You would think so- he's already in Sydney and they did a press conference yesterday.

Homicide seemed to think he's been training. If he's fit, watch out NBL. Especially Crocs without Schenscher (?), how will they stop Khazzough and Harrington?

Kings guards- you have one job- pass it to them....

ie: Stop jacking threes!

Or Thornton or Carter (and I won't be surprised if the Marksman occasionally his a Townsville player with pin point pass out of habit)

According to Kings facebook, Al is cleared to play.

Glad to hear that his geriatrician gave him the all clear. Definitely adds an extra element of interest for me to an otherwise fairly meh-sounding matchup.

LOL Luuuc

Commentators are saying Harrington is better than Childress, despite his age.

Based on the following, Harrington could well be better than Childress. Ie: He could well be the best player in the league:

1. How recently he played meaningful minutes in the NBA- only 18 months ago. More recent than Childress or Warrick when they joined the league.
2. His efforts in China last year averaging 32ppg, 11rpg and shooting at 53%.

If the following things happen, the Kings can win the championship
1. Harrington turns out as good as I suspect he might.
2. Kings have the balls to cut NBA draft pick Thornton. This gives them Khazzough, Harrington and Childress as a front court. We're talking best ever NBL type of level here.
3. Cotter sorts his stuff out, the players listen, Markovic, Cadee and Carter play like they are capable of. The team gets going.

Number 1 is quite likely. Numbers 2 and 3 are anyone’s guess though....

Draft picks wont get the chop unless Kings aren't looking to go that way any more in the future. May also have an affect league-wide because of that.

Notwithstanding the ladder positions these two teams currently occupy, I am still looking quite forward to the match-ups and a closely fought out contest...

Hard one to pick, depends on who turns up to play hardball, with the intensity needed to get the chocolates.

Maybe Croc's can, just, in O/T!

If Thornton starts playing like a draft pick, that's another positive outcome for the Kings and also leaves the championship door open....

They can't afford (under the salary cap) both Childress and Harrington - there is only 1 marquee rule.

"Based on the following, Harrington could well be better than Childress. Ie: He could well be the best player in the league:

1. How recently he played meaningful minutes in the NBA- only 18 months ago. More recent than Childress or Warrick when they joined the league.
2. His efforts in China last year averaging 32ppg, 11rpg and shooting at 53%."

I'm not sure how relevant those two measures are to performance in the NBL. He could be the best if in shape, but Childress' time in Greece in high-level FIBA style comps had him well prepared for the NBL. You don't get that in China.

If we're bring guys out of retirement I want Jason "White Chocolate" Williams here asap.

Seeing Defence wins Championships, I want Bill Russell.

In Harrinton's interview on ABC Grandtsand he said he will be playing the 3 spot which he hasn't done in a while. the interviewer laughed but had no idea what he was talkng about.

Looking forward to seeing how Harrington goes.

I'm predicting 30+ pts and a couple of dunks

Is Schenscher playing?

Possibly two former NBA "big" men squaring it off.

Grandstand interview:
http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/grandstand/NU1587H169S00#playing

Go to about the 11:11 mark

Harrington looks fine. Rusty, but in shape.

Anyone know what's up with Markovic?

Refereeing terrible. Dennis always complains to the referees yet fails to realise he gets some very favourable calls.

Ah not usually someone who harps on about the refs but geez they are keeping the Crocs in this contest.

Dat stat line for Conklin.

"Get your head in the game" -Dennis to Conklin after that turnover leading to Cadee foul shots.

That foul call on Cadee when Conklin dribbled it off his leg. Absolute joke tonight.

Crocs to release both Conklin and Jett and will sign Harrington when Childress is back and pair him with Nate Robinson, come from nowhere and win the comp!!!

Harrington .... schooled by Jett
:p

Seriously though ... shame on the Cats for losing to these chumps. I just know we're going to really rue that one at the end of the season.

Now the best player not on the court

Another nine point blowout. This league is a joek!!!

Bad refereeing once again ruins a NBL game.

I wondered the same about Markovic. Ebe will breathe a fat sigh of relief, Harrington is probs a little heavier...

Crocs showed up tried as per usual avoided getting blown out, pretty stock standard game. Cant see the Kings getting within 10 of United.

And the second game in a row that the crocs would have won if they didn't have to play the first five minutes, these crap starts are getting rather old

Gonna be straight up, That was a SHIT game of basketball!

Yeah wasn't too pretty, the Crocs situation with such a lack of talent is getting a bit tough to watch every game. They really just need one more sweet shooter to keep it interesting. Conklin bores the hell out me, so lacklustre.

Conklin is really struggling to match his MVP efforts. And the more he forces it, the uglier it is.

Garlepp looked a bit unsettled in the bits I saw, like he's struggling to get the opportunities he was expecting this season.

Who was the ex-NBL commentator tonight? Didn't hear them named.

Crocs are missing a shooting guard IMO. Djeric and Maynard are a bit of a double-up.

Consistently terrible refereeing tonight. At least two fouls on Harrington for being bigger than his opponent.

Glad to get the win, but only reason it was so close was due to the zebras.

And that was Harvey on commentary unless my eyes deceived me

@Isaac: James Harvey.

Ah, thought it might've been, but didn't pick his voice. Thanks.

Yeah, refereeing was bad tonight, but so was the playing, makes the game tough to ref.

Neither team played with composure, mix that with the amount of scrappiness allowed and it wasn't one to remember.

Oh well, looking forward to Adelaide v Cairns and Perth v Illawarra tomorrow night, should be two quality games (hopefully not six-point blowouts though).

Should add, Khazzouh was superb tonight, he did play with composure and picked Townsville apart. Also nice to see Thornton more aggressive going to the rim, he looked good at times.

As a crocs fan the best thing about that game was Khazzouh is my dream team captain, 6 blocks nice!

Kazzouh's defence and block shots was the difference.
Thorton's defence and jump shots and decision making is improving. He does play better when the other players are cutting to key, when he has the ball, ie Harrington. The other Kings players just stand around when the guards are driving to the basket. So in a way, Thorton's effectiveness is affected by his teammates, as seen tonight.
The Refs need to be sacked. Harrington must be thinking - where do they get these SH#! refs from?

Enjoying the Khazzough show this season.

Meanwhile in Thorntons first 6 NBL games, he's put up at least 10 shots every game and still hasn't managed to connect on more than 40% on any given night.

Is that a record?