Mate if those latest injuries are correct and they don't play, this game is boarder line both ways. I have no dislike of both teams, so just won’t a good game and a bit consistency from the refs.
Good preview and yes bullets looking good for next season with a few changes.

Forgive me for going on about the Bullets, but... not too many changes needed, imo. With everyone on the Bullets' list healthy, who would you change? Obviously one of the imports has to go and Rocco will be gone. Replace them and I'd be happy. Yeah, the end of the bench can certainly be deeper/better but why? Either they won't play or stink up rotations.

Deng would go, certainly with McDaniel back. I'd let White go as well and yes Scheuler loves him. I’d probably go for more defensive pieces to fit in with your scoring imports.

That is a really sad injury list!

Can anyone say why Rocco is sitting out? 'TBC' injury? Come on now.

Rocco and Cook out, Adams in

Expect the starting 5 to be

Adams
White
Prather
Bannan
Harrison

At least Adams is back in. Cook will still be hugely missed and Rocco does not challenge Tacco.

Prather missus saying Adams out.

Best commentator, Bogut on very average game. Both battling injuries so understandable. Dumb fouls by Tacko and White down the stretch at end first.

Prather, the go-to guy. How long will the legs last?

Prather, the go-to guy. How long will the legs last?

Tacco is 7ft 6 inches and the commentators, who admit there was a hooking foul, wanting the refs to let it go.

Tacko on three fouls, Harrison fouled him first, Bogut right, they call so much rubbish, certainly on the bigs.

38-35 bullets, oh boy, bit tough watch there, Prather still class, anyone who is any good for nz is on foul trouble.

Horrible call on Mooney.

Home cooking going down again here, refs both ends.

Mennenga fallen off a cliff since start of season, Tacko really isn't that good.

Mooney had a go for nz, Prather very good for bullets, though couldn't chuck it in the ocean from three. Best part off game was listening to Bogut knowledge of game and basketball opinions. Breakers won’t play finals, not convinced Brisbane will either.

Think I'll do the Bullets a favour and remain pessimistic before games. That was a good result for the Bullets but highlights their need for their main guards to compete against all others.

If it wasn't already, that’s pretty much curtains for NZs season

Agree with Dunkman on Mennenga, he's really regressed.
Possibly a confidence thing related to the Tacko circus?
They really should have kept Gillespie.

Mennenga has had some very good games this season (averaged 16 & 7 his first 3 games of the season, 16 & 5 his first 4 games of Nov and 18 & 7 his first 3 games in Dec) but is really struggling for consistency. I imagine the amount of change with all the Breakers injuries etc and adjusting to Fall has impacted him finding a steady role.

Other than a draw card, I don't see Tacko being successful in the nbl. He gets called for everything but gets monstered by defenders. He gets called for three seconds continuously when other smaller players get away with it. He’s also not that good.

Mennenga has been affected by the change in way the Breakers now have to play to accommodate Fall. Lopez is the same.

As an individual, Tacko is not a bad person or bad player. But getting the other four guys to play with him and succeed is awfully difficult. It doesn't help our referees are not good with big guys either.

This was a dumb decision. The Breakers need to cut him loose from the second year of his deal, somehow, and try get PJC back, a Barry Brown type to replace Mooney, and a Pardon type to replace Fall. That team would be compete for a title.

"As an individual, Tacko is not a bad person or bad player. But getting the other four guys to play with him and succeed is awfully difficult."

His past five games he's played 100 mins for 83 points, 42 boards, 10 blocks and been +55. In the other 100 mins of those games the Breakers have been -73.

It's what's happening when Fall is on the bench that is NZ's big concern at the moment.

The + / i is misleading. Sure, he's (fool's) gold (statistically) when he's on the floor. But what about the rhythm and momentum of the other players? The absence of PJC is probably making things worse, as is their atrocious outside shooting, but the team is running different schemes defensively and offensively to accommodate Tacko since he arrived and that's negatively impacted a number of other players. On paper and video games, you can change schemes on a dime. But in real life the players are humans, they have habits, and these changes erode confidence.

