Gong by 12

If the Hawks get half decent shooting nights from Clarke and Forman they are specials. Two tough road losses to good teams in games where their marksman did not fire. Now they are back home their form has been good enough to suggest they can get this.

The key will be controlling the tempo. The Crocs new high octane style delivered them the win against the Breakers and a loss in a high scoring game against Cairns. Gordie will have plans to slow it down to the Gongs pace. Hawks by 7.

Got a feeling townsville will spoil the party. Haven't been impressed with hawks this year after loving their brand of ball from last season, however it's still early.

All depends on which townsville team shows up: the dumb, selfish one from round 1 or the hustling, ball sharing 'play the right way' team that toppled the breakers.

Should be a great game and a close one either way. Two teams who like to share the ball.

What is up with NBL.tv? Says this game starts at 8:30?? Am getting no video or audio. Game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 according to the league schedule.

I can't get anything either. I heard a voice for a split second then just loading.

i got nothing.

Pretty annoying when this happens with free content, let alone something you're paying for...

Just keep refreshing - should work

Hey Mich have you got it yet? I can't get it.

Nope. Just did a speed test and I'm running at 30 mbps so it's not on my end. Refreshed a bunch of times and nothing.

Still can't get it

GOT IT!!!

Just started working for me. 2 mins into game.

How bad are NBL refs at getting the right call when a defender jumps vertically in proper position? Its like if you contest a shot and there is body contact its immediately a defensive foul...

I'm not sure there will be a lot a defense in this game...

Clarke on fire early. Crocs have missed several easy looks in the paint.

Hawks up 4 at the half. Crocs could be up big if they converted looks in the paibt. Have had 7 extra FG attempts and they havent been bad looks at all.

At the quarter*

Markovic would have ten assists at the half if our boneheaded bigs could catch and finish...

The game at Hawks pace at present. Tiggs starting to make his presence felt. Gordie looks like he has ended up with two decent imports with his menial allowance.

Both hawks imports can shoot from range and can get to the rim. Ie. The two most efficient shots in basketball. Never hurts.

Crocs half court defense is terrible. Our guards cant contain anyone. Opposing ballhandlers get what they want especially in p&r situations.

It's never good when jake holmes is your leading scorer. It means the bulk of your offense is coming from the worst kind of shots in basketball...

And I will ask the same question I ask every time the crocs play: why does todd blanchfield, our most efficient and gifted scorer, have so few shots?

Officiating has been the usual stench of awful. Its been going both ways but the hawks have a massive FT advantage despite Townsville taking a tonne of attempts in the paint.

Pace has single handedly lost us this game. So many brainfarts.

How many times do we have to see quick small guys like Gary Ervin or Mitch Norton slip on cheap advert decals on open layups in the paint before the league puts some semblance of quality control in place?

Saw J.Frye go down on a white decal here one day at training and it hurts. Probably weakened his ankle.

Mick, are you still standing by the comparison of Rusty to Loughton?

I'm I the only one impressed with the commentary of the game? Tom King seems to be a pretty legit commentator

Decent game, although I'll admit to being pretty surprised when I saw the FG% was 49% and 44%. Also, I don't think there's anything more annoying to me when I'm watching than a blown layup.

Glad the Hawks could get it done for their milestone.

Clarke with 23 despite 1/6 threes. Would hope the Hawks could see Townsville off easier than this, but a win is a win.

Both rusty and loughton are bigs that arent great inside and get by on "leadership". Rusty is also six years older than Loughton.

Having said that Loughton has been great so far this year. Last season it looked as though he was in a state of rapid decline and appeares well on his way to rustydom.

Also I would much rather have Alex loughton on my team, and think Russell Hinder is a terrible leader.