Going for Breakers in this one, at home and we're more settled in blitz than Brisbane. IMO Brisbane are in for a long season.

NZ certainly looks more balanced and ready, coached well. Early days and wins are crucial so if breakers want play finals should win this one. Now my tipping has never been great so the three bullets imports will get twenty plus each and snag the win. I'll stick with breakers by ten and hopefully go two from two this season.

Unless Adams is Kings championship-era Adams and JFL also goes off, hard not to go with NZ by 10+. Looking forward to seeing this Breakers squad play finally.

The bookies and the pundits seem to be writing off the Breakers. But in recent threads on Hoops they're moving up people's ladders.

They'll be a dark horse and not favourites, but I think there's a lot to be said about the chemistry the Breakers have and all the key people in the background returning who know what winning is about.

I also don't know how you defend PJC with 3 shooting bigs like Mennenga, Baker and Loe. Brockington also seems to zip up and down the court quickly.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Breakers 10+ in an emotional return to their roots.

I understand Lopez will be on limited minutes while baker carrying an injury so restricted and pjc nursing his ribs

Small forward is breakers weak spot so will be interesting how they cover that - probably te rangi and davison. Maybe bairstow a few minutes

So I'm picking the bullets to take this one. Hopefully the atmosphere going off though. Gonna give pjc a huge welcome back!

I understand Lopez will be on limited minutes while baker carrying an injury so restricted and pjc nursing his ribs

Small forward is breakers weak spot so will be interesting how they cover that - probably te rangi and davison. Maybe bairstow a few minutes

So I'm picking the bullets to take this one. Hopefully the atmosphere going off though. Gonna give pjc a huge welcome back!

With Lopez it's just easing him back in and Rob Bakers injury in Japan was just some back tightness.
Not sure either player is injured, they just have a couple of niggles to work through.
PJC took a knock a couple of weeks ago in the Blitz so that shouldn't be an issue now, it's not like he broke a rib.

Breakers have said Lopez is on a minutes restriction as he recovers from his back injury and an illness from earlier in the week.
No mention of Rob Baker or PJC.

Bullets up 21-20 at QT.

Baker looks like he's going to cause problems for bigs in our league very mobile and wiry.

Very good first quarter, bullets doing very well. Davidson going to a good player. Prather certainly doing well. Again refs have started very well

can often tell a new coach or someone out of their depth on the sidelines. they often go hiding in the corner so their assistants cant talk to them, body language is i am trying to hide.

thankfully Brisbane have new coaching shirts after last years terrible effort.

I really hope that isn't a serious knee injury to Mitch Norton, but that certainly did not look good. Very much loved player in the NBL. Entertaining clash so far.

Anyone else watching on Kayo with a fast internet connection experiencing blurry crapovision when its a wide shot and HD or close to HD on the zoomed in camera? Same as last season - Kayo HD my a$$ but totally awesome watching on youtube with VPN.

Can confirm VPN cheese working problem solved

Things not looking good for Brisbane. Breakers with at least 5 soft turnovers leading to easy buckets and 1/14 from 3, but Bullets only up by 2. Both teams nowhere as polished as MelbourNe and Tassie were last night.

Can someone defend Prather, Terangi isn't doing it. Bullets are surprising. Vanderjagt seems to taking all time outs.

Rob Baker is absolutely clueless out there my god

Well there we go, bullets making nz look very average. Please someone at least try guard Prather. Yes Baker will be following VB next out the door, how do these guys get recommended. Hopefully Norton isn't as bad as it looks.

I was wondering why Te Rangi was starting over Baker.

Watched him play for 5 minutes and there's my answer.

Problem is Baker and Terangi aren't starters.

Brisbane starters all excellent, each did what there job was perfectly, Ducas and Smith-Milner did good as well. If these guys stay healthy and Norton gets back they will surprise. Lash might be the coach but he didn't coach, Vanderjagt did, if it works for them stick with it.
NZ a big let down, Davidson showed a fair bit, PJC hopefully will get better but his and the team turnovers were horrendous. It’s alright having NZers but they still have to perform, Leafa, Terangi, Mennenga very average. Coach Kop got lift as well, subs were average. Baker wasn’t good and no use of Darling, try something coach. Brockington was ok and hopefully get better but his.
Still an entertaining game.

Coach kop was nearly as bad as baker tonight. Poor rotations, bad match ups on D, and had brockington parked on the wing most of the night.

Played bairstow at point briefly before finally letting brockington handle the ball. When he did he looked very hard to guard.

And let them put up 30 odd threes, mostly after working their way back into the game with driving and dishing.

McDaniel was outstanding tonight though. Restricted pjc from running the game, caused turnovers and sunk some nice buckets.

Bullets deserved the win well done

The whinge league is back. What a pleasure Eurobasket was.

Very first shot and McDonald was sooky for a call. Coaches and benches out of control.

With so many mics around its inexcusable for the NBL to continue to allow this behaviour to sour the quality of the league. If only they weren't so arrogant and realised basketball people know something about how the game should be run on court.

Oh and FFS turn off the music every now and then.

Moral of the story, don't win the Blitz

Sloppy game of basketball. McDaniel was massive on PJC and Prather continues his form from last season. Still far from sold on Brisbane, but the Breakers have some work to do. I think they have the pieces, but looked disjointed on both ends. Baker was bad, yes, but I'd give him some more time before bringing in Taco....

As you can imagine, I am thrilled with this early result for the Bullets. Even if it's meaningless in the longer run, it is a nice injection of hope for the season ahead.

I am aware that NZ suffer a similar disrespect (as to team-quality) to the Bullets. Most pundits already have us both at the bottom of the table. But a win, any win this season, is a win.

I am concerned that Brisbane only used 7 players for the game (+Norton who got injured in first half). Those who did play were great,IMO. The starters were everything I hoped they would be.
Does this show a lack of confidence in the bench? I would have expected some action from Murray and hoped to see Holt for my first time. Finally got to see Ducas and he impressed and have been a fan of SmithMilner's for some time.

Also hoped I would "see" the new Head Coach, Stu Lash, be a head coach (wasn't to be!). Good work Vandy.

Next couple of away games may sort us out a little. 1st up is Cairns, with everything in the world to celebrate with their new identity (the rich kids).They will definitely want our scalp as we (the Bullets) would be an excellent trophy for their early history as a "professional" club.

Then it's off to Adelaide who recruited rather well, I hear. And maybe a very early change/addition/subtraction? to their (Adelaide's) roster could add some interest.

Very good press conference by Lash, if they stay healthy they might surprise. He's given credit to his team and coaching team, humble and smart.

I am still not convinced on Stu Lash as HC.

However, having seen, and then read his presser, I saw/heard lots of stat-type observations revealing that that may be his speciality and what he will bring to the team as HC.

Hardly seems like the speciality I would desire in the HC. More like the role he filled anyway but I wouldn't know.

This could really be Coaching-by-committee. Lash's time-out instructions to his team; "Do what he just said!"

As an old boss told me forty years ago, don't be scared to use other peoples brains if they have something to offer, Lash certainly seems from that mould. Even, King, Vickerman always discuss with the assistants before they talk to players at time outs etc. Early days but Lash was impressive.

I want you to be right, Dunkman, but not quite the same thing. Try Lash's name in place of King's and Vickerman's names
and you may see what I meant.

Even, (King, Vickerman) Lash always discuss(es) with the assistants before (they) he talks to players at time outs etc.

He doesn't do either. Get into deep and meaningfuls with his assistants or talk to players at time outs etc.

You might be right RobT and I tipped Brisbane to the spoon but I liked what I saw and heard in the media conference.

"...I liked what I saw and heard in the media conference." too. Pity that the media conference is the only place that I see and hear it.

Funny, you keep trying to talk them (the Bullets) up while I am finding fault where I can. I need a shot of your outlook.