Two rounds down and the NBL season is no clearer as to who will walk away as the champions.
Melbourne United went 0-2 in the first round and backed it up by going 2-0 in round two; Illawarra came off a record-setting opening game and then couldn't top 85 points in either of their two losses during round two; Sydney welcomed star import Josh Powell and went 2-0 with wins over Illawarra and Cairns.
Cairns are the only side without a victory, having lost both games by double digits, but they have looked remarkably competitive during the two.
So much happened during round two, but who and what stood out above all else?
Stepping Up
Sydney captain Kevin Lisch goes down with a little over two minutes remaining in the third quarter against the Taipans, and the Kings are down by four points with the home crowd screaming out for a saviour; enter Jason Cadee.
Cadee scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to drag the Kings to the comfortable victory having been one down after three. Cadee showed just how dangerous he can be from all over the floor.
Congestion
There is no separation on the NBL ladder, with three teams holding a 2-1 record and two on 2-2. No team has stamped an authority on the season, and it becomes harder to predict what will happen with every game. That is a bonus that shows how the league boasts an even spread of talent across the eight sides, and there shouldn't be any drop off both on and off the floor.
Lights Out in Melbourne
Todd Blanchfield equaled a Melbourne United record for successful three-pointers in a game, with eight of nine from beyond the arc. Illawarra left Blanchfield alone on several occasions, while the crowd rose from their seats every time the ball went in his direction, and he made them pay.
Grand Final rematch
The 2016 grand finalists squared off in a match that did not disappoint, swinging back and forth like a pendulum. The Wildcats trailed by three after the first, led by 11 at the half and trailed by four entering the final quarter before winning by two. The Cats' Casey Prather showed why he should be considered highly among the league MVPs with 29 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Small Man, Big Heart
Jerome Randle of the Adelaide 36ers has posted 97 points through their opening four games, leading the side to their two victories with 30 points against Melbourne and 34 against Brisbane. He came up clutch in the final game of the round, against Brisbane, scoring six of the Sixers' 13 points to secure victory and a 2-2 record.
