Hoops

United vs Breakers, Game 1 - Feb 18

Hawks may have something to say about that tonight, but it is a possibility anon^...

I'm surprised people aren't bringing up the whole Tai Wesley essentially being a 3rd import thing now that he's proving to be a consistent player.

Abercrombie's speed and athleticism would kill Kickert at the 3 and he could defend him on the perimeter. If Melbourne go big NZ can put Vukona onto Warrick and run Pledger and Jackson in tandem.

I have also been critical of UTD's game plan being the 3 ball first and obviously when they are hitting those shots they look hard to catch.

But in the finals, shooters can tighten up, so you do need those interior options for balance.

This is where the Hawks have it over UTD I believe, especially as their two bigs are very effective in the post. Perth are very strong in the post and last night we saw what the Breakers offer inside.

Seems to be something coaches are keen to exploit, the three ball shooters, and something the game pretends is the 'way to go', but I have always subscribed to the theory that your outside game comes after you try and establish the inside game.

Call me old fashioned like that, but UTD have a huge mountain to climb in a very short time now...

Warrick clawed them back in that 2nd quarter and for a bit of the third, then they resorted to their usual style and it went haywire.

If they went back to Warrick time and time again (as you're taught if something is effective keep going at it):

1. He scores; or
2. He draws fouls and gets Weasley and Vukona out of the game.
3. He scores and draws foul.

They went with Goulding and other perimeter shooters who did neither.

LV, would you consider playing Kickert in the three, Holt and Goulding as the guards and Majok with Warrick to try and cause miss-matches?

I can't remember UTD trying this combination...

And late in the game he went in for Kickert I believe, then out for him as a planned substitute from what I saw.

I didn't see the game but can someone tell me what the go was with Odigie?

The stats show he subbed on in the last minute of the first half, fouled a few secs later and subbed out, In the last few seconds of the game he subbed on, fouled a few secs later and was subbed out again,

What was the context?

I'm with MACDUB.

Until Goulding learns to be ruthless in his approach and focus on his shots instead of his hair and sucking in refs, and becomes more of a team player, he'll always just be a player with potential for me. Sure, he's shown some great skills and exciting plays, but I still reckon he's way short of how good he COULD be.

He reminds me too much of Carmelo Anthony - very talented and exciting but a selfish git who wouldn't pass or defend hard.

I do tend to agree that Cedric and Corey, while also taking some crazy shots, play with a little more sacrifice for the team than Goulding.

However last night when he needed to stand up, Holt went missing for too long and this partnership wasn't as effective as the NZ guard duo.

Then you have to factor in the cameos, Bartlett made shots and that kept NZ handy from the outside while Pedger covered Jackson being fouled out and of course Vukona was awesome...

"Take out Warrick and CG43 and united lose by 30."

Take out Warrick and they lose by 30 - yes. No way Goulding deserves to be mentioned in that same sentence.

See this is what is wrong, people buy into the CG hype because he hits some ridicolous shots but peolple (especially the commentators who lose their minds over CG) need to look at the individual game stats more closely - the fact of the matter is that Goulding went 4/14 from the 3 last night and 7/21 from the Field.

If anything, if Goulding didn't resort to taking such ridicolous shots in that 2nd half and he fed the ball into Warrick they would have stood a better chance of winning.

"National team players include

Abercrombie
Webster
Vukona

And ocassionaly bartlett if needed"

You left out Pledger and TeRangi.

All of those players were also Breakers DP's

The Breakers academy turned development players into guys who are first choice players for the tall blacks.
No other team in the league has a development program close to the Breakers.
NZ's import selection has been fairly solid also.

Great win but they need to back it up at Vector on Saturday against a United team with their backs to the wall.

What's with all the "swap the" comments???
The better team on the night won (as usually happens.) Yes that team includes the players (surprise surprise) and to some extent the coach. Doh!

Melbourne make their bed when they through the first game, and complacently thought that HCA would carry them through the next couple.

Perth dropped a game to the spooners, it didn't effect anyone, then gave themselves a good hitout against Adelaide.

Melbourne not only allowed NZ to lock-down 4th spot, but gave them two massive confidence boosts, whilst at the same time undermining their own. Epically stupid move, and whoever is responsible for that strategy should be looking for a new job.

