Who is playing and what times ? Between the Asia cup and most imports just arriving it's not going to much of an indicator. All sides look so strong.

Tasmania vs Sydney 18th 6pm aest
SEM vs Cairns 19th 6:30pm aest
Tasmania vs Sydney 20th 6pm aest
Melbourne vs Cairns 21st 6:30pm aest
SEM vs Melbourne 23rd 6:30pm aest

All games live on the NBL website with a free NBL+ account

Anyone know if this weeks preseason/blitz/regular season NBL games will be live on NBL youtube channel?

NBL+

The two games 36ers and Kings were to play against the two Euroleague teams on Monday 22/9 have been scrapped. The two Sunday games are still going ahead.

Not sure where else to mention this but Chase Buford is becoming an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets

Tonight's game is available on the Jack Jumpers YouTube site.

Great. The nbl app and website coverage is often amateur hour flaky. Last year youtube coverage of NBL was primo, better than kayo. Have just switched from nbl website jittery crapness to tassie youtube and its pimpin.

A fun drinking game for tonight would've been to take a shot everytime the commentator incorrectly pronounced Makauch Maluach’s name

SEM got some shooters, Cairns got nbl1 team playing so hard to take to much out this. Belgium import VB looks great on offence, I'm not convinced on D at this early stage. Good coverage on you tube.

Taipans with no Lee, Haggans, Schofield, Waardenburg, McVeigh, Smith

Take this game with a grain of salt

Very good first quarter happening here, where is this game being played?

Both kings and JJs certainly going to be very good, Ayre and Marshall good pick ups, both sides playing lots of players but very good game. Majok Majok playing for JJs, doing very nicely as well. Won't say much on JJs imports yet as very early but look good. Davis, Delly Soares been good as well.

Game is being played in ol school courts in Launceston ...Elphin


JJs running with a heap of extra NBL1 players but having a crack - imports look good.

Goorj blowing a gasket on the sidelines

Goorj's gasket well and truly blown.....how will he make it to season proper?

Bloody good game considering it's a preseason and lots bench guys playing. Hamilton going to be a fun watch.

Really liking these two commentators, unusual for commentary to talk about the game and not all that other rubbish some go on with. Davis is going to be even better than last season. No Magnay or Bannon for JJs.

Or Drmic, Deng, Woodhilll, Stoddart, Williamson

Shame these early preseason games have little meaning with literally half of rosters missing

In Deng's defence he is at Afrobasket representing South Sudan

Who have somewhat remarkably been sent home in the first knockout game

I guess FIBA Africa is getting stronger, good to see

Bogut will be heavily involved ie more than in coaching the kings

Still a very good game, I've missed it, JJs still showing they will be good, Marshal still got work on his D. Kings looking great, playing D like most Goorg teams. Early days but both should be top four or higher.
Waiting to Sixers play, as them and JJs, kings looking the goods.
As previously great commentary.

Remember the Kings have Cooks, Galloway and Bruce to come back into their side too.

JJs play Adelaide in game 2 at the Blitz.

Really think JJs should lock Jacob Richard's away as a DP.

Marshall at the right team to improve his D. Good early signs from him.

Imports largely as advertised. Tantalising to think how they might combine with Magnay, Bannan and Deng.

And of course Bul Kuol to come back in for the Kings as well.

One quarter is enough for me, why to Cairns even play these games, their imports are going to have to be studs. It's a no D chuckathon for taipans

Judging the taipans without Lee, Schofield, Haggans, Smith, McVeigh and Waardenburg is silly

I get the excitement around having NBL back but some people read too much into games where teams have half a roster missing

Blitz is where you can start making calls on teams in my opinion

100% word14. These early season games mean nothing. Most coaches don't want to play their studs more than a quarter if they have them available anyway.

SEM just keep driving to rack, showing great intent. Alir looking fantastic. Hunter to big.

25-13 end quarter for SEM, Alir looking great. BV Belgium player travels nearly every time imo. Yes very early days yes. Delaney scrags on D a lot. SEM just so big. United with there centre or Goulding.

