Probably the right call tbh.

If you're a Cairns fan you'll argue that the remainder of the game should be played out as Jawai was going to the line and there was a chance blah blah blah. If you're a bullets fan you'll take the result and walk away with the W and if you're a neutral supporter I would suggest that the decision is probably the right one. A great road win by the Bullets either way!!

Definitely the right call. Suggesting Cairns had momentum and the scores could have been closer etc is heading down some Duckworth-Lewis path and no one wants that.

Brisbane were in front when the game ended.

Least worst call maybe? Replay the entire game? Unfair on Brisbane. Play the 1:30 as a standalone event? Expensive and weird. Play it before the next meeting between these teams? Cheap but still weird.

The NBA have resumed games at a later date, but they seem to have still had a half to play. The Malice at the Palace game was called over at that point with under 1-2 minutes to play.

Probably a fair result, given that 95% or more of teams in Brisbane's situation would go on to win, and any alternatives such as re scheduling would seem unpalatable.

However, as a gesture of goodwill to the Taipans and in fairness I'd suggest that this game be ignored for the purpose of +/- in the event that these teams finish on equal number of wins.

What rubbish,so if this game had lead 5 changes in the last qtr and one team was one point up when the lights went you're all still happy with the result? They are rules right?
The game wasn't finished. Only fair result is a draw.

Ok, what if - Jawai makes the 2 freethrows,still 97sec on clock.

fact 1/ - 6 point difference with 97sec to go....anyones game? yes or no? YES

fact 2/ - with their bigs in foul trouble etc,scene set for a potential momentum swing back to Cairns? and very close finish? yes or no? Yes

Was the game over? momentum says maybe/likely, but considering facts, NO.

Should this decision be based on assumed momentum?
If so, what about a potential momentum swing??

Too many variables for me, the game wasn't finished.... either play it again or call it a draw.

Everyone should've put their flash on and continued with manual timing and score keeping. :P

Obviously something for other teams to consider now whether their arenas / stadiums are up to the task when power outs occur.

This is all very subjective, no matter which way you look at it.

But ultimately:

- A draw would be unfair on Brisbane, given that they had put themselves in a situation where, in 19 out of 20 times they would win had the game finished.

- Replaying the game is impractical.

So- give the game to Brisbane. And consider removing points spread from this game from considerations at year's end, if that situation arises. Simple.

For those saying "what if" Jawai hits both free throws, it's a 6 point game. If you want to be technical about this, Jawai is shooting 52% from the line this season and shot 55% last season, so what are his probabilities of hitting both? Quite low.

I should add, a replay is expensive. That's what I meant by impractical. Cairns would probably want to do the right thing by their fans and give them free entrance. But of course they'd still have to pay stadium rent fee, etc etc.

percentage chances of players making shots is not the point, a bit like saying "19 out of 20 times they would win that game".....once again, not the point.

So where do you draw the line on which games should be determined a draw (due to factors, like momentum or closeness) or which games should be decided with the winner being whoever was in front by a large enough margin (say Brisbane were in front by 20+ with 90 seconds left)?

Skull, you're the one using probabilities to make your argument. You're saying it's "anyone's game".

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

If it's "not the point" then what is the point? If Cairns had been down by 20 points instead of 8, would you concede that fairness and practicality dictates the win go to Brisbane?

As I said, it's obviously subjective.

But you have to draw a line somewhere. In this case, I think neutral observers would agree that Brisbane getting the win is a fair result.

Gotta love the link at the bottom of the article:

NBL partners with Dodo Electricity

Yes, I'm agreeing with you. People seems to be saying that Cairns were hard done by because they were still in with a chance. I'm asking where do they draw that line. And then once they draw that line, someone else makes a case why being an extra point down is still in with a shot, and so on.

Brisbane were in front when the game ended. Unfortunately, the game ended slightly early due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. Brisbane won.

So where do you draw the line on which games should be determined a draw(due to factors, like momentum or closeness) or which games should be decided with the winner being whoever was in front by a large enough margin (say Brisbane were in front by 20+ with 90 seconds left)?.

