Hoops

Crocs vs Breakers, Oct 18

Disappointing crowd ;(

Great performance by the Crocs. Turnovers killed it for NZ, to sloppy with the ball and couldn't find their range outside the arc to peg it back.

NZ with so many travel turnovers and failing to convert gimme's where the Crocs were finding what they wanted offensively.

Shame their weren't more Crocs supporters there

Watch the perth game!

Blanchfield showing his skills off. A lot to like about his offensive game.

Pledger looking active for NZ. Crocs sticking with NZ. Both teams pushing the ball

NZ off to the races, Abercrombie super aggressive off the bat.

It's kinda funny because its not exactly an old codger's sort of sport, going by the stereotypes. So getting the geriatrics but not the youth is an odd one.

Must have been great for the atmosphere

^ I really hope that's not true

Poor Crocs, more discussion of Taipans than Crocs in here.

@Mystro,

In Wollongong's defence, they would have continued to look good if they hadn't lost both starting guards in the one game. Could have been a much more exciting season last year if that hadn't happened. So I wouldn't necessarily use Wollongong as a example for why Cairns might not continue their form.

I do remember reading that Joey Wright said that he thought Cairns would be the team to beat this year, though I can not recall where I read it.

Mick, Dean Vickerman has said that the Breakers will prepare for Cairns only after the Townsville game is over.
It has worked in the past for the team so he will be following that tradition from Lemmanis

Boti Nagy just put up his rankings and I will present his top 3 without comment:

1 Cairns
2 New Zealand
3 Perth

I think Townsville have a good chance this game and I think it's because of one man...

Steven Markovic was ineffective to pathetic last week and he is a proud man and want to come out fired up this week so I expect him to control this game and if the imports stay out of foul trouble that will help heaps.

Got to be excited any time Blanchard comes up against Abercrombie in a game.

If breakers win then I think Chief Pledgehammer will be too big and strong and dominant.

Also I think Cairns will win by 12+ on Sunday and this will give everyone an eye opener as to how tough the Sunshine swing still is.

Last year didn't New Zealand beat both Townsville and Cairns in overtime away last year or were they just super close games until the final couple of plays

I noticed Michael di Fabrizio @ Hoopology actually tipped Cairns as taking 1st this year!

It will be a great match whichever way it ends up. My gut feel this year is that there are more teams this year that you can rely on to hold serve on home court, and I think Cairns are one of them (also Adelaide).

Absolutely Nathan, the team has earned my faith over the last 3 seasons by winning games they had no place winning as well as having an incredible road record.
Cairns will be tough (not that Townsville won't be either) but the Breakers bench could beat Townsville IMO so I see NZ's bench depth getting them over the line against the Taipans.

@Mystro, nice to see I'm not the only one-eyed gent around here.

I can, they are playing the Breakers - close games were their stock in trade last year. I would be tipping Breakers over Crocs, then Taipans over Breakers though.

I expect NZ to win both. By 10 in the first and 4 against Cairns.

^ Ehh, a bit. But was referring to that game specifically.

"Breakers might be getting a smidgen too much credit at the moment for pummeling a shattered Wollongong at home"

being the 3 time champions with a pretty stable roster laden with talent has nothing to do with it?

Was fascinated to see the bookies have Cairns as favourites for Sunday.

If Cairns continues form, and Townsville bring it together just a smidgen more, I think all teams will consider picking up 1W from a sunshine swing to be a successful weekend.

There's a chance. Breakers might be getting a smidgen too much credit at the moment for pummeling a shattered Wollongong at home, whilst putting 90+ points on Cairns is not an easy thing. So Townsville is in this with a shot - I would put my dough on NZ, of course, but they could get it done.

no....but i hope they beat up on them for saturdays game!