Still rust in the system but both sides looking strong. So many good locals on both benches it's time to get more teams. 49-40 SEM. I’m liking Alir and Krislovic as best for each side.

Good game happening here. Tyson Walker looking great.

One point at 3/4. No Hunter, no SEM, they need a back up five when Hunter is on bench. Maldonado not looking great either imo.

BV travels all the time and not looking good on D. Foxwell will start

United by six, they just get their imports right. Lots of fouls as both sides play so fast on the counter. Alir a great pick up. SEM got lot players of same ilk and for what is supposed to be a great defensive side didn't look that great. Walker is going to surprise a lot of the best guards, he’s class. United just look like a well balanced side. I enjoy the game.

Blitz on next week. Nbl needs two more teams, so many good players on both benches.

Well, today's the day I've waited for since the Bullets finalised their roster. To see if I'm likely to enjoy this up-coming season or not.

I sorely lamented the breakup of last year's roster, from HC through to the roster itself. A couple of imports, a rising local, starting power forward and some handy bench whom, I firmly believe, could have been a force last season, and a contender this season, if collectively injury-free and allowed to fulfil the potential they offered.

Slowly, and quietly (very quietly) they came up with a roster that offers great(?) potential. The names do instil some hope. Will they deliver the aims revealed by the club and that the fans want so badly? Time to find out.

Does not have to be a win in today's game. It does need to be a performance that can give back some real optimism to the supporters, fans and sponsors.

Who are they playing and what time ? Thanks.

All games are on front page of NBL app Dunkman.

Cairns v Brisbane 1:30pm CST today

Hopefully taipans got a few starters playing.

Dalton and Purchase playing for bullets, might tell you a bit about Brisbane. Are both on the list or fill ins, Wigness as well.

Statman, Galloway looking good.

Cairns certainly looking better, yes early days.

Both sides would be reasonably happy, Bradke looked very good in his short time, why Dalton played ahead of him is questionable.

I expect the Hawks to start the season slowly as no import PG signed yet. JaQuori McLaughlin is currently training with Hawks for a possible contract . No pre-season games as yet and JaVale McGee unable to arrive in Australia due to contracting pneumonia and will miss the Blitz.

McGee ruled out preseason for the hawks, pneumonia.

Kayo free at 5.30 today set. Cats united first up.

Henshall and Windler look good. Henshall has added some moves this offseason

Im so happy the NBL is back. That is all

High quality game from Melbourne and Perth so far.

Henshall looks good every pre season. Windler should have a lot more usage without Cotton. Hooley hinting that Perth looking at a big name guard.

Anyone know why they're doing the Blitz so early this season? Last season it was the week before the season started this year it's 3 weeks before it starts. Perth and Illawarra still haven't signed their import PG's.

Not sure I'll bother watching the Sixers game against the Hawks. No Cotton, Trez & Humphries for Adelaide and no JaVale McGee, import PG and Sam Froling too for the Hawks.

This really just seems like a bit of a waste of time so far out from the season starting.

Fillies kid looks good. Has poise and shoots it well . Still raw but has some tools to work with

Rillie

Rillie son looked very useful, Delaney good, Jesse Edwards looks a real good pick up. Henshall good also. Imo cats will be there abouts as usual. Turned the volume off at quarter time, commentary was horrible, Hooley just talks rubbish

I agree Zodiac, seems every team has at least one or two big names out. And only 2 games instead of 3 this year. Why move it earlier?

The broadcast seems better for the 36ers game than I remember in the past.

I know it's a preseason game with names out, lots of space, pace basketball and youth, but I feel like the 36ers v Hawks game is being played at a good level and definitely one of the more enjoyable preseason games I’ve seen

Thought Flynn Cameron played pretty good and I liked Che Brogan too. He's skinny as heck and not ready yet, but showed some potential I thought.

Middle name Guevara?

The timing of the Blitz probably has something to do with Sydney and Adelaide being involved in other tournaments? I think Illawarra are playing in something too aren't they?

That something being the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore on 18-21 September.

Which is during the regular season as is the tournament of games the Kings and 36ers are playing in, now reduced to one game each and the two NBA games too.

