...on Jackson.

Geordie's usage of McMillan/Davidson/Gruber this season has been one big mindfuck.

Isaac, i didn't see the game, did deleon take a heap of shots for the 34? Did the Breakers play poorly? What was the go?

Deleon was in control all game.. a few break downs in the offence and the pressure got them at some stages, but the deciding factor was the 20 extra possessions the Breakers got from Offensive boards.

If Wollongong can sort out the rebounding they have proved they can win any game.

Last 5 have been decided by 1 possesion or overtime.

This team will be fine, and they have help coming

oh sorry deleon had another chance to ice a game at the line - in this case to got to overtime. He missed the second.

I dont understand why other teams do not adopt the same defense as Gordie?

He clearly has NZ measure in terms of sitting off Jackson and blocking up the lane.

Didn't see it either; was out. 13/24 FG.

Going by tweets, Hawks ran a zone that troubled the Breakers a bit.

Bookies were favouring NZ by 11+.

Deleon was poised all game.. Best he's played since the start of the season.

The last 5-6 games he's played like he thinks he's coming out of the game any minute, so he's been jacking up bad shots, not hitting the open man etc. But tonight he was taking smart shots and finding the open shooter more times than not.

Gibson and D-Mart both far superior defensive players despite lower steal numbers.

Where's Mystro?

that was a great game. Too bad deleon choked on the last shot. They need a new big to get some rebounds to help out davidson. And deleon had a blinder. Early, but player of the week!

Haha looks like Deleon needed 35 not 34.
Hawks hung off Jackson and clogged the paint up trying to limit the inside scoring. Breakers again shot the ball poorly in the 1st half and didn't finish at the rim. Once the shots started falling they were ok and it was only some sublime outside shooting from the Hawks that kept them in it and Deleon had the chance to send it to Ot and he choked.

He looked rattled at the stripe last game too.

Overtime was never going to help the hawks they had to go for the win-again but didn't. Breakers getting a lot of O boards as they shot lowish percentages and took a lot more shots then had height and rebounding numbers esp after Davidson got early fouls and Gruber used for only 7 mins. NZ have had luck-hawks had possession and a chance to win it in regulation. But when you have overplayed some of your team Deleon 38 and forman 39 you are not usually going to win in OT so you should be going for the win. Cedric even got a rest in last few minutes and came back on with just over a minute to go so Lemanis was worried. but they escaped again- and never had it under control at all.

Good game but Hawks need wins-good games but no win does nothing to help them on the ladder. I can see cairns Townsville and adelaide all performing well on the run home and making the final four interesting. NZ are cocky and are vulnerable and will be beaten imo in a few games in the run home.

don't mistake me being cocky for the team fstos.

teams are coming at them hard out of the blocks and they are struggling to stamp any authority early.
their depth is showing in the second halves when they are able to lift the intensity defensively and their opposition are having to get their claws out to try and hold onto leads.
Chemistry and composure are getting them over the line in the tight ones along with great Coaching.
When it got tight, Boucher, Vukona and Bruton all spoke up in the time outs where as the Hawks all sat quietly listening to McCloud.

Deleon hit some big shots all night and it didn't seem to matter who was guarding him. Great player but to greedy imo.

apologies, I meant flatshot. my bad.

"Cedric even got a rest in last few minutes and came back on with just over a minute to go so Lemanis was worried. "

Jackson was off because the Breakers were better without him last night. With Bruton running the point the Hawks had to defend the high-ball screen and that opened up the off-ball screening action.

Paul -point taken but Breakers had that luxury of rotating guards to create that variation and draw D higher. Apparrently, according to their coach, they weren't better off without Jackson in the last minute.

Gordie had to let Adris off the leash and go for it and hope for a good shooting night and he got that. Larry getting 2 early fouls impacted the rotation and then going with Macmillan but limited Gruber was Gordie's choice. Maybe more Davidson and Gruber may have been useful to spread the load rather than preserving Davidson but it almost paid off despite Hawks shooting a lot less shots.

Jackson was put on in the last spell for the sole purpose of using his speed and length to try and stop Deleon who was hitting everything he put up.

Spot on re Davidson, that really hurt them, although McMillan did extremely well for a rookie. Really making strides and filling that blue collar role the Hawks need.