Hoops

Lemanis breaks down in press conference

Lemanis' schoolmates can now call him Crybaby Lemonhead.

I think BBNZ should have respected Vukona's desire to rest, he's done so much for the Tall Blacks and barely missed a game, when he says he needs rest you should listen.

Lovebroker if you had a brain he was injured prior to the window hence why Brisbane didnt want him to play.

Potter said it was essential for Basketball NZ to call on Vukona and other top players to assist New Zealand in improving their seeding for the World Cup, but noted that had the Bullets management notified them of Vukona's injury, the organisation would likely have allowed him to stay in Brisbane.

NZ played him 21 mins against Lebanon and sent him home along with Pledger (leaving Smith - Milner behind).

We said that if they're fit and they are available then we want them and what we did with Mika and Reuben [Te Rangi] and Alex [Pledger] is we said 'look it's really essential we win one game in this window, we need to have a good team ... what we'll do is we'll take them away for the first game and we'll send them back'.
"We did that out of respect to those three players to let them get back early, let them get back fresh and have them in the best possible condition they could be for their clubs

And if you watch game 1 from opening tip off MV was not his usual self from the start and after a simple drop step signals to the bench late in the first to come out.

"Andrej is fully aware that a country can call on players and if they don't make themselves available then there is a possibility of sanctions... [Brisbane] could've withheld Mika on medical grounds and we would've simply gone through a process to evaluate the medical reasons."

Doesn't sound too different from what Lemanis said.

Lovebroker if you had a brain he was injured prior to the window hence why Brisbane didnt want him to play. NZ played him 21 mins against Lebanon and sent him home along with Pledger (leaving Smith - Milner behind).In 2019 player status regarding injury is pretty accurate. And if you watch game 1 from opening tip off MV was not his usual self from the start and after a simple drop step signals to the bench late in the first to come out.

Strange take, Lovebroker, considering rest is what mitigates injury risk. Strange take indeed

Vukona has a partially torn Achilles.

Vukona has a partially torn Achilles. He played 1 game and went home. Are BNZ seriously saying they did not know he had an injury of some degree in this day and age of injury prevention and maintenance etc. That is the biggest handball ever. They sent him home after 1 game. Pledger as well but not Smith-Milner. This is all a bit convenient for BNZ.

Seems logical. Would be strange if b-ball NZ made vukona play when hurt

speaking with Radio Sport, [Basketball NZ chief executive Iain Potter] denied the allegations that the national body had threatened Vukona to play, slamming Lemanis' accusations as a story from "fantasy land".
"It's a nice bit of theatre from Andrej," Potter said. "[It's] really disappointing that he's decided to go with that ... his emotions have got the better of him after a loss.
"Andrej is fully aware that a country can call on players and if they don't make themselves available then there is a possibility of sanctions, he's fully aware of that and he's just strung those things together.
...
"I don't know where he's made up this stuff," Potter said. "We never threatened sanctions, they could've withheld Mika on medical grounds and we would've simply gone through a process to evaluate the medical reasons. We would never put Mika in jeopardy.

That's all you wanted, Lovebroker? Jeez, talk about missing the point...

When did Lemanis or anyone on this forum blame the losses on BNZ?

"Meanwhile Brisbane supporters broke down during today's game after Lemanis forced them to endure another scoreless game from prized off-season recruit Jason Cadee."

Hehe

This doesn't mean it cost Brisbane a chance to win the series or even a single game.

Accepting that "injuries happen all the time" is not a valid argument when it could have potentially been avoided. If he needed rest then Basketball NZ should have shown duty of care to one of their players - not to mention a legend of their program - and permitted him to sit out the FIBA window without the threat of sanctions.

This doesn't mean it cost Brisbane a chance to win the series or even a single game. It just means - if what Lemanis says is true - Basketball NZ have a lot of explaining to do.

What really teared Andrej up was seeing Cadee's +/- for the series and knowing there is more of that to come.

Injuries happen all the time, don't blame NZ basketball, look at yourself first.

Bad run of misfortune for the Bullets. We got lucky playing against a Vukona-less Bullets (everything seems to be going our way!) but why still play Cadee for so many minutes? Only have yourself to blame for that one Andrej.

Weird place to bring up Adnam. Only thing they have in common is that Adnam plays the role Cadee SHOULD be playing - backup guard.

Cadee is laughable, as is Adnam. Moving teams because where ever they were they weren't ever good enough. Yet they both still have jobs in the NBL. What a joke.

Meanwhile Brisbane supporters broke down during today’s game after Lemanis forced them to endure another scoreless game from prized off-season recruit Jason Cadee.

"Lemanis then went on to blame basketball new Zealand for forcing vukona to play during the FIBA window and putting his body under too much stress."

I would too, clearly he's playing as hard as he can and the extra work load in the FIBA break exacerbated a possible injury. No brainer for me to understand that issue. Vikona is an important part of any team but it should never be at all costs.

Good to see a bit of passion tbh. Vukona is crazy tough for wanting to play.

Yeah fair point. Bris knew about the FIBA window and could have reduced his load. Injuries are sometimes just bad luck they don't have to be someone's fault.

How come it is NZ who forced him to play and not the Bullets? Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black

Poor form NZ HQ

see it here https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1101731063519277056

Lemanis is genuine, never in dispute imo. Good coach and loyal despite the knockers.

http://youtu.be/NOnBLcA9waA