After the Blitz ends on Sunday August 31 there are no pre-season games again until September 11, just weird scheduling having the Blitz so early.

So the question is why this weekend instead of next weekend.

Perhaps it's convenient with the week off for AFL?

Good game happening, FreemanLiberty looking fantastic. Both sides not at full strength. I'm very happy how the refs are letting them play, hopefully it stays that way.

Adams and Freeman Liberty are a great back court. Dalton has shut me up after bagging him last week, been very good.

I think Brisbane are being slept on as a contender this season, in my own predictions I have them finishing 4th and making a SF series

I also think Javon Freeman-Liberty will be an MVP contender and make all-NBL first team

Very early days and bullets did win the preseason last season but they look very good and well balanced. Two things that haven't changed at the kings, Cooks still can’t shoot free throws and Noi defence is still questionable. Soares getting fouled out and kings just don’t have a five man, if Cooks plays five they are not big enough in the four.

Freeman-Liberty looked really solid, but generally speaking woe to the import who dominates the Blitz, doesn't usually seem to bode well as teams use these games to adjust to how they defend these guys once the regular season starts. But we'll see, he looks well ahead of the imports Brisbane have signed the last couple of seasons, even if some of them came good once the season got going.

re: the Kings, started hot but missing the guy who should lead them in scoring most nights. Agree with the commentary team re: Spurgin, would have probably been playing 8 mins a night, and his loss hurts.

I'm still not sold on the JJs as contenders. They seem to lack balance and offensive output. So much revolves around Hamilton. They might sneak into the six but can see them missing out

Magnay with a double block in ot game. Quality game

First round to Bannon over McVeigh, Magnay outstanding, he'd better not get hurt though or JJs in trouble. Stattman looking good for taipans.

All sides look so even, who can pick finals teams is impossible, luck and injuries going to play a major part.

This seems to be one of the best Blitz's already, whether it continues that way who knows, but can’t complain!

I turned it off at quarter time it was excruciating to watch. I don't see either team being much of a factor this season.

Both nights have been great and no reason why that should not continue. Last night was a corker. Come-from-behind win for the Bullets over the Kings and an OT between Tas and Cairns which was decided with just pt 9 of a second on the clock.

SEM take on NZ in the early game tonight with Illa v Perth to close the night.

Congrats to Canberra for the support shown. That atmosphere adds so much to the event's vision and sound. The fan support has been outstanding at the games, remembering that there are no "home" teams here.

First quarter I thought the same, a little bit crapy, but after that it was a beauty. JJs will certainly need Magnay fit and healthy though.

The vastly improved foul count for the JJs was notable.

On the other hand it was a bit of a foulathon from the Snakes.

JJs need to figure out how to the defend the perimeter better but still winning when the opposition has 18 made threes is also notable.

Roth played Marshall for 25 minutes so he must be doing something right. Seemed to surprise himself with some of his D including a quality steal down the stretch.

Roth obviously not showing his hand with Daniel Johnson just yet. Although Mark Radford gave those who were watching a sneak preview at Ulverstone. Hamilton looks to be really warming into the league, Campbell just looks very solid (like at UCLA) and Bannan was great. Ayer also looks to be taking his pest D to another level.

Snakes will take some scalps this year.

Can't wait to see Admiral Schofield go up against Bol Koul (he didn’t like the attention from Deng) and as has been said elsewhere what happens when he locks horns with Trez?

It was 18-7 at Qtr time.

Hunter is nearly as valuable to SEM as Magnay to JJs. PJC is still a gun.

Brockington looking good early. For a side that's supposedly a defensive unit SEM certainly got a few non defenders.

Minus 20 BV, he's certainly not up to the D yet, 3 fouls as well, Mitchell also beaten on D. Hunter keeping SEM in this. Breakers looking better than their list looks. Team work looks good.

Most of the NZ team have played together in the national league and national team for years.
The chemistry is already there.
Add PJC and 2x decent imports, Karim Lopez & Sean Bairstow and they should be better than most people have predicted.

