Breakers as late surge in vain
‘‘It will be somewhat of a disappointment [to not qualify]. We expected to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season. We’ve had to overcome a lot and like coach [Dan Shamir] said we took care of business [against the Phoenix],’’ Hopson said.
‘‘We’ve had a season of ups and downs and I think guys stayed resilient throughout the year. We’re just going to let the chips fall the way they may.’’
The chips didn’t fall the Breakers way and they’ll reflect on an eventful season, where they stormed home, playing some tremendous basketball over the back half of the season.
Friday’s win over South East Melbourne was the Breakers’ sixth in their last seven games.
Had the Breakers edged into the top four and faced top seed Sydney, Hopson believed they could have been a handful.
‘‘I think we could do a lot. I think we can win some games – win a lot of games.
‘‘I put us up against anybody and I’m pretty confident in those guys in the locker room and myself and this guy right next to me [Shamir].’’
There was no shortage of drama during the Breakers’ campaign, which began when assistant coach Mike Fitchett resigned at the airport in Oklahoma City as the team were preparing to return from their pre-season NBA tour of the US in October.
The Breakers generated plenty of negative headlines when replacement import Glen Rice Jr was arrested for a bar incident and later had his contract terminated after breaching his bail conditions.
New Zealand also had to deal with the mid-season departure of standout guard Corey Webster to China and the death of muchloved manager Fata Letoa in January.
The side will take pride in the way they got their season back on track and fought to the end. They were left to rue what might have been had they picked up more wins in October and November and not left their run so late.