Basketball On The Internet.

THE ongoing absence of Crocs fans at Townsville home games has to be causing alarm bells to be ringing across the NBL.

Despite the Crocs coming home off a memorable road win over Perth, the stands largely were empty for the visit by Illawarra, Hawks centre AJ Ogilvy dominating the early going as they raced to a 16-1 buffer.

Townsville fought back to make a real game out of it before Illawarra won 96-88, the Crocs’ poor start inevitably sabotaging their fine fightback.

But while Shawn Dennis wrestles with altering his line-up for a faster start, the bigger issue remains finding a fanbase to keep the Crocodiles alive.

Clearly there’s been a long-term alienation of the thousands who used to pack out The Swamp. I won’t pretend to know the economy up north but there seems to be a distinct disconnect between the Crocodiles and their potential audience.

It’s one thing to lament the absence of fans. It’s another to actively court their return or the influx of new faces.

And while some will turn to the league and ask what is it doing to help Townsville, there comes a time to ask what are the Crocs doing now to help themselves?

The team deserves better support but we don’t always get what we deserve. We often DO get what we work for and clearly either ticket prices or insufficient attention to restoring community engagement have to be addressed.

Or, as Queen might sing… “Another one bites the dust…”

50-50: Crocs coach Shawn Dennis turned 50 this week and Hawks coach Rob Beveridge got his team to 50 per cent with a 3-3 record.

Tonight: Melbourne has wasted no time replacing injured import Hakim Warrick with Garrett Jackson ahead of tonight’s match-up with Perth.

Warrick’s groin injury, suffered at practice during the week, has seen him placed on injury waivers with Jackson activated while he rehabilitates.

Jackson, 23 and 201cm, played SEABL with North West Thunder  and has been training with United’s extended squad.

He previously played with point guard Stephen Holt at Saint Mary’s College in California

Tomorrow night: AL Harrington has lobbed for Sydney as the Kings attempt to address their slide utilising the 206cm, 1,036-game NBA veteran for injured Josh Childress.

Does it alter thinking for who might win when Townsville revisits? You bet it does, provided his clearance arrives in time.

COREY Webster had a career-high 35-point game and Tai Wesley a career-best 26 as New Zealand broke away from Cairns after halftime to win comfortably 90-67.

The rumours Scottie Wilbekin will be reintroduced for Markel Starks show no signs of abating, even though the Taipans under Aaron Fearne have a history of sticking with their imports, which must give Starks cause for comfort.

Last night: BREAKERS 90 (Webster 35, Wesley 26, Ce Jackson 10; Wesley, Ce Jackson 8 rebs; Ce Jackson 5 assts) d TAIPANS 67 (Craig 17, Starks 13, Burston 9 rebs; 5 with 2 assts) in Auckland. HAWKS 96 (Ogilvy 28, Lisch 25, Penney 24, Coenraad 11; Ogilvy 13 rebs; Lisch, Penney 5 assts) d CROCODILES 88 (Steindl, Conklin 19, Maynard, 13, Kay 12; Conklin 11 rebs; Conklin, Norton 3 assts) at The Swamp.

PS

What a gold mine it was for basketball lovers last night with two NBL games on TV, then a Euroleague match featuring Ryan Broekhoff at Lokomotiv against Brock Motum at Zalgiris. And THAT was followed by two Euro Cup games! Yes, sleep is over-rated.