Certainly looking better at present, SEM on the other hand look rudderless. Hunter in foul trouble because his guards are not playing D in front of him.

Not as good as previous games, SEM got lot to do, Foxwell needs to start at point. Breakers certainly surprised me, good all round team performance. Brockington looking a great addition.

Good hit out for both teams to see where they're at and what needs improvement.
SEM won’t be happy with giving up 109 points but it’s only pre season .

Agree with above post about their chemistry so far & think they will be a lot better than last year

As for SEM their 2 imports that played are ordinary, understand it's only pre season but both of them are pretty poor defensively. Brown will fit in fine & bring some muscle on the defensive end to help Hunter when he is off. Lewis looks like he has improved a lot & between Foxy, Glover & Sobey will be better after last year under King.
Don’t see much time for Mitchell because his defense is poor. Aliir & Gak is still learning and will get minutes here and there
I’ll call it BV won’t last long in this league

I agree with you 101, very early days but BV looked average in the two games I've watched. Totally agree re with re Mitchell, his D so far is non existent. Alir has been reasonable in the game against United the other day, didn’t play today.

That ain't a unicorn, that was a (show)pony.

Cats are looking very nice, good ball movement, Rilie son a fine player. Hawks, it's hard to say as staffed. Harry is a big lad now.

And just like that cats stop playing D. Game on again

Players like Peatling are so valuable, play both ends.

Jaron Rillie looks really solid, earning his spot in the team thanks to his on-court effort and not just his dad

Doolittle missing and when the pressure was applied cats crashed. Young Rillie was great, his father again has to many non defensive players, how they could use a Peatling, Wagstaff can't do that anymore.

JLA and Dech might help with that and once the rotation shortens too, though depth looking better. Pepper should find his form again hopefully.

Who is BV? Do we mean Vrenz Bleijenbergh (VB)?

I assumed so.

Yes that's correct, VB is that Belgium player.

Does anyone else find it strange that the NBL has not made any fuss about the quarter by quarter breakdowns for teams to win the Loggins-Bruton Cup?

I'm sure in previous seasons all the points won was a part of the game summary and would be continually mentioned on the broadcast.

This season there are no acknowledgement at all.

Maybe something to do with the fact they are using this system to decide the ignite cup in the season proper?

Looking like the old bullets at quarter time. Lash no time out when United rolling, strange coaching.

Bullets back at the half. Edwards reminds me of a bigger version of Josh Boone.

If Brisbane could make a few free throws these'd be right in it.

There's a lot to like about MU. Looking like a very balanced roster including experience and youth. A lot rides on Doyle but he looks more comfortable in his role than last year with the JJs

All united imports look very good, good local core and very deep should be another successful year. Brisbane néed their imports to stay healthy and be very good, McDaniel, Harrison must also stay healthy plus they had better hope Ducas, Holt and TSM have good season or it'll be a long one.

Sixers doing very nicely with a few big names missing, they will be deep and looking well coached. JJs are typical JJs team but Bannon and Magnay have better not get injured as not much in those spots behind them, both playing very well. Good game.

Another very good game, JJs by two.

No Davis, kings still shit. Brown looking real good at both ends for SEM.

With the injury to Spurgen, kings short a big if Cooks going to back up five. Sobey and Foxwell both doing very well, no Brown when on bench there D goes to crap.

Kings getting smashed on rebounding again, trail 42-52. SEM looking much better, BV looking better, Brown very good, played a bit five as well. Glover, Sobey, Foxwell, Lewis been impressive. Mitchell dragged for poor D. Delly not looking his normal self, Noi like Mitchell can score but on D they struggle. Bruce been good, Cooks not looking that interested. For a team coached by Goorg there D is very average.

Good game happening, kings get back in it and Brown comes and SEM go away again. Brown looking fantastic at both ends. Cooks just doesn't look right.

Kings now getting smashed, they need some blue collar workers, to many pretty boys, BV now looking the goods, Foxwell will start at the point, mark my words. Kings need some bigs, Davis will make a difference but kings got improve there D quickly.