Huh...We are talking about a power outage that no body had control over,no one teams fault.

I think I can count myself as neutral in this regard.

The game was not finished, not even close.
NBL chose to abandon the game.
ONLY fair result is to call it a draw.

Perth were in front with 20 seconds to go last night, should I have pulled the fuses???

In that situation, any outcome is sub-optimal.
But where do you draw the line?
It has to be a draw.

"Perth were in front with 20 seconds to go last night, should I have pulled the fuses???"

Thought you'd done this a long time ago...

Dazz with another intelligent contribution there.

The NBL chose to call the game off because everyone had been standing around in the dark for more than half an hour and there were no immediate prospects of the power coming back on. (This decision was validated by the fact that power did not come back for another 45 minutes after that).

Again, the game might not have been "Over" but on the balance of probabilities, Brisbane wins this game *at least* 9 times out of 10.

Look at this from both sides. If the game had to be replayed in full, or if a draw was given, if I were a Brisbane fan then I would be mightily pissed off.

If you want to fix more games via power outages, just build more renewable energy sources...

Have to wonder about the intelligence of the Cairns loyalists being for the entire game to be replayed, despite the obvious impracticalities and unfairness.

I'm not a Brisbane supporter as such but I go to their games. I wouldn't have an issue if the final minute + was played out prior to the next BNE @ CAI match, assuming there is one.

Ok I think Dazz was just making a point about how the blackout rule could set a precedent. It wasn't a great point but you don't need to be an electrician to understand it.

No it wasn't flash.

Dazz v Nonanon: a tard fight for the ages

"Dazz v Nonanon: a tard fight for the ages"

What exactly have I said that you disagree with?

there aren't any rules. The FIBA rules that are being sighted are FIBA tournament rules.

The NBL basically made it up on the spot. Play the 1.30 before the next Cairns v Bullets game - Bullets probably still win, but there's no * on the game.

Given that the NBL screwed up our starting schedule and moved the NYE game, a little bit of love would have gone a long way.

Where's the love....

The FACT is(anon 7894) there aren't any concrete rules in place...get some or call it a draw is all i'm saying(and I put my name to it wanker)

For real though, where did people get the 'Nate was owed free throws' idea? At the time the lights went out, Bairstow literally wasn't touching him.

Oh dear....FFS

How any person in their right mind can think that calling the game a draw is the right option is beyond me. If you're a Cairns supporter though, I understand your bias view as I would be the same if it were my side.
I think the league made the right call in what was a difficult spot to be in. There surely is no contingency for this sort of scenario and you're never going to keep all parties involved happy. Law of probability suggests that Brisbane go on to win the game.

Asking for a draw or a full replay is absurd. The two options available are having the result stand or playing the last 1:34 next time the Bullets play in Cairns.

Fuckwit Anonytrolls at it again...

The problem is that people seem to think that Brisbane have earned some right to "happiness". They haven't, they didn't win.
A "bad thing" happened, it wasn't anyone's fault, but neither do Brisbane have some right to be protected from it at all costs. The only fair thing to do is to share "the pain" and either replay or call it a draw.

Scratching some number from your arse and claiming "Brisbane would have won 9 out of 10 times" doesn't make it so.

FACT is that nobody can say with any certainty how the game would have ended. Under those circumstances, awarding the game to Brisbane is completely unfair on Cairns.

Much as I would prefer to keep the principle clear, sure, if a team was up by 20 points with 91 seconds on the clock, or by 6~8 with 10 seconds, then you could call it. But potentially as little as 6 points in 91 seconds? Hell no.

You need to accept that there is no perfect solution. Nothing the NBL can do will make up for it. So the only thing they can do is be as fair as possible.

How is a draw fair to Brisbane? You're requesting a fair result but your solution to the issue is completely unfair to the Bullets who had put themselves in a position where they are likely to win. The only fair way to do this would be to play out the final 1:16 (or whatever was left on the clock) but that isn't an equitable solution. The league did the only thing that's reasonable given the unfortunate scenario presented to them.

Anon 7987 - Well, maybe this is exactly where a draw (is appropriate) in the future when/if the NBL makes a concrete ruling on these unusual circumstances.

