Hoops

Crocs vs Breakers, Jan 21

No worries Paul.

A team like below would have some perimeter fire power and inside presence without totally being out of this realm of reality.

Ced Jackson/ Tai Webster
Corey Webster/ Everard Bartlett
Kirk Penney/ Tom Abercrombie
Tai Wesley/ Duane Bailey
Charles Jackson/ Alex Pledger

It looks like Penney is really enjoying playing with Lisch and Rhys Martin so I agree it may be a little hard to lure him back but home is where the heart is.

The key word was "deserve", I realise it isn't a reality Paul.
Isaac Fotu could be a star in this league but for the betterment of NZ basketball he should keep testing himself in Europe. Rob Loe could play a Kickert role for NZ but is unlikely as like you said he's more likely to be a solid backup than a star.
I think Tai Webster would/could develop much better at the Breakers much like his brother but has made significant strides this season.

I do prefer to support local talent on my local team rather than poach players from the opposition but I also prefer to win.
It's hard to say who to keep and who to cut without really knowing what has been going on behind the scenes.

I don't believe they'll recover, this season anyway.
It'll be a good lesson for the club and Henare & Flavell moving forward.
A fair few guys deserve pay cuts based on this seasons performances especially to lure guys like Fotu and Loe back from the depths of Europe.
Tai Webster has looked way better this season at Nebraska and would be a great addition but is likely to finish college.

They have the talent to turn it around but I don't think they have the heart to do so plus it is most probably too little too late.

They may as well pull the pin and let the young guys like Shea Ili play some minutes to see how much of a future he has at the club.

Isaac,

Yep, you're exactly right. As I wrote the comment, I thought 'There's no way if I was in his position, I'd not play in the NZNBL'.

$30k extra (estimate) for 5 months work, plays significant minutes, fun, great way to keep fit in the off-season, more laid-back environment.

IMO, Te Rangi is "stale" i.e. "no longer able to perform well or creatively because of having done something for too long." His stats in 13-14 season were 5.4ppg on 66% FG (30/45) and 41.7 % 3pfg (25/60) - very impressive considering he was 19 at the time. But he has declined heavily since. Since his professional career started, he has played 4 seasons for the Breakers and about 5 seasons in the NZNBL. 9 total seasons of professional basketball and he is just 21. He needs to take a season off in the NZNBL to get refreshed.

I would happily have Charles Jackson back, he plays with effort and would be a heap better having a season under his belt.

There is no plan b on offense and they have their heads down at the other end as a result.
Cedric is not finishing at the rim this season where as in previous years he made a lot of those contested layups and teams are fighting over the screens or double teaming Corey Webster.
Shane MacDonald and Rueben TeRangi have contributed next to nothing and Mika
Vukona is on his last legs.
In previous years they had multiple outside shooters who could spread the floor yet this season only Webster, Bartlett and Abercrombie have been consistent (ish) with the occasional offering from Wesley went left wide open.

Ced Jackson/ Tai Webster
Cory Webster/Bartlett
Abercrombie/Bailey
Fotu/Loe
Import/Pledger

Agree on McDonald, cannot fathom what he was meant to bring to the team! SEABL at best.

TBH Charles Jackson has been the glue this season, his enthusiasm has got them a few games and kept the other rolling when they were winning

Abercrombie, Vukona, CJ Jackson, Te Rangi, all down on last season and Wesely after his injury hasn't been great after looking really good start of the season.

As for Webster, was the MVP there for a while, now the guy couldn't look less interested - amazing!


This season I think they've lacked a Dillion Boucher type figure, no one one the team appears to have a high basketball IQ or at least playing like they have one!

Breakers, just embarassing - has to be more to it that simply a form slump!

Anyone else notice Ced Jakson middle finger to someone on the bench as he got fouled off?

Angus agree. Especially considering their probably pretty cheap. Good value.

Can't believe what's happened to us. Talk about a fall from grace. Atonishing. One thing missing is that we don't have those specialist/very good defensive players we've had in the past - Everybody wants to play matador defence and worry about scoring.

Still not sure I trust the Crocs not to choke on this lead, but so far so good ...

The way they've been playing they don't deserve a spot in the top 4

Breakers look like a shell of their former selves. Getting blown out early in Townsville.
The Crocs are hustling while NZ have zero rhythm.

NZ might sort their shit for Vickermans departure and pull together to send him out on high, or they'll cough and stumble and make it look a lot harder than it needs to be.

Gee....this will be the real test for the Breakers. Lose this one and they might as well forfeit the Cairns game.

Lots of pressure on the Breakers and none on the Crocs. All the Crocs have to do is give a bit of lip on court and make the Breakers doubt themselves even more than they already seem to do. Breakers are 40% on the road and Crocs are 40% at home.

Crocs with nothing to lose and at home will be tough, very tough.

BUT, The Crocs need someone who will put their stones on the line and step up. The stage is set for a young hero like Kay to take about 20 rebounds and a young gun like Maynard to have a defensive blinder on Webster.

Breakers might fall over the line....