Basketball On The Internet.

YES, the NBL should review the late-game incident in which Brian Conklin last night broke Damian Martin's jaw as Townsville made it 2-0 over Perth, this time 89-77.

But not because I necessarily believe Conklin is guilty of deliberately trying to hurt a rival player - which I don't.

But because any time a player has his jaw broken in a clash involving an elbow and a face, it should be mandatory to review it.

I don't for a second believe Conklin had any intent in that split second to seriously injure a committed and fair basketball player such as Damo.

Is Conklin a frustrated player with his form this season?

He should be. But would that turn him into a split second thug?

I doubt it. But here's the impact below of what occurred, and if you are squeamish, scroll down past it quickly now.

Broken teeth and a broken jaw mean Martin tonight will be having surgery in Perth.

"Just when I thought I had nothing left to injure," Martin typically joked this morning.

That's the kind of guy he is and the reason why, when someone such as him gets unnecessarily hurt, we all want to see retribution.

The incident was ugly, its impact hideous and the sight of Martin trying to gather himself, most likely concussed and certainly in shock - and the look on the face of teammate Matty Knight when Damo was helped to the bench - were all moments we'd rather not have occurred.

The subsequent war of words between coaches Trevor Gleeson and Shawn Dennis, while understandable in the heat of the aftermath, were unseemly and did the game very little good.

“That’s one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen, Conklin just dropped his elbow right on his jaw and he (Martin) is going to hospital for a suspected fractured jaw and has lost a couple of teeth,” Gleeson said.

“It’s a dirty play without a question.”

Dennis naturally stood up for Conklin with: “Trevor’s entitled to his opinion but we’ll go to the video and see what it says, that will show the truth.

“Conklin isn’t a dirty player and our guys don’t play dirty. That’s pretty ironic coming from him and Perth, they have guys on that team who throw a lot of elbows.”

Only Conklin knows the extent of his intent and how much of what happened came as a result of him spinning out of the double-team.

It is unfortunate in the extreme, particularly for Martin.

Lost amid the furore though, is the fact Townsville again spotted an opponent a double-digit lead, then came back to win, carried by Clint Steindl, Jordair Jett and the Second Effort Kid, Nick Kay.

Players diving to push the ball forward, Kay battling for consecutive possessions on an offence, Jett finishing a tough three-point play - these were the moments of heart and desire Townsville fans should be flocking out in droves to see.

The Crocs deserve that.

But you don't always get what you deserve. Damo is a prime example.
 

Tonight: Still cannot see Adelaide getting up tonight against the Breakers in NZ or Sydney reversing its road loss to Melbourne.

Last night: CROCODILES 89 (Jett 24, Steindl 15, Kay, Conklin 14; Steindl, Kay 8 rebs; Jett 5 assts) d WILDCATS 77 (Wagstaff 17, Prather 13, Knight 12, Jervis 10; Redhage 6 rebs; Martin 3 assts) at The Swamp, Townsville.

PS
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