81-102 SEM, Davis will certainly help on the offensive side but there D good improve immensely. SEM would be reasonably happy and Brown is going to fantastic.

NZ's bench looking ok
PJC took a couple of shots to the ribs early so Kop benched him rather than risk him.
TeRangi and Bairstow playing well.

Breakers looking very well organised, impressive, Terangi actually beat McVeigh up at both ends, PJC not on much due to ribs being hit. Lee only Cairns import playing, Stattman looking very useful, Galloway looking improved as well. Liking how refs are letting them play.

I liked Galloway when he was with NZ.

I'm liking NZ’s D,

Brockington like the breakers looking very useful good. Stattman looking very useful as well.

Congratulations to NZ, clearly the best team in this preseason competition. Brockington mvp.

It's hard to judge some teams as they were under strength but kings and bullets certainly defensively were poor. I watched every game, JJs also impressed.

Cal Bruton clearly right that two more teams are required just to accommodate some really good locals that will be bench warming when all teams get to full strength.

Given the key pieces that were absent for Adelaide they impressed me most. They played super hard and guys like Harris, Cameron and White look like they are thriving under Wells.

Yes sixer were good, Harris and White probably probably don't get too see a lot court time when their stars are back.

As Dunkman commented, "Cal Bruton clearly right that two more teams are required just to accommodate some really good locals that will be bench warming when all teams get to full strength.

With the success of this carnival, reckon CBR may have won one of those spots. Gold Coast, the other? Imagine that. Queensland able to support 3 NBL teams, most in NBL!

Only a short time ago we were all worried that with expansion, that there wouldn't be enough quality (local) players to keep our standards as high as they are.

I wonder if the million dollar deals being offered in the NBL now will help to keep some our "better" prospects here to chase their dreams of NBA through the NBL rather than say Europe, Asia or G League,

Also. Noticed that some of the NBL1 National Championship contenders had their NBL players playing. Good for the NBL1ers, risky for the NBLers. Would it be better for these NBL1 teams to recruit their own imports, like they once did, and some still do? Personally, I like that the NBL benchies get some meaningful court-time by playing in the NBL1 in the off season but not if they get all the way to the finals and find that 1 or even 2 of their stars/starters no longer available.

I think you will find that Gold Coast ship has sailed.

Unless you have any particular insider knowledge, I don't think that’s the case.

It appears more so delayed than anything else. A new GC Arena hasn’t been shut down, it just hasn’t progressed much.

Reality is without the genuine commitment to an appropriate sized stadium, cities such as GC, Canberra, Darwin etc won’t get off the ground.

There’s only so many seasons the NBL is willing to let them play out of the smaller sized stadiums.

No national sporting league team has succeeded on the Gold Coast. All crashed an burned. The only reason the AFL team exists is because the AFL continuously props it up with Broadcast and Government money.

NBL needs to run away from this, fast. Learn lessons from the past.

If the league stays at 10 teams, they should go back to 2 imports, to many players heading OS that are good enough and not even playing in top leagues in Europe or Japan but earning ok money and it's better than getting 5 minutes a game if lucky in the nbl.

I don't subscribe to the premise there is enough Aussie talent out there to expand to another two teams. Look at some of the guys still able to get spots on NBL rosters now Kody Stattmann, Jack Purchase, Taine Murray, Tom Wilson, Taylor Britt etc all tried and failed previously in the NBL.

Not sure we need two more teams filled with the likes of Jacob Rigoni, Tom Kubank, Dillon Stith, Emmett Naar, Jared Bairstow, Callum Dalton, Tom Vodanovich, Majok Majok, Lachlan Barker and Grant Anticevich who all played in the NBL last season.

Dunkman's point is straight and to the point. Pay for 2 imports and spend more on top-level Aussies who choose Asia or Europe over the NBL.

Personally, I like the 3 imports deal but keeping top Aussies here, in the NBL, would be for the better. Maybe allow a 3rd local as a Marquee player. IMO, if that comes at the expense of the 3rd import, so be it.

So, to make me and my ilk happy, we need to be able to play 12 teams, with 3 imports, all with sufficient local talent to offer a truly exciting, competitive league.

