- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
New Zealand Breakers vs Perth Wildcats |
||
|---|---|---|
2016/17 NBL Season, 15 December 2016 |
||
| Vector Arena, Auckland, NZ | ||
| New Zealand Breakers | Perth Wildcats | |
| 69 | SCORE | 57 |
| 17 | Q1 | 15 |
| 16 | Q2 | 8 |
| 21 | Q3 | 23 |
| 15 | Q4 | 11 |
It’s the battle of last year’s grand-finalists in Auckland to get Round 11 of the NBL underway, but the New Zealand Breakers and Perth Wildcats look anything but the best teams in the league. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 5:30pm (AEDT).
It’s been another tumultuous week off the court for the Breakers and the pressure is continuing to build on the club who sit second from the bottom of the ladder.
Star guard Corey Webster, who has had some off-court troubles this season has now been put on an injury waiver by the club and is unlikely to play for quite some time. With the Breakers expected to announce a new replacement in the coming week.
Webster joins Ben Woodside on the injured list for the Breakers and it’s left their stuttering offence without any depth in the backcourt. David Stockton and Kirk Penney will have to play big minutes and do the vast majority of the heavy lifting.
Given their offence has been a little weak this season anyway, with that being incredibly evident last weekend against Adelaide as they lost by ten – the Breakers will be aiming to play a slower, halfcourt style of game.
The problem with that is, this style will fit right into the Wildcats defensive basket and with no Damian Martin on the court, they will need all the help they can get at that end of the court.
The Wildcats, like the Breakers, have been well below expectations and their offensive depth has been put to the test.
Given that they have looked at their best building attack from defence and attempting to run the fast break as often as possible, it simply hasn’t worked consistently enough due to injuries and a lack of help for Casey Prather.
Prather has been fantastic for Perth and it’s no surprise he leads the league in scoring, but he has received little assistance from teammates, and that must improve if Perth are to make the playoffs and be a force.
The club were glued to the bottom of the incredibly condensed ladder just a few short weeks ago, but have worked their way up to fourth spot now thanks to some other results and an important three-point win over Melbourne last week.
Given they go on the road for five straight games, though, the Wildcats must find a way to build momentum and start the trip strongly or they could be back to the bottom in a flash.
Prediction
The Breakers would normally go in as favourites at home, but with no Webster and their struggle for form and consistency, Casey Prather should take the Wildcats to victory in another close one.
Wildcats by 3.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the opening match in Round 11 from 5:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde