NBL Blitz: 10 points from day two in Canberra

• The Brisbane Bullets made a statement with a 100-92 win over the Sydney Kings
• Tasmania beat Cairns 97-95 in an OT thriller
• NBL is back, baby! How to watch the Blitz TODAY

1. New rivalries to spark NBL26

Well, I think we saw the start of two new rivalries in the NBL. Firstly, the Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings. Yes, it's your traditional NSW vs QLD situation but these teams really haven't been foes for decades - now they are. Headlined by the fact Jaylen Adams is now a Bullet after a somewhat frosty departure from Sydney and add in both teams have plenty of firepower in NBL26, this will be one to watch. Then the Cairns Taipans and Tasmania JackJumpers. Not only because of Jack McVeigh joining the Taipans but this game was chippy. From Admiral Schofield and Majok Deng going head-to-head and Ben Ayre and Jack McVeigh trash talking each other in the second half. Man, this one is going to be fun.

2. Brisbane have some bucket-getters

For the first time since prime Lamar Patterson, the Brisbane Bullets have a player they can so 'hey, no plays, just get us a bucket'. Well, they actually have a couple. Javon Freeman-Liberty could lead the league in scoring and showed just how dynamic he is in the team's Blitz opener but Jaylen Adams can be that if he rediscovers his MVP form too. Add Casey Prather into that mix and the Bullets have arguably the most potent import trio offensively. Bullets fans will be rejoicing.

3. Delly exactly what Goorjian's Kings need

Brian Goorjian's Sydney Kings looked like they lacked leadership and direction on the offensive end at times last season but that will not be the case in NBL26. Delly looked right at home with the Kings, dishing out assists left, right and centre and even getting his jumpshot to fall. He just seemed to make the right play almost every time and the supporting cast at the Kings will no doubt benefit from that. The Kings, in my opinion, have the most balanced roster in the league and Dellavedova could take them all the way to another title.

4. Bannan has a new lease on life

A 22-point, 11-rebound performance along with a game-winner should show what everyone knew when Josh Bannan signed with Tasmania. It is the perfect environment for the talented forward, who is yet to realise his potential in the NBL after two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets. Playing alongside Boomers FIBA Asia Cup skipper Will Magnay and three high-level imports, as well as being in Scott Roth's system, we should see a new Josh Bannan this season and if he finds career-best form, the JackJumpers will be a team to watch out for.

5. Don't underestimate what Marcus Lee brings

Yes, the Cairns Taipans have added a lot of firepower and high-profile names like Jack McVeigh, Admiral Schofield, Reyne Smith and more but the addition of championship big man Marcus Lee might be one of their most important signings. Along with his defensive prowess, Lee brings leadership this team needs and itwas evident after Cairns' first quarter against Tasmania were they shot just 13% from the field and had just seven points. Lee calmed his teammates down and assured them those good looks will eventually go down and they did. The Taipans responded with 33 points in the second quarter.

6. Sam McDaniel is my tip for DPOY

How good is it to have Sam McDaniel back? And is there a more important player for the Bullets this season? They need his defensive talents alongside the offensive firepower they have added to be successful in NBL26 and he has already shown glimpses of that during the pre-season. I believe he should have won Defensive Player of the Year in NBL24 but I think he'll be hellbent on winning it this season after a long stint on the sidelines with injury.

7. Let's swap overtime for a different ending at the Blitz

Cairns and Tasmania played arguably the best game in NBL Blitz history with an OT thriller but I'm not sure the coaches wanted a full overtime period. Can we change that for something else in the pre-season tournament? Some people have suggested an ELAM ending but I think go a step further, let's see an NRL-style Golden Point extra time at the Blitz. Thoughts?

8. Unsung heroes step up

The stars were out to play on day two, from the Bullets import trio, to the Kings duo of Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks, Bryce Hamilton for the JackJumpers and we can't forget to mention Jack McVeigh and Admiral Schofield from Cairns. But we saw impressive contributions from some others across the night, led by Kody Stattmann from Cairns, Kelly Leaupepe looked anew man for Sydney with 14 points in 16 minutes and nominated replacement player Callum Dalton had 10 points in 18 minutes for the Bullets.

9. The preseason means something

If someone ever tells me these players don't care about the preseason, well re-watch day two of the Blitz. Will Magnay's two blocks in five seconds against Kyrin Galloway and his celebration after shows that is nothing more than BS. As mentioned earlier, Ben Ayre and Jack McVeigh were going AT IT verbally in the second half, Schofield and Deng squared off and I think Bullets import Casey Prather may have taken a certain "mismatch call" personally while defending the post. Sets up an incredible NBL26.

10. No changes for the coach's challenge

We know it has to be absolutely, 100%, blatantly and positively obvious for the refs to overturn their own call and that was evident in the Cairns vs JackJumpers contest. Taipans coach Adam Forde challenged a blocking foul call on Marcus Lee, it was contact you'd see be a no-call in Aussie Hoops, let alone the NBL. But, of course, it stayed a foul.