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
Scott Pryde
Expert
One more parting thought
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems! Thanks for your comments! See you tomorrow night for Adelaide and Sydney hopefully!
Bryn
Guest
Good points well made sir. As always, thanks for the commentary.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Season as the New Zealand Breakers beat the Perth Wildcats. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be live tomorrow night with the Sydney Kings taking on the Adelaide 36ers. Right now though, switch over to the cricket with Suneer Chowdhary. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I don't think Prather will be back in the USA unless he is playing NBA - nonetheless, the Wildcats will only improve to the end of this year if they get Damian Martin back on the floor. Perth will adapt alright - they are a winner's club... Gotta remember they haven't missed the finals in 30 years... It's just that they need to find more offence and adapt to the league. I exect there to be a major cleanout at the end of the season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME It wasn't pretty, but the New Zealand Breakers have ground out a 12-point defensively orientated victory over the Perth Wildcats in a low scoring affair at Vector Arena. The Breakers were the better team throughout as they extended the Wildcats woes on the road. Simply put, the Wildcats didn't have the offensive options to answer and even with Casey Prather and Jaron Johnson putting in a few bursts of activity during the second half it wasn't anywhere near enough. New Zealand were led throughout the game by Thomas Abercrombie and Kirk Penney, both of whom made some key shots and their defence, led by the cagey Mika Vukona. New Zealand Breakers 69 Perth Wildcats 57
Bryn
Guest
Well, two questions on the back of a drab fourth quarter. Seemed those last three minutes were an indication of Wildcats without Prather and it looks seriously bleak. 1) Do you think Prather will still be down under next season? I have a feeling he might be back in his homeland. 2) If he does leave, can Perth somehow adapt to life without him? Either way, it's gonna be a tense summer for the cats.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the game?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Johnson now shoots three and that probably should have been a foul with some heavy contact from Ili but it won't matter. No time left and the Breakers run the clock down. Stockton launches a three that misses, Ili gets the board and Penney called for a travel with .1 seconds on the clock. No time for anything else and the Breakers with an incredibly gritty 12 point win on the road, the Wildcats with another road loss and their season could well be over by the time they play at home in January. New Zealand Breakers - 69 Perth Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' A good full court press from Perth but the Breakers manage to get it over and then slow things down before Mitchell finds Pledger, he gets it up and Mitchell comes through for the put back. Kenny into the lane and Pledger with the block before it's saved and there is a whistle as Johnson looks to shoot three. 32 seconds on the clock and it's a Wildcats sideline ball. Breakers - 69 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Redhage misses both. Breakers - 67 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Breakers now pinged for a three in the key before Prather goes back to the bench. Cramps really getting to him. Mitchell into the paint and he misses before Stockton fouls Redhage going up for the easy deuce. He thought he had the block too. Breakers - 67 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Technical fouls all over the joint here! Kenny steps on the line and Gleeson gets pinged for one. Abercrombie goes to the strike and makes the lead 10. Breakers - 67 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Abercrombie makes both. Breakers - 66 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Well, that's less than ideal for Perth as Johnson is pinged for a travel. New Zealand come the other way and Johnson is called for an off the ball foul. Into the bonus and Abercrombie goes to the free throw line. Looks like Prather is back into the game. Breakers - 64 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Doesn't look like Prather is coming back on straight away here. From the inbound it's massive pressure down the floor but that leaves no one in the lane and Mitchell feeds for Pledger to throw down the dunk. Breakers - 64 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Uh oh. Prather has injured his leg - whether it's a cramp or something more we can't be quite sure. Either way he looks to be struggling to walk it off and a timeout has been called on the floor. Breakers - 62 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Breakers with it through Abercrombie and he finds Loe on the outside who misses a wide open three. Kenny now looks to push the pace and this is a massive call - Kenny called for a charge on Stockton who managed to get himself set. Breakers - 62 Wildcats - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' WHAT A SHOT! Johnson straight over the defence for three. Breakers - 62 Wildcats - 57