Adelaide 36ers 90
New Zealand Breakers 71
A dominate performance for the final three quarters has seen the Adelaide 36ers take a 19-point win to open their 2015-16 NBL season over the New Zealand Breakers at the Adelaide Arena in front of a solid crowd.
For the 36ers, there was no going past the impact of Matthew Hodgson tonight who was absolutely fantastic. He led the 36ers in most of the different stat departments, scoring 18 points, getting 9 rebounds and making 3 blocks. He was backed up by the likes of Ebi Ere who blew the game open in the second quarter.
After an incredibly sloppy first quarter where neither team could find any sort of rhythm and the shooting percentages of both sides were way below par, the 36ers decided to turn it on during the second quarter, mainly thanks to Ere.
They outscored the Breakers an incredible 32 points to 9 during the second quarter and ran away with the game, Ere knocking down what seemed like every shot he looked at.
The Breakers were not helped by their incredibly poor long range shooting percentage, and having many of their stars including Cedric Jackson in foul trouble, regularly forcing him to the bench during the second and third quarter.
At half time the Breakers were down by 21 and never really looked like getting back into the game. Throughout the third and fourth quarter there were various times they looked to be slowly working back into the game, however would then have a bad minute or two and the lead would blow out.
Generally, whenever the Breakers would start to come back, Matthew Hodgson would step up and carry the 36ers back into the lead with the help of Daniel Johnson throughout the second half.
Charles Jackson stood up during the second half for the Breakers, as did Reuben Te Rangi and Shane McDonald though to make the contest interesting at times.
All in all, an awesome win for the 36ers tonight to open their season.
The 2015/16 NBL season gets underway as the Adelaide 36ers host defending premiers the New Zealand Breakers looking to avenge their semi-final defeat at the Adelaide Arena. Join The Roar for live coverage from 7:15pm (AEDT).
Last season both clubs made the top four, with the Breakers finishing second and the 36ers third. They met in the semi-finals with the Breakers dismantling the 36ers in two games, before going on to take out their fourth NBL title in five years.
Both sides’ preseason form has been short of expectations, due in part to the emergence of Melbourne United, who took out the NBL Blitz in Townsville.
Still, the Breakers only managed to win one from three games, dropping games to the Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans, and recording an unconvincing victory over the lowly rated Townsville Crocodiles.
The 36ers have continued to develop an excellent roster coming into this season. Retaining most of their 2014-15 squad, they have also added imports in the hugely talented Ebi Ere and Kenyon McNeail.
Ere was one of the most exciting players in the NBL before his clubs – the Brisbane Bullets and then the South Melbourne Dragons – folded, leaving him with no choice but to play in Europe. Now back in the NBL at the age of 34, he has still been putting up big numbers and could prove to be the missing link for the 36ers this season.
The Breakers have lost star shooting guard Corey Webster, who signed a non-guaranteed NBA contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, meaning he is required at a training camp in Virginia and will miss at least the first part of the NBL season.
While that is a massive blow for the Breakers, they still have plenty of talent on which to rely, having retained much of their roster from last year, although they did lose Thomas Abercrombie to injury. Still, Cedric Jackson, Mika Vukona and new recruits Charles Jackson and Shane McDonald will give them a big boost.
Prediction
The loss of Webster is going to be huge for the Breakers, and they will struggle to match it with the 36ers.
36ers by 18.
Join The Roar as we bring you live coverage of the opening match in the 2015-16 NBL season from 7:15pm (AEDT), and don’t forget to leave your comments below as the match progresses!
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah not far off the mark!
