Hoops

R4: Taipans vs Breakers, Vector Arena 28/10/15

What teams can afford is still an issue and the points cap is still in place.

I'm pretty confident that at least 3 teams are over the salary cap significantly - NZ not being one of them.

When I saw 'confident', I mean i'm confident that my wild speculation is on point.

If that's the case why didn't the Breakers simply keep Rhys Carter and Ekene Ibekwe if the salary cap isn't an issue?

MACDUB - the salary cap, much like a consistent interpretation of the charge rule in Perth Arena, is a myth :)

Should say: operate primarily in Auckland*

Player,

The wealthiest, largest and most resourced country could enter a team. But it doesn't waive the requirements under the points and salary cap.

NZ hardly has the resources of all of the country. Despite their name, a large portion of their resources come from the Auckland (North Shore region) - many of the fans live in the North Shore, sponsors money is generally from businesses who only really operate primarily in NZ, development players aren typically always taken from local North Shore juniors (Abercrombie, Webster, Wynyard, Bailey etc). I'm not based in Auckland, have supported the Breakers since they came into the league and they've probably gotten $30 for me over those 12 odd years.

Starks is to Cairns what Kerron Johnson was to NZ.
He didn't do any majorly wrong or look out of his depth, he just didn't lift his team every time he touched the ball or make his teammates better like Scotty Wilbekin and Ced Jackson.

Yeah the Breakers games this season haven't been that pretty. No offensive flow for the most part but I guess a lot of that has been because their d has stunk. Hard to get out and run when you're constantly inbounding the ball. They haven't been finishing plays either. Not sure I've even seen them finish an alley oop play?

NZ's offence has looked horrible without Ced Jackson and Corey Webster on the floor.
Dean Vickerman should hang his head every time Perth play as Jarrod Kenny has looked a hell of lot better running the show over there than Shane McDonald has over here behind Ced Jackson. I supported Vickermans decision and was plainly wrong.
Hopefully he can improve as the season wears on because they have looked like headless chickens at times with McDonald running the show.

Lazy 35 points for Corey Webster tonight and playing small ball worked with Tai Wesley having his way on the block.

Trigger was invisible and Torrey Craig needs to touch the ball a lot more than he is if Gliddon isn't going to be the man putting the points on the board.

They showed every Cairns timeout and in every single one Fearne was talking in really specific terms about the offence for the whole time..cut here then we backpic here and flare here etc.

Usually coaches at this level speak about defence and/or touch on little offense things in TOs - they shouldn't be re-teaching the offence.

I had tipped Cairns to finish second this season (Kings first) but I think they are the most struggling team in the league and they lack one thing.

Aggression, this Taipans side is soft as a marshmallow and I think Craig is the only one showing any kind of desire out there and not enough plays are called for him and Fearne keeps rotating his players too quickly (changing both bigs after two minutes playing time doesn't help anyone)

Another thing, I'm a big fan of the Pledgehammer but why is he even playing, Wynyard gives more at the moment, Alex needs to get himself fit and then he will actually be an asset to the Breakers

Mystro, how have you felt about Breakers games this year? For whatever reason ive found the games to be a tad boring and have struggled to get into it.

Feeling inclined to say that if no one picks up Webster, and he stays healthy, NZ win the league again this year.

Well that's quite the pasting.

Fearne to Gliddon in timeout: "go at him..he can't guard you". Play out of the timeout..airball.

Not a fan of Vukona's captaincy/leadership. Just seems like a whole lot of yelling and hurling abuse at players. Don't know why people are fascinated with leaders like that.

Ah can't stand Fearne anymore.

Guys get benched if they make the slightest mistake on offence.

Craig could be unbelievable if he was given some damn freedom.

Is it the Breakers fault that most of the NZ national team are happy to play for less money and play at home than chase euro's ?
The Breakers have more local players on their team than anyone. Corey Webster, Tom Abercrombie, Mika Vukona, Alex Pledger were all development players with NZ and most of the kiwis on the team are originally from Auckland. Abercrombie and Webster went to school and grew up within a stones throw of the Breakers HQ.

Most players made the national team because the Breakers developed them.
Other teams buy players, NZ develop players and sign guys called Jackson who can ball.

Great article on NBA.com, Patty gets interviewed about his time at Portland, Idaho and the Olympic team.

Very interesting article.

http://linky.com.au/y3ywq

Breakers are always hard at home. It would be a toss up between them and Perth over the last few years.

You would think they are running with momentum with Corey Webster in the team. Cairns really do need to get something from the starting 5 to get over the line. 75 ppg is not really going to win too many games. 28.2 ppg coming from the bench (38%) Whereas Melbourne are going 91.6 ppg and 22.4 ppg off the bench.

The Breakers with the Webster / Abercrombie combo just seem a little more exciting and the firepower seems more V12.

I'm going with the cousins from across the dutch to control this game and go 3 & 3.

Three words Skull, he's not playing..........

Oh and Taipans by 6

one word - Wilbekin.....