Hoops

NZ Breakers v Perth 13/12

The interesting thing about the Wildcats, that showed in these home & away matchups with the Breakers the last two fridays, is how it showcased how strong they are on either end of the ball. Where the Perth Arena game was determined by the offensive contest, here all the focus, especially in the second half, was with the defensive contest. However, as shown in the results and in the O-rating/D-rating statistics, thus far the Wildcats have proven to be able to match either strategy head on. They can take you on in a shoot out, they can take you on in a stand-up knock out drag out defensive contest.

That 1Q was one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen.

In the past the Breakers were always the best team at playing the full 40 mins/game.

Part of that was because we had bench guys like Boucher, a healthy Bruton, Hudson and Henry (limited offensively but his length defensively was really handy).


This season we are a bit patchy. Part of it, as i alluded to last werk, is the fact that we dont have the same diversity coming from the bench.

Bruton, Webster and Wilkinson are scorers.

Its why our offense is going nicely (2nd top in the league as of last week IIRC).

But its why we are so patchy defensively.

Finally getting a chance to settle in and watch the game rather than the box-score play-by-play. Phew! Also, Casey Frank, what a beard...

It's effort stuff. The whole team isn't putting the effort in, Vukona is, Abercrombie is, the rest of the guys it's there for periods but not 40mins.

Winning 3 in a row hasn't helped with complacency either.

Offensively NZ are pretty ok with some room for improvement but defensive lapses are what is killing them like switching on everything until they have Kerron Johnson on Matty Knight under the hoop?

I think this current Breaker's ceiling is the performance you put on in Perth Arena; that was the team playing out of their skins and hitting a multitude of shots. If they can hit that level more consistently, they'll win more than they lose, but it doesn't seem to be something they can just pull out at the drop of a hat.

If anything that performance took something out of them, their last two games was well down on that performance.

I just don't think us Breakers are that good.

Like we've being saying "they're improving..they are close to finding the formula etc."

But maybe, this is the maximum you"ll get out of the team. Maybe they have reached their ceiling.

It makes sense.

I mean, I don't know where the extra kick is going to come from?

At the start, they could use the excuse "Oh we're adjusting to the referee, once we do that we will be fine"

But now, there's no real excuse.

They don't have any more to give really.

I would say Adelaide would be the closest to a cap breach if anyone.
Perth have just hit the Jackpot on the Import Lottery this season and their other players are playing well also.

Lolwut.

We're on the same cap as everyone else, the only area we're outspending people is off-court stuff like training facilities.

One way or the other, its a very strong starting unit by recent NBL standards, and will improve as Knight works back to his rightful spot as starting centre.

Jervis may or may not be average, but he has done more than we could have ever asked of him and the way he is holding the line for Knight is such a boon for the team.

History may prove differently, but it is waaay to early to call this the best starting 5 of all time. People have very short memories.

^ If you're a Wildcats fan, its worth remembering there are 7 teams of supporters out there that also can't wait to watch us suck :)

And thank god Beal was making assists because I don't know what happened to his shooting. Mind you, I don't know what happened to NZ's shooting either. That game on friday must have knocked lumps out of both teams or something.

That 2nd half was really one to just wipe off the slate and drop down the memory hole for us, the Breakers, the refs, the NBL and all fans.

12-1... yeah, I got to be honest, I had high hopes at the start of the year but not 12-1 high hopes. This has been a phenomenal ride so far.

That one will be important for the confidence of the old guard Wildcats.

Well, hmm, in the end that was ... an odd game.

Winning in Vector always great, enormous relief, winning the series split against NZ had already become extremely unlikely to become relevant, but always welcome.

Good signs for the team, was wondering if they would mentally go fishing and drop this one.

Breakers are done for the season IMO .
Wildcats Vs Adelaide with Perth sweep

Dammit Beal!

11pts up, 2min to go, just keep your heads Wildcats.

When was the last time NZ ever shot the 3 this poorly?

@Mystro,

I may not always have both eyes open, but I do try not to hide when I've been a goof :)

Ennis MVP done deal!!!! No bubbles no nothing or Ervin!!!

Ennis has been ridiculous, huge 3 with a hand in his face to end the half.

Props for being a man of your word, if Nz crash out of the playoff race I'll support the Cats.

And I think its been long enough with the <3 New Zealand name, so back to normal. No more silly business from me for a while.

Vukona sets the tempo, he starts...

^ Robbing Peter to pay Paul, surely?

So far I've seen Pick & Roll tip NZ (by 2), The Post Up is tipping NZ (no margin), and Boti Nagy is tipping Perth (no margin).

Yeah, I can't say that I could see anything good coming out of a move like that. After all, results or no, the team is on the improve and either the rules are relaxing or NZ is finally making some adjustments.

I suppose the obvious thing I keep forgetting when looking at NZ's late close game performances is that they have mostly happened without the benefit of players like Vukona and some others. Tricky to be clutch with key players warming pine. Of course, that last play against the Tigers was just good ol' fashioned self-destruction.

Vickerman isn't getting fired.

so if the Breakers drop this, go 3-4 at home, 1-5 on the road, 4-9 overall, would Vickerman be expecting the tap on the shoulder before the end of the break?

My issue with tipping Breakers is that I can't see the Breakers coming up with a big margin, but at the same time the Breakers have had a very hard time winning close games, whereas the Wildcats have performed very well in late-game pressure situations, bar the late stuff-up in Adelaide.

Its funny, normally its "heart says Wildcats, head says other mob", but at the moment its "heart says Breakers, head says Wildcats"!.

Think there's a danger the Wildcats are already in Christmas break mode.