If you watch the first half with the sound down it is actually quite a good game, the commentary just killed it. After about four minutes into the third quarter there was only one team playing out there though, Perth are certainly looking very ominous but there is a long way to go.

Why didnt Holmes play? Wasnt really noted as a factor for Townsville the whole night....

Holmes Injured in training.

"Crocs forward Jacob Holmes, who did not suit up for the match, is expected to receive scans today to establish the extent of an injury to his knee, sustained during training."

It would have been good if it was mentioned in the NBL Report or on the TV (I might have missed it if it was said on the tv).

Very sloppy first half, and the second qtr was one of the worst Ive seen from the Cats. Much improved 2nd half. Overall a pretty average game. Perth clicking despite not playing a great game. Townsville are shocking right now, but give them time to figure things out and they should be a playoff contender by mid season, especially if Ervin and Crawford can get going. Right now, anybody can beat them.

Carfino - please do some research! How many times are you going to blunder through your commentary? Perth last missed the playoffs in 1986, not 1988 as he mentioned. And as the unfortunate public face of the NBL, you should know who the leading scorer from last season was. "we'll check that stat" isn't good enough. He never actually did check, as it was never mentioned again. Instead he rambled on and on about Hinders depression (and if feel for him, but mention it once and move on please...)

Perth were a cut above in that second half. Wonder if we'll see 20 PPG Ervin again or if that was just what happened under Gordie and with the team they had at that point? Looked capable but far from dominant with the Crocs and I think they need both Gary and PC playing well to succeed. Abney didn't look too bad, but Perth had everyone covered.

Crawford looked out of sorts again, even injured at one point? Was limping, then forced a move against 2-3 Cats that had no chance. Thought Allen played fairly well, but was defended aggressively and so couldn't get clean shots up.

Redhage too good again.

Crocs made only four (!!!) field goals in the entire second half, and shot 29% for the game. Their offense reminds me of Cairns from last year: just atrocious and with no intent or focus. They look great when they run off stops, but in the half court it is painful to watch. If you bear those statistics in mind, it is miraculous that they kept it as close as they did for so long.

Woolpert played four guards together at times, which was pretty weird.

Officiating was very subpar, going both ways but overall Perth's more than Townsville's. Just basic stuff like foot on the three point line and counting it as a triple (twice - both went Perth's way), defender in the no charge circle and still getting the charge call (twice - Perth's way) and out of bounds plays going the wrong way (too many to count, but these went mostly Townsville's way).

It was neck and neck until that stretch where Perth caught fire from deep, a couple of strange officiating decisions in a row that altered momentum, and the game blew right open.

The Crocs' defence looked very cohesive for the most part, and it was good to see Townsville finally break Perth's backcourt defence open and eat up their trap, even if it didn't matter in the final result.

At this point, Perth don't really have any upside, while Townsville are at about 50% of what they are capable of. The only question is, with only four playoff spots, will the time it takes to figure it all out be too costly to their final ladder position?

Woolpert said Perth feed of non-aggression and timidity, which is exactly right. The moment Townsville stopped penetrating was when they played right into Perth's hand and the game got blown right open.

Mitch Norton had another great game for a rookie. His penetration and aggression kept Townsville in the game for a while. Ervin and Abney both looked nervous and lacking rhythm at this point, which is understandable.

Perth has too many great shooters, all it takes is a string of consecutive splashes from different guys and a tight game can get blown right open in a matter of minutes.

Perth don't really have upside? Purser played six minutes. Hire played 15 minutes. Robbins was injured. Redhage had 18 points in under 23 minutes. They had 19 turnovers. I think they can lift from that game. At no point in the first half did they look worried at all, and then they coasted in the second.

I don't think Townsville have has much room to improve as you think. Yes, Holmes was out and you can get more from "the second best backcourt in the NBL", but the highlights in their two games have been a bit meagre. Put Holmes in and you don't add x and y, you're doing it at the expense of minutes from the other bigs. I still think they're a bottom four side.

That wasn't meant to be a sleight on Perth: they are the best team in the league.

I'm just saying that they come into the season with momentum and already in full stride, they will probably even be the best team all year long, but they aren't going to get much better than what they are now after three years together, while Townsville shot the ball at 15% in the second half, making only four field goals. There is more room to improve than what Perth has.

And from watching the game, it wasn't entirely due to pressure, it was just pure offensive incompetence and lack of focus.

I think you will find the gap between Perth and the competition will reduce as the season goes on.