Basketball On The Internet.

A COUPLE of years ago, when I wandered over to my desk in the Sports Department of The Advertiser newspaper in Adelaide, I was confronted by the following cartoon.

It had been stuck on my computer monitor so I couldn't miss it.

It made me laugh out loud, though I knew it was stuck there to not-so-gently remind me that in the grander scheme of things, basketball (and the NBL) had largely become irrelevant to the population at large.

What do you think:

Anyway, I still have the cartoon stuck prominently by my desk at my workspace, as much to keep me grounded when I get a bit too excited about our sport's general perception in the wider community, and as a reminder to me to stay vigilant basketball continues to go forward, no matter what the pace.

The new NBL is now quietly going about its business examining ways to be more fan-friendly and yes, all those thoughts about jumpballs, 48 minutes, timeouts on the floor, three imports, etcetera are sure to get an airing before season 2014-15.

Right now though, making the actual contest more attractive - less wrestling, more spectacular moments - also is on the drawing board, as is making the NBL's connection to the NBA a stronger one.

When you think about it rationally, why wouldn't an NBA franchise want one of its project players competing in the NBL rather than the D-League?

The D-League is the world's most selfish competition. Just about every player is in it for himself and wanting to produce stats and numbers to make NBA teams sit up and take notice.

Yes, there are exceptions but having your talented, athletic project playing for an NBL club and learning the nuances of the pro game against hardened adults has real merit.

Otherwise the Perth Wildcats/James Ennis experiment never would have happened.

When I wrote here recently ( http://www.botinagy.com/blog/league-is-on-the-move/ ) about linking with the NBA the way baseball here is linked to MLB, it prompted the following email from reader Ryan Ling:

"The reason I am writing was to expand on something I tweeted you (from @lingy84) the other day.

It was regarding this "experimental" deal that the Cats had undertaken with James Ennis, and how if successful, it could be a fruitful pathway for all of the NBL clubs to get some players back into the league to get some bums on seats.

I think that Joey was "Wright" in his point that the clubs still have to have the money to pay these guys, but what I think he missed, was that Ennis's decision to come to Perth was a clear indication of a couple of competitive advantages the NBL can exploit.

The first, is economic standing relative to the other big basketball powers in Europe. Sure, he may have been offered a double or triple the wages in Greece, or France, but is that gauranteed? And will he actually get paid? And the one European league that could guarantee him the money in Russia, is a huge sacrifice in lifestyle for a guy brought up in sunny California.

The second is that if we are prepared to offer the NBA "out clause" to these players, It does make us a much more favorable option when comparing moving to Australia to staying in the States and playing in the the D-League.

Why?

1) NBL Players play defence, and physical defence at that, which is a tick on the development side;

2) The money is actually better here than the $25,000 retainer paid to D-leaguers;

3) The attraction of being a big fish in a small pond in the NBL rather than a nobody in the States must be appealing;

4) The lifestyle;

I think you were the first to mention that this system does have a precedent in the ABL. I know the ABL isn't perfect, but let's face it, for a sport that has a very low participation rate in this country, it churns out a high quality product.

If you look at the players that the ABL is getting from the States, most of them are top shelf! There was a bona fide Major League talented pitcher playing for the Heat last year (Virgil Vasquez) who was out here on the comeback trail from injuries he suffered in a car accident.

He was pretty much untouchable and someone who was able to draw people down to the ball park ... and I know there are similar players in most of the other teams.

The point being, if you make the fans feel as though they are getting a glimpse of the big show in there own back yard, they will be back, and they'll bring their friends.

The last thing I'll say is that the spin-off effect of this deal in baseball is clear to see in the development our young talent. We have players littered through the big league in the States, and our young talent is being scouted and developed by the best coaches and systems in the world every day.

And why?

Because of what comes on the plane with these players that are farmed out to our ABL teams to assist in their development ... and that is resources and know-how. Coaches who improve the fundamentals not only of the US players, but of our local players as well. And that is where I think the NBL could really benefit."

Me too Ryan, which is why I reprinted your email.

Thinking outside the box is the first thing the new NBL or NBL Pty Ltd needs to do.

The good thing is that, so far, it has shown that it is doing exactly that.

Fingers crossed that doesn't change and we don't end up with one hand clapping.