Hoops

Grand Final series: New Zealand vs Perth

I'd say that's about right.
Perth still a realistic chance but NZ the clear favourite.

Can't wait!

Game 1 is more crucial for the Breakers.

If Perth lose, they will still be confident heading home to a 12k packed out arena to save the series.

But, IF NZ lose, they will be faced with the daunting task of saving the series in front of a raucous Perth crowd, where they haven't played well in the past.

^ great point, and there are people acting like the NBL is going backwards.

Points cap is the problem, why would not sign bevo? He has made three grand finals in four years. Loyal? Money is a factor, only other team u would want to play for is nz to have any real chance of getting a ring. Or adelaide for a spoon

To be honest, Martin injury doesn't mean too much.

They have the luxury of bringing Carter into the starting 5.

Pretty damn good reserve PG if you ask me, considering the other reserve PGs for other teams are the likes of Kerry Williams, Croswell and Daly, Luke Martin, Tomlinson, Norton. (Though Norto and Tomlinson I really like how they play)

He is a defensive hustler. Still a better defender than most starting point guards in the league.

In fact, now that Martin is out, the Breakers can't really sag off the PG because although he is pretty inconsistent, Carter can nail a few from deep when he is 'on'.

Both teams have streak shooters and can put points in a hurry. Martin being out is hard but i can not understand how one person can change a gf result? Best defender, still got carter tovey and bartlet u need a team effort, i love damo and that could be the tonic perth need. We lost nothing in the scoring department. If it was licsh or redhage then yea. Think it will go to three games, perth are due for a bit of luck, three seasons with injuries. Nz deserve to be up there but they have had alot go there way. End of the day they both teams wana win its who can hit the shots and for me ill be looking at hire to have a big one. Can't see perth goin down two gfs in a row

CJ and Boucher have 8 rings between them, pretty sure that they'll both be in the other players ears about what it's going to take to get over Perth so I don't think NZ will be complacent, and especially after the hidings Perth served them in the regular season.

Well if they win that would be 3 in a row, so they pretty much are smashing the NBL

Agree wth Isaac about tipping Perth had Martin been healthy. Disagree about focus though. Yes the Breakers haven't looked sharp, but in reality they weren't going to be troubled to this point either so it's only human nature that they were a bit sloppy. Same in that last regular season game at Perth Arena - nothing at stake and their play showed it, but I don't think that means anything for this series.

Just maybe, Martin being out could give them some false overconfidence.
If Carter & Bartlett can hit their shots in game 1 then things could get interesting. If they can't... the series might not even make it to game 3.

I hope NZ Smash Perth.

Yea the cats lost martin, its perth they are playing. We got carter, lost alot on the defence but they gain on offence. Good old saying, never corner a cat.

Real shame for the Wildcats and for the fans who wanted to see the 2 best teams go at it.



Breakers 2-1 #3peat