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The New Zealand Breakers have upset premiership favourites Melbourne United to open their NBL season with an all-important victory on home court at Vector Arena by just five points.
The best way to describe the game would be that it was back and forth – neither team were able to build any sense of momentum or run away with the contest as there were multiple lead changes and it never got to a double digit game.
After United started the match well, it looked like they were going to run away with it however Corey Webster checked into the game for the Breakers and there was an immediate change in momentum.
So sharp was the swing that the Breakers, who hadn’t looked like leading at all managed to get their noses in front by the first break.
Thomas Abercrombie and Mika Vukona were fantastic early on, as was Webster who got hot into the second quarter and took the Breakers away at various points.
The Breakers, despite pushing ahead multiple times couldn’t put the foot down and run away with the game through the second quarter as the likes of Cedric Jackson, Tai Wesley and David Andersen kept Melbourne in the contest.
Akil Mitchell was a consistent performer for New Zealand during the first half, but come the start of the second he took his game to a whole new level on the way to ending up with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, many of his teammates went quiet as Cedric Jackson put on a show to take Melbourne into the lead, with help from fellow former breaker Wesley.
They would hold the Breakers to just eight points in a terrible third quarter and take the lead into the final changeover.
Under pressure though, with Rob Loe and Ben Woodside joining the party for New Zealand, they would put away Melbourne who put up far too many shots and didn’t control the ball at all well, Chris Goulding a repeat offender of taking bad shots.
Melbourne had a chance to take the game in the final few minutes, however just couldn’t capitalise on some mistakes made by the Breakers.
So then, the Breakers off to a flying start for their season and now have a week off before taking on Perth while Melbourne take on Adelaide at Hisense Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Final Score
New Zealand Breakers 76
Melbourne United 71
In a re-match of last year’s semi-final, the New Zealand Breakers open what is expected to be a tough NBL season against championship favourites Melbourne United at Vector Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:30pm (AEDT).
The Breakers might have made the grand final last season, but this season’s competition is being billed as potentially the closest ever.
Unfortunately, the Breakers recruitment doesn’t look to have done a whole lot during the off-season, losing their gun imports Cedric Jackson and Charles Jackson.
The interesting twist in that story of course is that Cedric has signed on with Melbourne United, and now in the first game of the season makes his first trip back across the Tasman.
The Breakers have secured the services of sharp shooter Kirk Penney, and in tandem with Corey Webster, who has had a full pre-season this time around he will create a damaging guard rotation.
Ben Woodside and Robert Loe join the side as replacements for the Jackson’s and have impressed, while import Akil Mitchell took out the slam dunk contest at the pre-season Australian Basketball Challenge.
United come into the season on paper with the best roster, and will be looking to do more than just win the minor premiership this time around.
Chris Goulding and Todd Blanchfield will once again lead the side into battle, with Cedric Jackson to play the point guard.
The biggest loss for the side will be Daniel Kickert, who signed on with Brisbane. He was ever consistent and reliable last year so the pressure on new signing David Andersen and returning centre Majok Majok to step up and ensure defence in the paint is solid will be immense.
Tai Wesley joins Cedric Jackson making the switch from the Breakers to United and along with David Barlow who missed all of last season due to injury will need to add plenty from the bench.
United’s biggest worry here is containing the Breakers outside scoring. With Penney and Webster on the outside, along with the ever present Thomas Abercrombie the shooting threat is huge for the Auckland-based club.
Prediction
The Breakers could be in for a little bit of a tough season, and even having home court advantage it’s hard to see them beating what is an incredibly strong United team on paper. As with most games this round though, it shouldn’t be a blowout.
United by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this all-important Round 1 NBL match from 5:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde