Basketball On The Internet.

IS BENDIGO the real deal or is Perth as good as it seems after two home wins? There's a few questions the WNBL's Round 3 should help answer, the Spirit expecting back championship-winner Kelsey Griffin, though most likely against Melbourne on Sunday.

Bendigo extended defending champion Townsville and pushed Sydney to a six-point game in Mildura, and is coming off one of the most comprehensive preseason campaigns of any team in recent memory.

Perth impressed beating Sydney and Adelaide and now has a chance to go 3-0 at home, Bendigo's most recent league MVP, Anneli Maley, sure to want to put in a big game for her new club, the Lynx.

This has a lot riding on it in a round which opens tonight in Sydney where the Flames should torch Canberra. 

The Caps' twin pick-ups of Alex Sharp and Alex Fowler have been huge but they do not have the depth to keep Sydney on a back foot.

Southside romps into Adelaide and after topping Townsville near the buzzer last round, will be feeling very optimistic about making short work of the Lightning.

Continuing on to Townsville, Canberra will find the Fire red hot after losing at home last round, not the ideal scenario for a burgeoning young franchise.

And Griffin back in the Bendigo lineup might pose unexpected problems for Melbourne when the league-leading Boomers finally host a home game, celebrating stalwart Katrina Hibbert in the process.

Before you jump to our Round 3 tips though, can the WNBL or its parent Basketball Australia do anything – anything at all – to improve its television coverage?

Horrific events such as in last round’s grand final rematch should not only not occur in the first place, but should never occur at all if the league wants its undoubtedly quality product to be taken seriously by the world at large, and not just by its already converted.

In case you are unaware, with Nyadiew Puoch going to the foul-line and some 9-ish seconds left, Southside and Townsville tied at 74-74 in Townsville, the 9NOW TV coverage cut out.

Yeah. That’s when you want to signal to drop out. Screens went black nationwide, though NOT everywhere.

Lovely to come back and find the match over and the Flyers 75-74 winners.

That is simply disgraceful, inexcusable. Problems with the coverage last year had BA and the WNBL saying there were better days ahead. Guess they’re still ahead.

ROUND 3 TIPS
Cayla George stays out of foul trouble and Sydney routs the Capitals.
Perth’s home court advantage proves just enough to stave off Bendigo.
Adelaide gives Southside three-quarters of a good match.
Townsville fire up after their home loss and the Caps get capped.
Melbourne has its work cut out against a rejuvenated Bendigo outfit.

WNBL RANKINGS – WEEK 2
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               1        Melbourne (3-0) First home game spells danger of complacency.
  2               5        Southside (2-1) Finding their way now and Lightning a low hurdle.
  3               2        Townsville (1-1) Blew it at home but won’t trifle with Canberra.
  4               3        Perth (2-0) Can keep its home streak going against winless Bendigo.
  5               6        Sydney (1-2) Should move its record out of the red by firing Caps.
  6               4        Adelaide (1-2) Came back to earth and Flyers will be tough ask.
  7               7        Bendigo (0-2) Time to make a move this round by taming the wild west.
  8               8        Canberra (0-2) It doesn’t get any easier on the road for the Capitals.