High praise for ‘explosive’ Ili
After 250 games in the Australian National Basketball League, Tom Abercrombie has pretty much seen it all.
But even the springy Breakers small forward admits he has been pleasantly surprised by the impact his young Tall Blacks team-mate Shea Ili has had through the club’s charge to equal top spot on the points table with a 4-1 record.
A career outing from Ili in Brisbane on Thursday night was the principal factor in an outstanding 101-96 victory over Andrej Lemanis’ Bullets, completing a two-game road trip that opened with a seismic upset in Melbourne on Sunday and ended with the Breakers remaining neck and neck with the Perth Wildcats up at the top of the table.
The Kiwi club is on a four-game win streak since an opening defeat to Cairns at home, and now returns to Auckland with the best part of a week to prepare for a visit from the dangerous Adelaide 36ers next Thursday.
Ili was the difference-maker in Brisbane, helping Abercrombie mark his 250th game for the club on the most positive of notes. The 25-year-old Tall Blacks star from the recent Fiba Asia Cup (where he earned All-Star Five honours) notched a career-best, and game-high, 23 points, converting seven of his 11 shots, three of four from beyond the arc, six of eight from the line, and adding a pair of boards and assists for good measure.
He was part of a 47-point effort from the bench brigade, and his ability to create havoc off the middle on-ball screen has the league abuzz with talk that he just may be the best backup point guard in the competition, as well as early frontrunner for most improved honours (averaging 11.8 points and 2.4 assists off the pine). His plus/minus in Brisbane was a team-high +15.
‘‘It’s just his confidence,’’ said Abercrombie from Brisbane when asked about Ili’s improvements. ‘‘He’s always had the athletic ability, but now he’s showing that real poise you want out of your point guard, making great decisions out of the on-balls.
‘‘That’s been a strength of ours so far, working out of those middle on-balls, and he and Edgar [Sosa] have done a fantastic job making great decisions. Shea is continuing to get better and better, and he’s a tough cover because, as he showed last night, he can step back and shoot that three-ball, and is really explosive getting to the rim as well.’’
Abercrombie also understands the value of two statement road victories achieved without veteran shooting guard Kirk Penney who has been attending to family matters after the recent death of his father Paul.
‘‘It’s been a huge week for us. We’re really happy with how we responded and some of the traits we’re starting to show. Our toughness, intensity and discipline was really good. We’re sharing the ball and attacking the basket and we’re establishing some really good things.
‘‘Two road wins gives us a lot of confidence. Now it’s about not getting complacent, knowing how we’ve got here, the things we’ve done well and continuing to do them game-in, game-out. There’s no respite, and it just gets tougher and tougher each game.’’
The ability to back up on the natural high of Melbourne and grind out a win from nine down midway through the third quarter in Brisbane also said plenty about the mental toughness of this Breakers outfit who had to stave off a spate of early fouls for their starters as well.
Plus, it wasn’t a bad way to celebrate his 250th, with Abercrombie contributing his usual heady effort, with 13 points and three boards, alongside 19 points and five assists from Sosa, and a dozen points each from Rob Loe (off the bench) and DJ Newbill.
‘‘The NBL brought up a few old memories before the game on Twitter with my first bucket 250 games, and 10 years, ago which was quite cool. It’s gone by in flash. I can still remember that first game.
‘‘The first thing that comes to mind is how lucky I am to have played 250 games for a Breakers club dear to my heart. I feel honoured to represent them for so long, it’s a special thing for me and hopefully there’s many more to come.’’