Allow new teams to have an extra marquee. Now Dunkman says not enough local talent, in the first place. Who are you going to offer this extra money to? The same players you would have offered less money to? No.

No. You offer it to marquee level players currently playing elsewhere. Even allow the new teams as many of these as they can afford! Salary cap and rules all stay the same with the new teams paying the tax for over-spends on the cap (just as before). That could amount to a small fortune but if they can afford lots of marquees, they can also afford lots of tax.

Now, where are we going to base these teams. Somewhere with big venues please. CBR and GC could both be realities, by then. We don't want to wait for the next Olympics to come round again before more are built.

Bit harsh on Taine Murray, Zodiac!

All together bit harsh, Zodiac. Most of those names are worth a chance. Some won't make it. Not all who try, do.

Strange that they seem to be an "age group" that you post about. Did any of them get a spot you wanted? Not knowing you (or them), it sounded that way, a bit.

Harris from cats last season is in Japan, Kay in Japan, there are others applying there trade around the globe that are worthy of contracts in nbl, Creek another. I'm actually happy for three imports but then need another two teams, preferred option, but if owners can’t be found, two imports per team or maybe give bottom four teams three and top six two.

Agree with Zodiac.

At the end of the day it's a question of degree. What standard do we want?

The NBL has come a long way over the past decade and they've struck a good balance between all the relevant factors in success- one of which is ensuring sufficiently talented players to make the league worth watching.

If they go to 11, 12 teams, the average talent level of the league will decrease noticeably, which isn't something I'd like to see.

I think reducing the imports to two would create a false economy that already exists for local players. There's marquee players on much more than their market value - eg Cooks, JLA, mcveigh, DJV and probably magnay.

If the local players playing overseas were as good as the imports on the same money then they'd be signed already. It's as simple as that. Reducing the imports just means teams will have to pay more for the same level of basketball talent.

So the only question is whether it would create a better 'local favour' in the league. And to me that's debatable and unlikely.

Leaupepe out for season, kings so small and no internal elite defenders other than Cooks.

That sucks for Leaupepe :(
(and for the NBL)

Goorg will probably get third import but the real cost of there roster will be massive, Cooks, Delly, Davis will be on massive coin. Will the owners stump up.

My grapevine is telling me someone has been a naughty boy, not certain when, possibly preseason.

Well that isn't a lot to go on

I don't like saying to much on rumours, I was sort of putting it out there to see if anyone else had heard.

Should we save time and assume it's someone on the 36ers?

No, if correct information further east. Anyway sorry just thought someone else might heard something, I get my info normally down the line a bit, not always on the money, so don't want chuck someone down the stairs and be wrong.

pretty believable dunkman

I didn't recall seeing leuepepe get injured in the blitz. Did I miss it?

Inference only partially intended...

United look so solid already, bullets seems to missing their guard import but looking so poor on D end. I'm heading to the Perth game in a few minutes, might come back to this one if it’s shit.

King starting two imports on the bench, Brown is an absolute beauty

SEM bench is there weak spot, just not great defensively. King imo will play only eight deep when the real stuff starts. Vic Law on big money, not looking that great for golden kings. Did I say that Brown is a gun. 26-12 to SEM.

51-33 SEM, at halftime.
Hooley still talks a lot rubbish
Japanese imports might earn top money but are poor compared to most nbl imports.
Brown, Foxwell, Lewis, Gak, Maldonado Sobey been good, VB very reasonable. Mitchell got dragged in first quarter for poor D, King spoke to him but never saw court in second.
Golden kings very average so far, SEM looking top six material.

King playing the bench with six minutes to go.
SEM should be reasonable, can't see them winning it all though.
Stats from bullets game and what I saw looks likely to be another long season.

VB sent to sheds for early shower. Score will flatter golden kings as bench from SEM playing big minutes.

Cats game delayed, not certain why.

JLA looks crazy good

Cats by two, jla v hawkinson. Much better game than the first one.

Cats looking very impressive, even defensively. Sun rockers fell away badly in that quarter.