A +55 to -73 difference is not misleading! In real life, the adjustment period has taken place and the Breakers are playing well with Fall on the floor.

They had better play him for 40 minutes then but they can't because he’s always in foul trouble and yes some of those totally unjustified. What is the breakers win percentage since he’s been there, not very good, bad actually. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, breakers broke a winning formula and team.

They did change what was a reasonably successful formula, and suffered because of it. That doesn't change the fact that right now, after the adjustment period, they are at their best with Fall on the court.

And rubbish when he's not there, he’s not LeBron or MJ, they busted a winning formula on someone that is not that good here or any of his previous leagues. Plus minus is a valuable stat but in this case it useless, because while he’s on the floor it’s for him at O end and covering his arse at the D end imo.

"while he's on the floor it’s for him at O end and covering his arse at the D end imo."


Lol. Yeah, and the team is +55 in 100 minutes, justifying that approach.

Many comments on Fall were accurate during his first few games (despite the fact absences of other players also had a huge impact on the team) but he has adjusted, the team has adjusted and he's had a massive positive impact the past few games.

Yes positive means winning, they have gone from 7w 3L to at 8w and 13L now I'm not certain what is positive there, if in the nbl next season they better be champions or it’s the greatest blunder in breakers franchise history.

I think you're discussing whether Breakers' management made a good move, they didn't. I'm in complete agreement with you there.

What I'm discussing is the comment earlier in the thread which stated "getting the other four guys to play with him and succeed is awfully difficult".

A few weeks ago this comment was correct, but now it is demonstrably false.

Almost always shooting percentages and especially 3pt are an outcome of the quality of shot you're creating. But breakers are actually creating good looks and not knocking them down, particularly mennenga, mojave, Lopez and at times mooney.

The only real chance of breakers getting out of this slump this season and scoring more while tacko is benched is to start hitting those shots really.

Next season is a different story. There'll be big changes. I even wonder if Lopez will return. Certainly not pjc

Dunkman

Firstly. Freddie left. Breakers didnt swap him out. There is lots of speculation as to why freddie left. For example, was it Fall. Was it becuase he has a history of swapping teams. Speculate all you want.

Secondly. Freddie wasnt that good. He would foul a lot. Fall is a much better player.

Thirdly. Changing a winning formula isnt a great idea, even if you get a better player. But the breakers didnt so this. See the first point.

Fourthly. Fall is a weapon. The way he has been refd is a disgrace. I for one love seeing a big fella play. But the off ball work overs Fall is getting is thuggery.

Fifthly. The breakers, other than Fall and PJC suck. Mooney has come back recently, but was woeful for the loosing stretch. Everyone else is terrible.

Sixth. The team has no identity. Culturally. This has nothing to do with Fall or the management decision around Fall (see point 1)

Seventh. The breakers are much better with Fall. Dismissing the +- stats is plain stupid.

Eighth. Correlation doesnt equal causation. Yes the poor record has been since Fall arrived. This doesn't mean anything. See first seven points.

Nineth. Abercrombie sucked last year. Terrible. I havent forgotten that every game you got on here and boned on about how great Abercrombie was. Breakers sucked last year as well. See point 6. Abbercrombie was for too long the poster boy for the Breakers idendity.

Every one is entitled to an opinion, no matter how many points you make, I respect winning, Fall hasn't done anything about winning, he’s been losing. I agree he’s getting man handled. Where has Fall played that he’s a winner. Abercrombie was a magnificent player, a real team player, yes his scoring last season wasn’t like his previous years but his contribution to D and team O was first class. As I said you are entitled to your opinion but I’m not changing mind. Fall has been a bust.

Bigdog, of your points are correct why didn't you post this when they were top off the table?

You weren't saying them that most of the roster sucks.

Sorry but most of your post is short minded and simplistic IMO

Kolzee

Simplistic?

Im not the one saying swapping out Fall is the reason the breakers are losing.

Incidentally i entitely with your previous post about not hitting threes. We cant hit a barn door. Especially over that 8 game losing streak.