Anon 7978 - probably the same dickhead as above- So, because I didn't state & you didn't know the lack of (NBL)rules earlier you think that gives you credit....

Someone send Dazz and Skull on a training camp together, with Nate Jawai teaching free throw shooting

Anons on fire tonight........ I guess he got bored trolling Hillary voters on twitter...

#MakeAnonGreatAgain

I tend to think the "play next time" has weaknesses too. What if Brisbane, like Melbourne right now, is decimated by injuries and is fielding half their own team and half a SEABL side for the last 91 seconds of the next match? That would be unfair on the Bullets. As much as we'd like to simulate the same situation exactly, you can't reliably do it. If Cairns won in that event, That would not remove the * at all. It's just that Cairns would have a win with the *.

The one thing we do know is that teams in Brisbane's situation rarely lose. It can happen but you're talking under 10%. So give them the result and move on.

Probably the first game in the NBL like this. The right call IMO. Only other option would be a point each.

Although 8 down and 1:31 on the clock a team could still achieve a win, in general I'ld say that in 80% of games, Brisbane would have been in a winnable position.

In this , Basketball Canberra clearly leads the FIBA world in its own acknowledged wisdom.How they ever failed to manage the cannons is a true wonder.

Just have the next December 3 Bris/cairns game count for double points, and for statistical purposes just dispense with this abandoned game and double the next games' stats.


of course the objection would be that makes two home games for the Bullets , so they could just wait until the Jan 29th Cairns home game.


OR the NBL could just add up all the stats and totals from the Dec3 and Jan29 games and divide by two - creating a 'fantasy" game that subs in for the first abandoned game.

Just got around to watching this

Why were people going on about free throws, or a possible 6 point margin?

Jawai caught the ball, and the lights went out.... Unless there's a delay or some error on the broadcast???

And he wasnt even in the low post, he was at the 45....

It's true, the refs wouldn't have called a foul because it was Jawai with the ball.

If there's no official rule then I think LK should have the final say. It's his money after all.

Double or nothing works for me, adds a little bit of extra spice to the contest too.

I was watching live on SBS and I think I saw Jawai get fouled.

There is no rule, that's what this is about.

Having been at the game, and being a Taipans supporter, I have to say I would be very surprised if the Snakes were to have come back and won that game. The momentum was against us, and we weren't making good decisions.

I'm disappointed, but I think the outcome is the only one that is viable.

re-Boti....

Yeah the rational part of my mind is with you Freethrows, but in a week that saw Trump elected as the most powerful man in the world..... ANNNNYYYYYYTHING IS POSSSSSIIIBBBLLLEEEEEEEEEEEE

But i'm not crying myself to sleep about the result. I still think, at the very least, the for and against isn't counted and it's considered a draw for the sack of the series.

ummmmmm those by-laws don't exist.......

#MakeAnonsGreatAgain

re-Boti....again

At the very least, regional teams with crap venues should now all each get 4 big flood lights run by generators as backups from now on to light up the court.

Scores, stats and time to be manually done, I'm sure a smaller backup scoreboard run by batteries or again a generator can do.

Players will have be mindful of the shot clock on the smaller scoreboard.

Probably no broadcast but as long as the games finishes and the fans get to witness it, all good.

Just too many variables if power cuts out again in a close game and endless debate.

A players union and NBL to work out the agreed rules so no more debate on how the decision is made in future cases.

The game should be decided from a game of nba2k played by the head coaches

Even better.

But gotta get that NBL 2KMOD updated to work on the latest NBA2K.

I still can't believe the Cairns Convention Centre doesn't have a back-up generator just for that type of situation. It's not as if storms are a rare occurrence in the Far North. It shouldn't be difficult to have a back-up power supply that could power all of the required functions for playing and broadcasting the game, as well as getting people out of the building safely.

Freethrows, they're on the hospital grid and it's the first time they've lost power out of a cyclone. A generator to power a stadium of that size if shy of $500k. I'd be surprised if any venue in the NBL had anything more than a generator to run emergency lights/doors