Basketball On The Internet.

NEVER let it be said the NBL doesn't spot a marketing opportunity when it sees one, even if the inevitable penalties doled out today in the aftermath of big Mitch Creek and Sam Froling plays smack of little more than wrist slaps.

There was a time when dropping a player from behind would have meant an automatic two-week hiatus for the culprit. Instead though, Melbourne United's Mason Peatling running through a Creek celebrating one of the Dunks of the Decade results in a one-match ban and a $375 fine because he accepted an early plea.

Say what?

He "accepted" a one-game suspension and $375? How good-spirited of him. So the original two-game ban and $500 fine are reduced because of his good nature in accepting an early plea?

What a guy!

Now don't misread me here. I have enjoyed watching Peatling's emergence last season and know he just had a moment of emotional immaturity. But blindsiding a player justifiably celebrating one of the athletic plays of the year - any year - is NOT "standing up for a teammate".

For starters, Creek wasn't disrespecting the prostrate Matty Dellavedova who vainly tried to prevent the inevitable.

There was no teammate to stand up for here. And if standing up for a teammate was Peatling's misguided mindset, he simply could have shoved Creek aside and helped Dellavedova back to his feet.

That's not what happened. After his cheap shot, Peatling headed off into the ether. Hardly heroic.

But the NBL need not concern itself with any of this. If anything, it is Delly who should be angry.

By doing what he did, Peatling guaranteed the viewing audience went up from a viral one million views to a crazy 10 million and still counting!

Yeah. That's just how Delly wants NBA clubs to tune in and see him. Getting posterised. "Thank you kindly Mason. You do know I'd like to still get back to The Show, right?"

The NBL's Games Review Panel then caught itself in a repetitive loop, throwing $500 fines at every other person involved, regardless of their degree of involvement or otherwise, cutting that back to $375 for all the culprits with their "early pleas".

There was a time leaving the bench to join a melee/fracas was an automatic suspension. But David Barlow got the $500 down to $375 deal. Who knows? Maybe someone phoned FIBA and asked: "What did those Filipino players and coaches get for leaving their bench a few years back? SweetFA? OK. Thanks."

Once that benchmark was set, United assistant Justin Schueller, Creek and fellow South East Melbourne Phoenix pair Kyle Adnam and Izayah Le'afa all had to know it was going to cost them $375 to walk away from this unscathed.

Let's jump to the Sydney-Illawarra argy bargy which began because Kings starter Angus Glover - having the best game of his injury cruelled NBL career - couldn't handle Sam Froling's exceptional block of his shot attempt.

Again, let's be clear - I'm a fan of Glover and the resilience he has shown after all he has experienced with multiple ACL injuries. But he instigated this whole bizarre meltdown, yet walks away with the "$500 down to $375" fine for the early plea.

So let the dominos fall - Xavier Cooks, Justinian Jessup and Froling all cop the same penalty.

Froling?

He is on the floor trying to avoid being kicked and trodden on but is fined anyway for engaging in a melee/brawl.

Seriously now. How absolutely ridiculous. Froling has the same penalty as Glover. Absurd.

Has anyone on this GRP ever seen Sam's dad Shane during his playing days?

Ten players fined the same amount, so ALL of them therefore at the same level of heinous activity.

Give me a break.

We have an NBL "Team of the Week" at this website, AND also a "Team of the Weak as Pi$$" which as yet, hasn't had a nomination this season. Until now.

Team GRP ... take a bow.

But hey, perhaps next round's brawls will get 15 million views.