Where was i? Probbaly enjoying the wins. Surprised? Yes surprised. I didnt think they would win a game going into the season. I was pretty pissed at the coaching choices including assistants. Then I was really pleased he pkayed sone kiwis and realised he was better than that spitter and yeller Moar. Now i wonder if anybody knows what all the europeans are actually saying.





Dunkman

Everyone is entitled to opinion. Is that the best you can come back with?

Kolzee. Big changes, next year?

Me simplistic?

Thats the problem. There is big changes ever year.

No junior program. No pathways. Rancid European coaches. Abercrombie a token poster boy. Aussie journeymen. No identity.

No but you only read what you want, and obviously your opinion is the only one worthy. Just let me know how the winning is going for Breakers since the bringing in of Fall.

I'm confused by your post?

You said...

Freddie wasnt that good. He would foul a lot. Fall is a much better player.


Then you said...

Changing a winning formula isnt a great idea, even if you get a better player. But the breakers didnt so this.


So what are you saying?? Fall better or for worse??

But to be honest, regardless of your opinion I think the results provide the answer

Kolzee

Suggesting i was too simplistic when i posted the longest moat detailed post about breakers probably on rhis forum in a while.

Now suggesting im not being honest. But ill attempt to answer your questions. Dunkman ill ignore yours. I cant be bothered with a shallow moronic analysis that boils everything down to Tacko fall, despite the statistics suggesting different.

Kolzee

Fall is a far better player than Freddie.

I would not have made the change as they were sailing well. But the breakers didnt make the change did they. Freddie left ffs! See point 1. Im sick of people suggesting the breakeres had a choice as though they were cc'd on the emails and in the board room. Freddie left, get over it

Yes fall is a much better player than freddie. The reason we went on a skid was more to do with our (three point) shooting. Mooney, king. (Bolden was injured), bairstow, mccarron. Lopez, darling. The only person who could hit a three was anticivich. This had nothing to do with tacko. If anything they were getting better looks with Tacko.

Are they loosing because of fall? No.


Would i get rid of fall this / next year. No, if he was reffd fairly he would be a weapon.

Would i make wholesale changes next year? No. They will be rooted if they do.


So i know you have said im too simplistic, but here im denying the simplistic notion that morons like dunkman suggest it all comes down to fall. And suggesting the issues are deeper and nore structural than that.

I love how bigdog turns up when the Breakers have issues. I swear I have seen bigdog in some shape or form since Lemanis' early days.

"Firstly. Freddie left. Breakers didnt swap him out."

Of course Freddie left with the way Matt Walsh was behaving. With Fall hanging around, wouldn't your agent be shopping you elsewhere?

"Secondly. Freddie wasnt that good. He would foul a lot. Fall is a much better player."

What are the foul stats for Freddie vs Fall? Fall is a better player. But Freddie was a better fit.

"Fourthly. Fall is a weapon. The way he has been refd is a disgrace. I for one love seeing a big fella play. But the off ball work overs Fall is getting is thuggery."

I think many NBL fans and commentators will agree with you. But referees struggling in our league to handle big beasts is nothing new. Colton Iverson is a recent Breakers example. Perfectly fine in the Euroleague, foul prone here. The Breakers management should have known better that players like Fall would find it difficult. If Freddie was leaving, they should have found a similar player.

"Fifthly. The breakers, other than Fall and PJC suck. Mooney has come back recently, but was woeful for the loosing stretch. Everyone else is terrible."

I disagree. Mennenga, Bolden, King, Bairstow, Darling, Lopez do not suck.

"Sixth. The team has no identity. Culturally. This has nothing to do with Fall or the management decision around Fall (see point 1)"

The team WAS building an identity until management crashed it.

"Seventh. The breakers are much better with Fall. Dismissing the +- stats is plain stupid."

+/- can be misleading because it doesn't account for context. The point isn't that Tacko isn't playing well; he is playing well. The point is that the Breakers have had to change their identity so much in order to accommodate Tacko and it has negatively affected many players.

