter were right on the money. His body language was uptight and when he got the ball he was too anxious.
Disagree with him about how well both teams shot the ball although he did highlight the poor Tigers 3 pt shooting.
Great to see Corletto getting some meaningful minutes. I put him in Penney's class as a pure shooter.
I also liked Gaze's comments re Rickert who was taking Johnson to school, picked up his 3rd foul and Lemanis took him out. He was on a roll and needed to stay in.
Ronaldson sensational, but Tigers took the ball at him at the other end.
The game I thought was fairly sloppy with careless tournovers from both sides.
Do like the travelling calls focus of refs.
Gaze's top four selection was interesting?? Where has Shane Heal been?

Reading comment from Sengstock, again - BA are gonna get around and see what's happening, with a view of standardised game presentation.
So there'd be input from all involved with it.

No. I have been advised not to change anything. I do believe the anthem is gone though.

No. I have been advised not to change anything. I do believe the anthem is gone though.

Boti Nagy - todays paper and news adelaide now article

Who said the music was getting turned down in Adelaide?

Sounds like Adelaide is the only place not playing the anthem and turning the music down. I'd guess sixers dancers may still be there.

Everywhere else, so far has played the anthem and loud music with dancing girls.

Sounds like Adelaide is the only place not playing the anthem and turning the music down. I'd guess sixers dancers may still be there.

Everywhere else, so far has played the anthem and loud music with dancing girls.

Just read Boti's article about no more national anthems or overplayed music during games however I was at the Blaze home opener last week and they played BAD 90's music all the way through the game. It circumvented any noise the crowd wanted to make (which was considerably loud for such a small crowd I thought).

Agree DB5,BT was stiff early on but loosened up as the game went on and started cracking a few jokes with Gaze.

I thought BT, while struggling a bit early on, commentated pretty well. He will only get better the more games he does.

Good start to the season though (and my tip was correct).

props to Melbourne for the win. NZ has a good team but no one is unbeatable. NZ will regroup and work on a few things before tackling the Sixers.

That was a good Herald-Sun article about the atmosphere,the game and the like.

Basketball Australia would be silly to fine Melbourne for playing our National Anthem at their season opener against a New Zealand team.
And, it seems Sengstock is one of very few that doesn't like game music and dancing girls.

so Skull, what do you see as the main weaknesses exposed?

We all know they rely on their 3 point game. They put up more shots than any team and have a better shooting %. Their plan seems to be set up around the perimeter and pass until defence gets tired or exposes a gap

Do the players miss their battered savs and L&P?
Do they need "The Noize" to keep a rythym?

The main culinary delight at their home stadium is a hot dog on a stick dipped in batter, deep fried and then plunged into tomato sauce. Looks so inviting you need to taste it twice - the second time on the way up.

The Noize are two upper-middle aged men who wear pink wigs and bash away on drums behind the opposition bench to distract them - watch a home game video and try not to laugh too hard - yes, they are sober by all accounts....

Agree about the crowd vibe skull. Hopefully it is highly contagious!

I know of a few people that went and they said it was electric in there last night.

The Herald-Sun's Ron Reed also thought last night's game was a step in the right direction for the NBL:

Herald-Sun: http://linky.com.au/dbi8t

"In the big picture, Sengstock says it is time the sport created a recognisable identity of its own. On the evidence of last night, so far so good."

Good atmosphere for the game for sure. Crowd was 2,857, which I feel is disappointing considering the AFL was over, it is school holidays in Melbourne, and the Tigers were playing premiership favourites New Zealand.

In any case, the contest does bode well for the season ahead.