Australian Basketball - The 2011 NBL Opening Game, guest starring the NBA's Patty Mills

The Melbourne Tigers took on the Sydney Kings in the opener for the new National Basketball League season down under, which was one of the most talked about games in this sports mad town, even hotter than Harry ‘Clueless’ Kewell’s debut for the Melbourne Victory the next day.

We have the NBA lockout to thank for that, with one NBA superstar definitely confirmed as playing. Up and coming Portland Trailblazers point guard Patrick Mills had signed a short term deal for Melbourne. In the Blue corner could well have been Andrew Bogut, star centre for the Milwaukee Bucks who who ultimately lost a race against time to get insurance cover to confirm his debut for Sydney. 

It was a pretty good game. Patty Mills brought the Tigers back from 14 down to win the game by 6. I couldn't have wished for more from my first NBL experience, with the 'Cage' standing room only, and a vocal and energetic crowd playing their part in urging the Tigers on.

Mills finished with 6 of 11 threes, four in the fourth quarter giving Melbourne the lead for the first time in the game with just one minute to go. He handled the pressure like a superstar and led his team home with authority. For the Sydney Kings, centre Julian Khazzouh looked an outstanding prospect, expect  to see him in the NBA in the next season or two, once his skinny 25 year old frame grows into his 7 foot body proper.

One thing for sure, the NBL will nicely fill the void for me if the NBA lockout goes the distance, though I don't think I'll be offered the court side seats each game if the action is so hot!