It is basically just streetball, dude. It is all showboating and no defense. It would be okay for a night out but don't expect anything close to basketball purity.

For $35 a ticket it isn't really too bad.

How was the atmosphere and did they get a good turnout to cheer on the local players?

WA players wanting to be apart of it can attend an "Open Run" try out on June 11 at Perth Arena. Try out starts at 1pm.

The best players from that try out will get to play against the ball up crew.

Question - do they play ball up players vs ball up players? And how do they utilise the locals in the event?

Because Adelaide was the closest game and showed the most potential. I just saw that the Bone Collector said on Facebook that they'd just beaten a team "made up of Aussie professional players." I really had to laugh at that. I then also had to comment and set him straight on just how far from our pro league any of them were.

I got free tickets to Ball Up, and I would have been pretty pissed if I actually paid for it. The professor was out due to injury, and the standard of play was okay, but I hardly think these guys are really Americas best streetballers.

Ball up have been playing teenagers in each state and have only been winning by narrow margins. If anyone on the ball up team is worth 300K, surely some of the kids competing against them are.

But then again, it is all relative. The Professor might be worth something like that but he isn't even good enough to be a development player in the NBL if you rated him on his true basketball ability.

I am sure they will find a kid as good as anyone in Ball Up from Australia. I am sure it will be enough for them to justify the contract. I truly don't think anyone in the Ball Up team is THAT good that they don't have Australian equivalents. I mean they're almost losing to KIDS for god sake. Average age of half of these Aus City teams is about 17-19. The Professor is 32, Bone Collector, AO have to be nearing 30 or more.

The thing with the Ball Up guys are - They don't take these games as serious competition if you were in league.

That means they are hitting up the club after games. drinking etc. No ones in bed by 9pm and reviewing tape.

It's a cultural thing as well. Aussies with the talent, skill level and size to make the Ball Up guys work are either committed to state league competitions, can't be bothered or don't want to risk being embarrassed.

So what they get left with is teenages and young 20 year olds that just love the game.

The Ball Up team is all about marketing. So of course they'll exaggerate their accomplishments.

As far as skill level for the Ball Up crew. I think there's clearly two types of players on the team. The Streetball legends like AO and Bone Collector who are well passed the wrong side of 35 now. These guys made a name for themselves over 10 years ago and can still go for their age... but gotta remember AO is like 42 now!

Then you got some young cats out there with Zach LaVine like athleticism, but you don't see much else beyond that. Maybe they got some actual fundamental skills, but you won't see it in the Ball Up environment. Then there is The Mosquito, who's shorter than the professor. He's quick, has a gimmick and is entertaining but his jump shot is ass.

Basically don't expect anything other than entertainment from an exhibition like Ball Up and you'll enjoy the night out.

Cancelled in Cairns "due to factors affecting previous Ball Up events."

http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=441d97fa6c52a61b80eb3e0f5&id=182569e2f0&e=29004e3940

I was holding out for free or cheap last minute tickets but am not upset by it being cancelled.

Free would be the only way to see it anyway. With the Professor out there is really few draws to it.

Due to factors affecting previous games? Can they be a little more specific?

^low attendance. Injured players. No local talent to play against.

No local talent doesn't say anything.

It's a lot harder than you think to recruit locals to play against the ball up team.

Contrary to what many people think. The ball up team would match up well against most state league teams if they actually tried. Not saying they would be better, but it would be competitive.

Most local talent capable of playing at that level already have commitments at that level and aren't allowed by their clubs and coaches to play.

What's left are the junior undeveloped and undersized players who are completely out of their depth against paid professionals.

Sounds like someone wasn't very good at getting people to play.