"Eighth. Correlation doesnt equal causation. Yes the poor record has been since Fall arrived. This doesn't mean anything. See first seven points."

We will all have to agree to disagree here.

"Nineth. Abercrombie sucked last year. Terrible. I havent forgotten that every game you got on here and boned on about how great Abercrombie was. Breakers sucked last year as well. See point 6. Abbercrombie was for too long the poster boy for the Breakers idendity."

Abercrombie's usually dependable shot disappeared in his last two seasons. But he was still a very, very good defender.

"+/- can be misleading because it doesn't account for context. The point isn't that Tacko isn't playing well; he is playing well. The point is that the Breakers have had to change their identity so much in order to accommodate Tacko and it has negatively affected many players."


What you've said here doesn't make +/- misleading. In this case it tells a very accurate tale of what's happening when Fall is and isn't on the court.

You seem to be making the case that the line-ups without Fall aren't working due to the disruption from the change in style of player at the C spot (and presumably the many injury/suspension disruptions), which could be true but is not the fault of Fall, rather the coaching staff.

That said, if the coaching staff and players have adjusted so well to turn Fall's +/- from a big negative into a big positive over the course of time, I'm sure they will be able to figure out their other line-ups too.

@ EssenX, 100% agreed. Acey Earl was a massive dude that also got reffed out game some 40 years ago.

Essen get your hand off it. Ive posted on this forum for years and pro hoops before it. Ive posted in good and bad.

First point. Whatever...

Second point. yes tacko is foul prone. I tend to think Tacko gets a worse time from the refs than freddie but yes freddie and tacko get called for lots of fouls (both lead the league in fouls per minute i believe)

Fourth. Tacko is still a weapon despite the reffering. If the refs gave him the same treatment as Cotton, Fall would be mvp.

Fifth - ill take a correction here. You are correct those players dont suck. I like a lot of them. But their play over the losing streak did suck (some were injured).

Sixth - no they werent building an identity earlier in the year. They were a bunch of players put together. And rando euro coaches. They havent had an identity for years. We got a sugar hit from Moar, but there hasnt been an identity at the breakers since matt walsh took over.


Seventh & eigth. So you are trying to say correlation does equal causation, and you pin it on Fall? I guess you still believe in lockdowns and the covud vaccine.



Nineth. Last two seasons? Really. Yes a good defender. And a poster boy for a management team that discarded so many Breaker identities, cultures and practices (their identity) but that was alright because we had Tom, and he could defend.

I guess you still believe in lockdowns and the covud vaccine.

It's the new Godwin’s law.

Koberulz

I tried to find out posts from a few years back on covid when you wanted to lock down the world. I think they have been deleted, shame. Im surprised you have come out from underneath your bed.

Essen

Yes.good point

Why would you try, five years on, to re-litigate an argument that history has clearly shown you lost?

You are the one who argued for vaccine mandates and lockdown for a common cold. I bet you still wear your face mask at the beach. Loser.

Anyway. Back to the breakers. So we all agree with my last post then.

I always thought this years breakers team was terribly constructed. I didnt think they would win a game. So enjoyed when they over performed.

King and Bolden have been worse than i thought, although i like both of them. Doesnt make sense yes i know.

Mccarron smd mcnaught i never could understand why they picked the two worst ppoint guards in the nznbl. Mccarron surprised the heck out of me in the first few games and played great. For a moment i thought i was completely wrong about bball and life. As the season went on, he proved me right.

Mooney and anticivich i never rated. Both have had moments to be fair to them, although not enough.

Lopez great. Better than expected.

Pjc. Pjc

Darling - i never thought would get on the court. Much better than expected.

Bairstow. Very high ceiling. I like him. Not sure ehat i expected.

Meneenga. Of course i rate him. He is what every beeakers fans want to see. He was a most improved candidate there for a while. Not now.

Pinauu. Pointless.

Wynyard. Yes please.

Abercrombie. Give me casey frank and mullign any day. Yes, i know Dunkman, he pmays great defence.


Coaches. Much better than last year and what i expected. But better than nz talent? Nope.