Hoops

What's behind The Breaker's Success?

:face palm:

"Oh okay Mystro i've never heard of Rob Loe averaging 10 pts in the Greek League or Isaac Fotu averaging 10 Points in the ACB. Pledger is a great player.."

Fotu will still play behind Vukona in the Tall Blacks & Loe will play behind Pledger until he develops further as Pledger is PROVEN internationally and brings an inside presence where Loe currently is more inclined to hang around the 3 point line.

Fotu is a PF and Loe is also more of a 4 than a 5.

Also where doid Paul or I say TeRangi had played a WC's or Olympics?
Where does it say that playing in one of those Tourney's defines you as a Tall Black more so than an Oceania Championships?

TeRangi has played for the national team and the only big in front of Alex Pledger in the Tall Blacks depth chart is Steve Adams

Re: Holden V8's comments about travel

Early Breakers teams struggled with the travelling aspect & time zones and were terrible on the road but Lemanis implemented strategies to combat this that Dean Vickerman probably still uses today.
Bruton & Ronaldson also bought a lot of self belief across the Tasman with them when they joined the franchise.
I remember a CJ interview on TV regarding playing on the road and he pretty much said "the hoops are the same size & height so no excuses". The young guys coming through all bought into this and then the next bunch now knows no different where as the previous generations were clearly rattled/intimidated outside of the NSEC.

Most of those players are in the national team because the Breakers developed them into the the players they are.
Without the Breakers Abercrombie would have most likely retired from basketball after his experiences in the NCAA.

I also agree with Macdub in that the team culture that Lemanis & the Blackwells implemented is also a big reason for the teams success.

adelaide...are failing right now

You can't understate the value of good team culture.

The Breakers, due in part to the Blackwells, Clarke, Vickerman and senior players (who have families of their own) have put in place a very family orientated culture.

Every player is treated the same, whether your Ced or a development player there are expectations and obligations.

Breach these and you'll not only have management to answer to, but other players, your own family, support staff and even fans will hold you accountable and demand better. E.g BJ Anthony DUI and been intoxicated at practice, Websters tweets etc.

They have searched for imports who match this family orientated culture.

In the past, the Breakers got a guy like Carlos Powell - the new age (and sucessful Breakers wouldn't go near him).

I am currently looking into and writing on what a family orientated culture can do for team success.

It is a massive reason IMO why the All Blacks of 2011 - current are one of the greatest sports teams ever.

A guy called Cedric Jackson has been handy. That's the only real difference from last years flop to this year.
It was a phone call like this i'd imagine.

Vickers to Drey - 'i'm running the same shit whats wrong?'
Drey reply - 'Get the cash to get Ced back, he will mold that group straight back to the top'.

Not rocket science...

Lots of grocery vouchers!!!

The Breakers Academy.

The following are all products of the Breakers Development Academy headed by Breakers Assistant Coach Judd Flavell.

Current Breakers: Mika Vukona, Alex Pledger, Tom Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Rueban TeRangi, Duane Bailey

College: Tai Webster (Nebraska), Jack Salt (Virginia), Tai Wynyard (Kentucky)

Europe: Rob Loe (Greece), Isaac Fotu (Spain)