At the same time, once again credit to NZ. They have again got their shit together at the pointy end of the season, and shown that they can win the games that need to be won.

Getting ahead of things a bit here, but IF it does come down to a Perth v NZ final, I would give both teams a good chance. Perth would have HCA, which gives them a shot. However Perth really struggle to win in NZ, I would put money on that game going NZ's way. Whereas NZ have been very competitive in Perth. Perth should win, but NZ taking 1 of 2 games in Perth is a possibility.

Frankly, I think it would suck to see the NZ ("national team") win their 5th flag in 6th years, but you can't deny their professionalism.

The "national team" slur, has some validity, but it is what it is. That potential has existed from the moment they were allowed into the NBL, and the only way around it is to foster more teams from NZ. Bitching about it doesn't alter reality.

I reckon they would prefer Perth. Hawks have given them problems, whereas they know they can deal with us.

Right, so it's Perth or Hawks v New Zealand for the GF, Home court against NZ on the line, I believe, since they finished higher. That's one thing that in all of their playoff series so far Perth hasn't had. Could change some mentalities.

But I wonder if NZ would rather Perth get through than the Hawks?

Bye, bye United

Yes, well done to NZ for defeating Victoria (a state with > 1 million more people than NZ)

Karma can be such a bitch.
At least Adelaide fans now have something to smile about.

Melb United choked, melb stink!

"And that's why no one wanted NZ to make the finals."

Damn right

Great game by Vikona , set the standard early.

"2nd best option for these fools, that's right...pass it to Vukona who shoots 50%"

Yeah I had a major LOL at that, too.
To his credit he made both though.

Prepare your brooms, Breakers fans...

The thing is the commentators go on about Goulding as if he is some out of this world freak.

Tonight he went something like 4/14(?) On 3s and 7/20 (?) FG with some stupid shot selection.

I asked the question would he keep going to Warrick or would he resort to hero ball..its clear what he decided.

2nd best option for these fools, that's right...pass it to Vukona who shoots 50%

It's happened a few times this year. Seriously any junior coach would know that you would never do this.

Hack-a-Ced 75% successful so far

Let me repeat what I have posted in the past. How fkn dumb is a coach or team that passes the ball to CJ when the other team is in a fouling situation.

Karma for Gouldings flop earlier in the year i say

Firstly not one of the three clowns saw Goulding grab Abercrombie's leg and place it out of court. Then they don't even know the fkn rule about replay use.

fwits

Love that play by Goulding, but his foot was out of bounds when he did that. Does that change anything? I don't even know.

Charles Jackson fouls out in 6:17 of playing time

"No but that's the problem..you do that these days and you're getting pinged for an unsportsmanlike."

Still worth it to smash Goulding

Rucker on the Goulding layup "See Pledger has to put him on his backside there..can't allow the easy layup".

No but that's the problem..you do that these days and you're getting pinged for an unsportsmanlike.

Awful 2nd quarter from NZ. They're suddenly in an ordinary position down 3 at the half, with Charles Jackson on 3 PFs and Vukona & Wesley each on 2.

Everytime i hear a United game all you ever hear is Goulding Goulding Goulding

Good to hear them showing love to Warrick.

They still lost the plot over that 3 by Goulding.

Geez Warrick is a beast

"Breakers V Warrick"

NZB have stopped, and Warrick has hit the lead

Tomlinson is underrated. Really good PG.

Thing is, will United keep going to Warrick? Can Goulding, Holt, Blanchfield etc continue to feed him or will they resort to hero ball?

Seems harsh that Warrick can keep hooking but as soon as the Breaker bigs body him up a bit its a foul.

Warrick could have been a 25 and 10 player with more minutes. He literally creates a miss match with every other PF

Breakers V Warrick

This one's over.




(this quarter, that is)

United looking like, well, the Kings

NZ racing out of the blocks. Will see if this United team has ticker or is as I believe a team of flat track bullies.

NZ out the gates early. Sharing the ball and locked in on d.

Hopefully NZ will carry some form into this and take the win. Corey Webster in Sniper mode.

NZ by 5...extra bet- Goulding to cry about every call (but its only pay $1.01)

Breakers by 5

Should be a top contest.
I threw a few $$ on NZ purely because I think their price is good. In reality I'm finding it hard to tip a winner.

NZ by 7.