JLA looking solid as so far

Cats looking very solid, the Japanese sides are early in their preseason but looking so poor average.

Cats to very deep bench as well. Top two, three imo.

Certainly looking like some great five men contests this season.

With a bit of luck the FIBA standard of officiating will continue and let them play. Some great depth this year across the league. Some interesting statements coming out.
While folks are waiting for KD to implode. Cotton the star that he is, don't think he will be quite as effective as he was with Perth.
For both kings and 36s they possible need a second ball to keep players happy.

Reading Mason Jones will suit up against Ryuku tomorrow, looking forward to that indeed

No Sobey playing, 19 all at quarter time. Sun rockers looking much better.

I called Foxwell would start and he's a key piece, Brown is also a key piece. SEM bench OK falls away defensively though.

SEM by 14 at halftime. They look good when starters on, got a few players out. Like most teams will have key pieces that they will need to be injury free. King is a very good coach. As commentary said, very early in season for b league teams, sun rockers were mid table last season but do reasonable.

Confirmed - Mason Jones named in the side for today's game

#0 Jo Lual-Acuil Jr
#1 Dontae Russo-Nance
#2 Lat Mayen
#3 Dylan Windler
#5 Kristian Doolittle
#10 Ben Henshall
#13 Noa Kouakou-Heugue
#18 Mason Jones
#22 Tom Gerovich
#25 Cam Huefner
#26 Tana Kopa
#35 David Okwera
#40 Elijah Pepper

I didn't mind what I saw of Cameron Heufner at West Adelaide this season. I note his Bearcats teammate Lat Mayen isn't playing today.

How come Sunday Dech hasn't played yet in the pre-season?

Entertaining game, SEM always to good, not certain it shows how good their season could be, need to see stronger opponents.

Zodiac, Dech has a calf injury

Thanks, that's a shame. Clearly I missed Mayen's name there too.

I'm looking forward to checking out this game getting something out a shit sports weekend for me both Crows & Norwood knocked out of their footy finals. Bring on the basketball!

A bit like SEM, cats back bench players don't defend well enough. Jones looks the goods. JLA clearly better than Pinder.

Generally speaking big men are not going to win the MVP but man JLA looks like he is nba ready big man. He will tear the league apart this season

Let it fly, Mason

Mason and JLO definitely an up grade towards winning a championship. Going to be more of a collective effort.
Donate deserves the back up role to Mason, going to be small minutes, and his efficiency is way higher than Henshaw.

Yes, if cats can play decent D, they're in this season for sure. Looking very good.

I'm starting to think this Mason guy can shoot the 3.

Dench will add to the defense which will likely mean Pepper and Henshaw share the minutes depending on needs of game.

Great hit out for Perth. Instead of a blow out they get a high intensity game to work on their plays . Good quality workout . Jones is awesome man. JLA looks like a different player to the player at united. Much better overall player on both ends.

Ryuku were great opponents but fair dinkum big Cats squad upgrade going off these last 2 games, impressive.

Rillie on SEN radio today - "Mason Jones had his first training session with the Cats today" - so his weekend performance was off the cuff. Obviously he is a seasoned pro and this isn't the first time such a short turnaround has happened/preseason game etc but that is a damn good sign. Once he is up to speed with the whole unit things are gonna get exciting real quick.

The Illawarra Hawks play their first game tonight at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup against Flamengo 7pm EST live on ESPN. Tomorrow night the Hawks play the G-League United and then on Sunday ESPN are showing the three classification games including the final at 9pm EST.

Combined with the Melb/NZB game and Kings vs Partizan and 36ers vs Panathinaikos games a whopping six NBL related games on Sunday all on ESPN too!

Hawks up 30-28 at H/T.

McGee's playing 2p 6r 1-7 FG.

Actually make that 31-28 at H/T.

Overtime, 73-73

Main commentator might want to pop on a Flamengo jersey with how hard he's riding them.

Lol McGee highlightng his mental lapses on that Flamenco oob play.

Fouled massively on that last 3 by Blanchfield.

Great play that

Hawks lose 82-84 (OT)