Basketball On The Internet.

ANOTHER huge NBL round full of "learnings" - the buzz word you now have to use because so many have forgotten the word "lessons" - has seen Melbourne United temporarily floored, Tasmania floundering and three players flourishing with 30-plus outputs, Javale McGee's 37 top of the pops.

What we also learnt is if Illawarra coach Justin Tatum draws attention to it, things change. For example? McGee has one free throw against Adelaide on Sunday, then 11 against Melbourne on Wednesday.

How can there be so great a disparity? (Do you really need to ask?)

The end of the Tasmania-South East Melbourne clash in Launceston was a classic - the whole game was actually, with Bryce Hamilton coolly dropping 36 - and Phoenix coach Josh King consoling Ben Ayre for his missed corner three for the win was heart-warming.

King coached Ayre last season, respects his game and recognised how he would have felt missing that and his gesture was one of love and kindness. Internet trolls suggesting otherwise only confirms what we already learnt long ago that for all of its value and use, the 'net has blinded so many to simple empathy and affection.

What we haven't learnt is what is up with JackJumpers centre and most recent Australian Boomers captain Will Magnay? Is he a modern-day Samson who lost his strength when his hair was cut?

He was well below his best in both Tassie losses - by a grand total of three points - the amount he scored against Brisbane and all from the free throw line! That's just weird.

Scott Roth was impressed with Hamilton's haul against South East, adding: "To get 36 points in 33 minutes on the court and not go to the foul line is impressive. I don't think I've ever seen that in my professional career." 

Stick around Scott. Cairns' Mojave King scored 32 without a trip to the free throw line.

What else did we learn?

Breakers: Petteri Koponen continues to lose and usually the same way - by overplaying former decent but now mostly cooked combo Reuben Te Rangi and Izayah Le'Afa, under-exposing Carlin Davison and Max Darling while then allowing Parker Jackson-Cartwright to play solo heroball in last quarters. PJC is a top star but he was extremely costly late in winnable losses to Adelaide and Sydney. Even Tyler Harvey would be shaking his head.

Bullets: We learnt that the mere return of Mitch Norton immediately strengthened Brisbane's defensive resolve and made it a much better side. Tyrell Harrison also squared up with Magnay for having his pants pulled down last time they met. Now when next is Javale McGee on the schedule?

Hawks: Amazing how much can get done and how good this outfit can look when McGee and Davo Hickey lock in on the same page. Afraid Jonah Bolden's absence has not made much difference and QJ Peterson is now looking a real asset with his ability to shoot and also get the ball to McGee. 

JackJumpers: Four straight "home" losses - few would call the Silverdome home - no Anthony Drmic, David Johnson still out and Magnay playing like a cardboard cut-out leaves Tasmania in an increasingly dire strait. They need to get across Bass Strait soon to set the record straight.

Kings: This is a different team if Xavier Cooks fires and Bul Kuol remembers how to play and not foul out with his Bul-Krap. Still unconvinced but the NSW derby against Illawarra this round should give a clearer indication where both teams are headed. 

Phoenix: They say you're only as good as your last game, in which case South East is back at the drawing board because it flushed its chances against Melbourne. Nathan Sobey shot everything he touched early and Wes Iwundu is proving underwhelming and less than expected, and they've already got that covered with Hunter Maldonado. 

Taipans: You know why Adam Forde wins more Coach's Challenges than any other NBL head man? Because per capita, Cairns cops more crap calls than any other team. He'd win even more but the Replay Centre most likely baulks after he's won three, and thinks we better give this one to the refs. Mojave King needs a few more games like the last one to step up to where many think he belongs.

United: It's lovely to see Chris Goulding, now a father and veteran, can still get so emotional with coach and pappy Dean Vickerman. Playing like a veteran is Tyson Walker, a true "find" and with Shea Ili still in the wings, the two unexpected losses may just have been timely. No cause to fret here. 

Wildcats: Did not look as if they believed early against Adelaide but once the reality hit, Perth looked a very good team. Can we now agree coach John Rillie outsmarted all of his potential critics by restraining his son Jaron until everyone was howling for his insertion and greater court-time? Who had the last laugh there?

36ers: Isaac White took a few steps forward, but when you are being outrebounded and you decide to sit the other Isaac and Nick Rakocevic to run with Zylan Cheatham and four guards, you get what you deserve. If Bryce Cotton is even forced to look mortal by opposition defences and/or strategies, what is this team's offensive Plan B?  

TV: Ahem, just for starters, Illawarra's Johny Narkle and Davo Hickey are NOT the same person. Memo to Damon. Most TV viewers will have zero idea who you're talking about when you reference Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller or even James Harden. And it's still a forehead-slapping moment whenever you say: "What's his career high?" That's the sort of research and info you should be bringing to the table and telling us, not asking the ether.

Rumour: Tasmania is requesting any remaining home games NOT scheduled for Auckland be shifted to Christchurch immediately.

Officials: What we learnt is there is precious little left to say about these guys.