Battle of the boards crucial
BULLETS centre Tom Jervis says the rebounding against the Breakers was “unacceptable’’ and Brisbane need to muscle-up in the paint in Sydney tonight.
The Bullets fell to a 96-89 loss to the New Zealand side in Auckland on Thursday night when the biggest difference between the teams was the lopsided rebounding count (44-31) in favour of the league-leading home side.
Critically, the Breakers had 16 offensive rebounds from 36 missed shots which gifted the Kiwis 21 second-chance points.
Combined with a drop in defensive intensity, Brisbane all but shot themselves in the foot as they fell to their eighth loss from 12 outings this NBL campaign.
Ahead of the cellar-dweller clash with the Kings at Qudos Bank Arena, Jervis said rebounding would be the sharp focus in the quick turnaround between road games.
“There was good things in the (Breakers) game but in terms of where we want to be as a team, that’s unacceptable,’’ Jervis said. “We really have to come out in that Sydney game and make sure we work on it.
“That (rebounding) is what we’ve been working on the last few weeks, we’ve been doing a fantastic job and really building. It’s about locking in the defence and coming down with the rebounds.
“Winning the rebounding war puts us in a good position.’’
Jervis had 20 points against the Breakers to go with four rebounds and one assist but fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
Brisbane replaced injured big man Cameron Bairstow (knee) with a guard this season and use swingman Reuben Te Rangi more as a power forward option.
Injuries and illness have sidelined forwards Anthony Petrie and Mitch Young at various times to rob the Bullets of more rebounding power.
While health concerns have been a significant and seasonlong issue for Brisbane, Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said the team still had to bring the right mindset and intent.
“There’s a lot of good stuff that we are doing but for us it’s all about defence,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Queensland basketball community is mourning the death of former Bullets player Blair Smith.