The SKY CITY Breakers begin their 2013-2014 NBL campaign at home to the Wollongong Hawks on Thursday night at Vector Arena. Games against the Gordie McLeod coached Hawks are usually tight affairs and this encounter is unlikely to be any different.
Due to injuries and international commitments the SKY CITY Breakers have had a disrupted pre season and this was reflected in the results of their warm up games. Losses to the Melbourne Tigers (twice), Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings were hardly the start coach Dean Vickerman and his squad was looking for, therefore the three game series against Chinese club side, Dongguan Leopards took on a little more significance than first appeared. Vickerman and his coaching team were keen to get big man Alex Pledger some much needed game time following a long injury lay off and also further integrate new boys Kerron Johnson and Darnell Lazare. Also of concern to Vickerman was the number of players fouling out of games – six in the two games in Sydney. Players have had to make adjustments to their defensive games to comply with the new refereeing interpretations being adopted this season. All the boxes were ticked against the Leopards – 3 wins, improved cohesion at both ends of the court, a reduction in fouls committed and mileage in the legs of some of the key players.
Former SKY CITY Breakers intern Ross McMains has been helping out at practices during the last few days. McMains, a skills development coach now based in the USA is enjoying a ten day ‘holiday’ in NZ. He was busy at team practice on Saturday working out centres Alex Pledger and Jeremiah Trueman and will continue assisting Dean Vickerman and the team in the lead up to the opening game before returning to the States.
Last season the Hawks were dealt some cruel blows, three of their starting five suffered season ending injuries when the team were ensconced in the top four. One of the injured trio, outstanding point guard Rhys Martin is still not 100% fit after his ruptured knee ligament injury, the Hawks have therefore signed import combo guard Rotnei Clarke to assist with the ball handling duties. The Hawks season was further disrupted last week when second import Durrell Summers quit the club after his demands for a significant pay increase were declined by Hawks management.
Former Breaker Oscar Forman will suit up for Wollongong and he believes the departure of Summers will galvanize his team and bring out the best in the likes of Dave Gruber, Tim Coenraad and the man with a different haircut for every month, Larry Davidson.
A new season, new players on show, a new coaching team and new refereeing interpretations, it should be interesting to watch.
Breakers Stats and Milestones
- Darnell Lazare and Kerron Johnson make their NBL debuts for the SKY CITY Breakers against the Hawks, becoming the 68th and 69th players to suit up for the club.
- Mika Vukona needs 10 rebounds to record the unique double of 1400 rebounds and 1400 points for the club.
- Tom Abercrombie needs to 2 rebounds to become the sixth Breaker to collect 600 rebounds for the club.
- The Breakers have opened the season with home games on eight previous occasions, winning four times.
- The Breakers all time home record against the Wollongong Hawks is 10-7. The Hawks have never previously played at Vector Arena.
- The Breakers have won 15 straight home games, their last defeat was the opening fixture last season against the Perth Wildcats.
LACEY LOWDOWN 