Durant stars
The Golden State Warriors had something to prove all right: Oh yes, they plan to stay on top in these playoffs despite a disappointing finish to the regular season. Kevin Durant helped the defending champions get defensive in a hurry, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and the Warriors returned to their old dominant selves at playoff time to beat the cold-shooting San Antonio Spurs 113-92 in Oakland yesterday. ‘‘Absolutely,‘‘ Klay Thompson said about playing a memorable, statement-making game one. ‘‘We did not end the season on a high note, we kind of hobbled into the playoffs. We know how talented we are. We know how good we are. We have been here before in the postseason and know what it takes to win.’’
Southby was asked if that would bring about her resignation.
‘‘At this stage, I don’t make decisions in the heat of the battle we’ve all got to go home and have a look.
‘‘There’s lot of reasons for the situation we’re in and we’ve all got to have a good look at it, take ownership of whatever learnings going forward.
‘‘We go home, we get a chance to reflect and look at everything and there’ll be a full review process and I guess decisions will be made about the future.’’
Southby is contracted to end of 2019 World Cup, but has just 20 wins from 38 matches in charge of the national side and two wins over Australia from 13 games.
Netball NZ is set to hold a preplanned review post-games, expected to be completed by end of May.
The Ferns trailed 15-11 at quartertime and 29-27 at the major break, with New Zealand shooting a lowly 68 per cent and Jamaica a lofty 91 per cent.
New Zealand fought back and grabbed their first lead of the match three minutes into the penultimate quarter but Jamaica responded with some inspired defence to draw away to a 46-39 advantage with 15 minutes to play. NZ drew to within four with 5:12 to play but Jamaica held their nerve.
Southby bemoaned a lack of consistency from her side.
‘‘When we’re good we’re good, but we don’t put that across the full 60 minutes, and that’s be a challenge for a while,’’ she said.
‘‘We’ve identified it, we’ve worked on it - it’s that ability to take ownership of what you have to do out there consistently. With bad patches, you just get punished for it.’’
Jamaica began with more spring in their step. They cherished the prospect of bronze, whereas it was always going to be a sour after-taste for New Zealand.
With starting goal shoot Te Paea Selby-rickit bedridden with a virus, New Zealand started Bailey Mes in her place. Mes again struggled with her shooting and was subbed in the third quarter for Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
The Ferns also had to make another enforced change when goal keep Temalisi Fakahokotau landed awkwardly on her ankle late in the first quarter and hobbled off, to be replaced by Kelly Jury.
Fakahokotau had been gallantly battling powerhouse goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler-reid and did so again when she returned five minutes into the second quarter - so much so that service to Fowler-reid began to go astray and she was substituted for veteran Romelda Aiken.
New Zealand suffered another injury in that spell to centre Shannon Francois, seeing Sam Sinclair switch to centre and Claire Kersten come on at wing defence.
Southby summed up the campaign as ‘‘not the happiest, not the best.’’
‘‘I think the girls have stuck together to keep fighting.
‘‘Their best on a regular basis hasn’t been what we wanted it to be and ... disappointing, massive learning curve. There’s a lot of young girls in the group - eight new girls and that’s tough in an environment like this when you’re playing experienced teams - teams that have been on the rise for a while.’’
What would she say to the fans? ‘‘We’re as devastated as they are.
‘‘There’s a lot of exciting young talent coming through and they’ll get gains from this and they’ll come back stronger and tougher.’’ But for now, just more pain. ‘‘These things always hurt a couple of days later too.
‘‘It stings right now but the hurt sets in and it’s not nice.’’
Hager a proud Kiwi now P13