Hoops

Round 1: 36ers V Breakers, Oct 7

They will be solid without Webster once they have Abercrombie and Pledger back - it is not all doom and gloom.

That said, they look less potent than last year with a chucker like Bartlett playing such a big role.

Yeah, Webster's production is huge to this teams championship hopes.

Don't think they"ll be able to get a stud local (gutted that Penney is with the Hawks).

They will need a stud shooting guard - but that is a mission in itself.

Most disappointing thing about last night was seeing us (the Breakers) being outworked and out-hustled.

Hustle and out-working our opponents has been a staple of our success for the last few years but it was non-existent last night.

I like the look of ADL this year because they look very balanced. Last year, the offensive output was heavily reliant on Gibson/Wilson having fairly big games.

This year, you can share the scoring load and have a lot of genuine threats which spreads the floor and opens up a lot of space - Gibson, McNeil, Ere, Johnson, Hodgson, Walker.

Offensively, ADL will be the real deal if they run fluent offence with good ball movement and create short and sharp rotations with Sobey being the energy guy off the bench.

Isaac I think that's spot on, the Breakers have relied on those guys doing what they do best and it then creates for the others to do their thing.

Without Webster's shooting ability they had to go outside their comfort zone and added to this missing Abercrombie and Pledger created massive holes in their usual system of play.

The 6'ers came away with a win against the previous champs, can't take that away and it is always good to get an early win, but it is only round one...

It surprises me how many people (commentators and supporters) are surprised when an Australian US college player comes back to the NBL and shows he can play!

At D1 or D2 level college, after 4 years or so and gaining all that experience, knowledge and conditioning in the home of the sport, why do we act surprised?

Good for Hodgson, it was an impressive debut, but no real surprise to me...

Not the most inspiring game overall to start the season, however it was a bit of a blowout so that would have been part of the problem, still some good highlights that I am sure Foxtel/Foxsport can promote.

Abercrombie is one of the best shooters on the team so yes.
NZ played small ball and then forgot to box out and got smashed on the boards.
They also put up way too many 3's when they clearly weren't falling and everything looked sloppy, passing shooting & offensive direction along with their inability to stop Adelaide.

Kudos to the Sixers, they controlled the tempo and made their shots.

Great performance from Adelaide, brutal second quarter. Few questions for the Breakers to answer over the first quarter of the season.

The Breakers don't have a white jersey, just their usual home black and the one they wore tonight. Of the two, I'd say they wore the correct one for the circumstances.

Adelaide -very impressive

With Creek on the roster is Lucas Walker perhaps a little redundant?

Hodgson is an absolutely amazing grab.

Why would you risk Kenyon in a game that you have under control?

Yes were missing some fairly good players but no excuses.

Our starters have played equally bad - too much fouling.

Our current roster has sadly moved away from all the things that made us so good previously. Hoping its just this game but certainly not good.

NZ have 3 starters out and are playing 2 development players, I wouldn't read too much into it.
The disturbing thing is they are getting bullied and cannot box out and are getting killed in the effort areas.

Vukona looks quite slow and lacking his usual speed and sharpness.

Age and high usage over the past year finally showing?

Charles Jackson: gets a rebound, yay. Wait, nope, turnover...

Ere looking good

Mystro, Pledger's health and fitness is going to be in doubt for probably all his career. We probably need someone with a bit more offense.

Our lack of shooting is very worrying (though we are missing one excellent shooter and another very good shooter tonight).

Charles Jackson will be fine playing energy minutes behind Pledger.
Breakers need to box out and need crisper passing offensively instead of scrambling to gather.

Its a great question. Usually i would have said because they couldn't find any other local PG..

But they could have got Jarrod Kenny instead which would have seemed much more logical.

Sobey is an athlete.

I don't think people realise how athleic he is. He is also 6"3ish.

People talk about Gliddon, Norton and talked about Greenwood.

Sobeys ceiling seems much higher IMO.

The nets are frustrating me. No swishes. Seem like those heavy ones.

Charles Jackson won't last long methinks.

ADL should win.

No Webster, Abercrombie and Pledger.

the roar seems to work fine.

woot! Thanks!

That's also blocked for me Isaac. AS is the nbl.com, news.com.au ? and many other normally easy to access sites at work. Strangely I can still come here.

Finally the wait is over. Bring it on!!

If you can posts scores here that would be great. Still at work and most social media are blocked.

Kenyon is warming up.

Reality is you have to beat a team missing three starters. Pressure is on the Sixers even if first game uncertainties are factored in.

I'm on Adelaide - it just feels like a game to settle in for NZ and can see 36ers getting it by 5-7

Kenyon is suited

I just can't wait for this one to get started. Have been counting down the days for months!

"The Breakers might go home with a loss, but what becomes of the broken hearted"

Hahahaha God I missed your write ups Jack Toft. Nice work , keep em comin

Absolute banger of a game to get the season off to a start!

Lots of variables going into the game with teams as well as form. The form in the Blitz is no indication of what it to come.

Ebi "Bane" Ere will suit and you can't tell me the Sixers aren't looking good with the changes made in the off season. DJ will be the go to man for them in the key, but I look forward to seeing Diesel getting some quality minutes while DJ has a break.

The Breakers might go home with a loss, but what becomes of the broken hearted?

Sixers by 6

Charles Jackson put up good numbers at Tenessee Tech and put up decent numbers for Philly in the NBA summer league.
He'll find his feet, he's played about 5 meaningless games in a Breakers uniform to date. All the armchair critics were quick to judge Ibekwe last season and then just as quick to jump on the bandwagon when he hit the championship winning shot.

Cedric Jackson is the only import NZ will expect a big game from.
Bartlett will have a licence to put shots up as will TeRangi and McDonald otherwise the ball will be going inside to Wesley on the block to take advantage of DJ's stellar defensive qualities while Petrie & Vukona wrestle for rebound position.

A lot will ride on how well Bartlett and TeRangi shoot from outside for NZ.
If they can't space the floor Cedric won't have a lot of room to operate.

From what I heard NZ will rest Pledger until the Crocs game and take teenage DP & UK recruit Tai Wynyard in his place and Abercrombie is being rested also until the Crocs game with TeRangi & Bailey covering is role.

New Zealand will be playing small ball with Tai Wesley at the 5 against Adelaide.
Keeping up with Petrie & DJ will not be an issue.

Ced Jackson/S.Ili
E.Bartlett/S.McDonald
R.TeRangi/D.Baily
M.Vukona/T.Wynyard
T.Wesley/C.Jackson