Basketball On The Internet.

WOW. That didn’t take long at all.

Didn’t see much fall-out from the Cairns-Illawarra NBL practice matches but there sure was some knee-jerking about in the wake of the NZ-Sydney and Adelaide-Townsville games.

“Sydney had its full team and got beaten by the Breakers who were minus Webster, Abercrombie and Pledger … it’s time to reassess playoff contention!”

“Adelaide only just beat the Crocs by two and Brian Conklin only played five minutes … time has caught up to the 36ers.”

Blah blah.

It’s only preseason, people.

Who knows what the coaches are looking for in each trip onto the hardwood?

Fabulous preseason win-loss records sure aren’t a part of them, let me assure you.

Do we have to now rate the teams BEFORE the preseason Blitz to better assess which one might waltz away with the Loggins-Bruton Cup?

Crocs coach Shawn Dennis and I had a great conversation once about scribes and fans so liberally using the word “upset” during the preseason when very few teams have even established their identities.

In some instances, teams hadn’t even finalised their personnel!

Patience.

The Blitz WILL be special this year because for one of the very few times, virtually every team will have its full personnel available for the tournament.

But again, rest assured there will be players rested from some games even during that. And strategies tried which may be abandoned or honed during the following fortnight ahead of tip-off for the REAL season.

Let’s not rush to get ahead of ourselves or to so readily point the finger of doubt over a new face, an import, a youngster or even a veteran, until we’re at least part-way into the regular season.

We don’t know who is carrying an injury, who is battling their own doubts and uncertainties or who is going to take a little longer to settle in.

This time a couple of years ago, there were a few grumblings going on about then “new” Perth Wildcats import Jermaine Beal.

Remember that?

The impatience was palpable.

REAL DEAL. PATIENCE WAS KEY: Jermaine Beal has been setting the NBL alight for two years.

But when the last siren on the season went and the Wildcats were raising the Dr John Raschke Trophy, Beal was receiving the Larry Sengstock MVP Medal.

For at least the past month, several of us in the media game have been asked who our "top four" will be or which team will win the championship?

I mean, really?

Can we just see everyone, maybe once, before having to rush to some largely irrelevant conclusions?

That would be nice.

That said, yeah, it's a long, hard wait when we're less than a month from tip-off.

Online

Last night's trial games: http://bit.ly/1FyR9I8

ICYMI: Josh Childress' monster slam during the Kings-Breakers game can be found at the club's Facebook and Twitter pages. It's a gem.