Ryman White
Editor
Solid prediction Scott!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here tonight on The Roar for our first ever live coverage of the NBL! This will just be the first of many as the Adelaide 36ers were too strong for the New Zealand Breakers. Tomorrow night the Illawarra Hawks host the Cairns Taipans in Wollongong, however there may only be live scores of that game. At this stage, we can't be 100% sure, however there may be a blog of the match. On Friday, it will be Jason Dowlin to bring you live coverage of the Townsville Crocodiles vs Melbourne United match up. I'll be back next weekend. Until then, It's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULL TIME: Adelaide 36ers 90 New Zealand Breakers 71 A dominating performance for the final three quarters has seen the Adelaide 36ers take a 19 point win to open their 2015-2016 NBL Season over the New Zealand Breakers at the Adelaide Arena in front of a solid crowd. For the 36ers, there was no going past the impact of Matthew Hodgson tonight who was absolutely fantastic. He led the 36ers in most of the different stat departments, scoring 18 points, getting 9 rebounds and making 3 blocks. He was backed up by the likes of Ebi Ere who blew the game open in the second quarter. After an incredibly sloppy first quarter where neither team could find any sort of rhythm and the shooting percentages of both sides were way below par, the 36ers decided to turn it on during the second quarter, mainly thanks to Ere. They outscored the Breakers an incredible 32 points to 9 during the second quarter and ran away with the game, Ere knocking down what seemed like every shot he looked at. The Breakers were not helped by their incredibly poor three shooting percentage, and having many of their stars including Cedric Jackson in foul trouble, regularly forcing him to the bench during the second and third quarter. At half time the Breakers were down by 21 and never really looked like getting back into the game. Throughout the third and fourth quarter there were various times they looked to be slowly working back into the game, however would then have a bad minute or two and the lead would blow out. Generally, whenever the Breakers would start to come back, Matthew Hodgson would step up and carry the 36ers back into the lead with the help of Daniel Johnson throughout the second half. Charles Jackson stood up during the second half for the Breakers, as did Reuben Te Rangi and Shane McDonald though to make the contest interesting at times. All in all, an awesome win for the 36ers tonight to open their season. OFFICIAL CROWD: 4,520
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats Leaders: Points: Hodgson (18), Johnson (15), Ere (13), Cedric Jackson (14), Bartlett (13), Charles Jackson (12) Rebounds: Hodgson (9), Vukona (8) Assists: Gibson (8), Cedric Jackson (6) Blocks: Hodgson (3) Steals: Bartlett (3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
STATS: Field Goals: 36ers (32/71 @ 45%) Breakers (29/77 @ 37%) 3 Pointers: 36ers (8/15 @ 53%) Breakers (6/30 @ 20%) Free Throws: 36ers (18/23 @78%) Breakers (7/10 @ 70%) Rebounds: 36ers (45) Breakers (36) Assists: 36ers (18) Breakers (14) Steals: 36ers (5) Breakers (7) Blocks: 36ers (5) Breakers (3) Turnovers: 36ers (15) Breakers (12) Points in the paint: 36ers (40) Breakers (40) Second Chance Points: 36ers (8) Breakers (8)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Score Breakdown: 1st Quarter: 36ers 19 - Breakers 17 2nd Quarter: 36ers 32 - Breakers 9 3rd Quarter: 36ers 19 - Breakers 24 4th Quarter: 36ers 20 - Breakers 21
Scott Pryde
Expert
Oooh so close on that prediction! The 36ers win by 19 over the Breakers in a huge win to open their season. Full stats and report to come. Stay tuned.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULL TIME Another missed long bomb here for the Breakers and that seems to sum up their night. The 36ers now go inside to Carlin before Johnson works his way to the hoop and he misses. Creek makes the intercept and Johnson misses again. The Breakers hit a three through Ili from the corner and the buzzer goes. What a win for the 36ers. 36ers - 90 Breakers - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Creek misses one of the free throws. 36ers - 90 Breakers - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' the Breakers now with an offesnvie foul before the 36ers work around outside. Creek grabs it looking to push inside and draws the foul. In the bonus as well now. 36ers - 89 Breakers - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Johnson good on the free throw. 36ers - 89 Breakers - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Johnson finds a way to the basket for the 36ers and will have a free throw on top of the shot that was good. 36ers - 88 Breakers - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Breakers now with it after a miss from the 36ers. McDonald misses pulling up for 3 but the Breakers pull down the board. McDonald shuffles around outside before shooting and missing. Ere motors down the floor and the 36ers lose it. McDonald heads down the floor on the break and gets the 2. 36ers - 86 Breakers - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Petrie good for 2 before Jackson races down the floor and gets a bucket for himself from under the hoop. 36ers - 86 Breakers - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The Breakers with the inbound and Jackson misses before Vukona pulls down the offensive board. He is foulded before an allyoop play for Charles Jackson is good. 36ers - 84 Breakers - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' the 36ers with another miss before Cedric Jackson has some good footwork and draws the foul from Sobey who reaches in and knocks the ball away. Time out called now with 3:21 to play. 36ers - 84 Breakers - 62
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The Breakers with yet another miss before Sobey goes inside and gets knocked over, still managing to make the lay up off the glass. Charles Jackson links with Te Rangi following a missed 3 and they add 2 more. 36ers - 84 Breakers - 62
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The Breakers work it inside and Ili travels, handing the ball over. Now it is the 36ers who are happy to work it around the outside. Carlin goes into Creek before the ball rolls out to Ere and he fires for 3, coming up empty. 36ers - 82 Breakers - 58
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The 36ers lose it out of play before the Breakers work it around the outside. Inside to Jackson and Sobey picks up the foul. 36ers - 82 Breakers - 58