Hoops

NBL pre-season comp now Australian Basketball Challenge

So I'm booked in for sessions 2 to 6, able to see every team two except the Bullets and 36ers three times (ugh) as well as the dunk contest and 3pt shoot out... Are there any exciting warm up dunkers in dev spots this season? Weeksy might get a good run, he was always good value in warm-ups...

A shame it's in a bigger venue as I really liked it when it was in Sydney and the players mixed with the fans a bit more... Assigned seating is good instead of sitting on crappy bench seats all day, but it just takes away a bit from the pre-season feeling...

If we want a real competitive tournament why not have the new FIBA Asia zone or whatever it is called (that now incorporates Oceania) do a club challenge tourney at the end of the club season. Has anyone suggested this?

Would be a good way to give the new FIBA zone an identity, and give our NBL players more exposure.

Tickets are already on sale and they aren't listed, so I can't imagine they will be.

I've asked via facebook and twitter regarding four day passes. Nobody has returned my inquiry which I'm thinking means, they're not offering any....tad silly.

@koberulz Article says they will be streaming on website.

They're streaming them into Asia, so I'd assume they're streaming them here.

It's just a pre-season tournament, if you're looking for actual competition you're doing it wrong; it really is just a first look at new players, and a basketball fix after three weeks of nothing.

Odd that there's not a discounted all-sessions ticket.

Is there logic behind playing games during the day on Monday? I don't think that's a holiday over that side of the country?

The Blitz is always more fun to attend really than as a broadcast... It's great to get a good look at most teams in person and the players interact with the fans a lot more casually, but overall I like it... They're streaming these games, aren't they?

The goals to get other nations/teams involved is a great idea and I like their ambition...

I like this initiative.

I haven't liked the Blitz, comprised solely of NBL squads. A lot of ducks and drakes going on, teams never playing near full strength in fear of giving too much away, competitive level not really that high.

NBL teams will still not want to showcase their complete arsenal, but I think outside competition will instil greater competitive drive, against the Chinese teams anyway.

Would be great to see other countries come on board. D League Select, Indos, Filos, whoever else - I'm down for it. Would be a good spectacle and refreshing.

If more international teams came on board to strengthen the comp, I wonder if Fox would consider broadcasting it.

CBA teams usually have 3 imports don't they?

ME, doubt there'd be tantrums when playing in Brisbane. And more integration will minimise that anyway. And if it doesn't, then headlines!

Hmm... $20 a session is going to make going to multiple sessions a bit exxy... best just not tell the wife in that case :)

The Zhejiang CB Golden Bulls and the Tianjin Ronggang Gold Lions will travel to Brisbane next month to challenge for the inaugural Australian Basketball Challenge (ABC) title against all eight NBL clubs.

The Importance of the Flourishing China/Australia Basketball Relationship

Chinese interest could be lucrative for the league but I really don't like Chinese basketball and I have reservations about having one of their teams in the league playing hideous basketball and throwing chairs over calls.

Apparently there was an U12 Boys GF last night. Were there any others and if so who won what??

I missed this last week among all of the Olympic stuff, particularly given the name change.

The inclusion of two CBA teams will add some interest (assuming they come with a full complement of imports).