Rejuvenated Breakers still a work in progress

Not so long ago the Breakers’ ANBL season was a horror show; now rookie coach Kevin Braswell is talking about how ‘‘scary’’ his new-look team can become.

That’s life in professional sport, especially one as predicated on momentum as basketball. One week you’re in the midst of a five-game losing skid that threatens to derail your season; the next you’re kicking butt and taking numbers like the playoffs contender you were billed as right from the start.

The Breakers on Friday night in Hamilton cruised to a 96-79 victory over the Illawarra Hawks that extended their win- ning run to two and improves them to 6-8 at the halfway point of their season. It also confirmed import Shawn Long as one of the premier big men in this league.

There is still work to do – and plenty of it – but the Breakers are just one loss behind the fourth-placed Brisbane Bullets, who tipped over the Perth Wildcats on Friday night, and still with a realistic shot of making the playoffs. They are back in the race.

‘‘This is why I never got down when we were losing those games,’’ Braswell said of that losing skid which all came against teams in the top three. ‘‘I kept saying ‘it’s there, it’s there’, because once they start clicking we’re going to be scary.’’

The Breakers remain a work in progress but there was a lot to like about this win achieved with star recruit Corey Webster sitting out (with an ankle injury). Long was magnificent, unleashing a dunkfest on the Hawks as he made 10 of his 14 shots for 26 points, 14 rebounds and a pair of blocks. Braswell thinks he might be the best big in the league right now, which is saying something.

The rest played their roles: Jarrad Weeks (13 points) continued to provide his spark off the bench, Armani Moore (13 points, seven rebounds, two steals) chimed in there too and Pat Richard and Shea Ili found ways to contribute. The Breakers defence hustled the Hawks into a 37 percent shooting night and just 16 fouls and a plus-9 free-throw advantage shows there have been strides made there.

Braswell said a second straight dominant display from his former NBA big man didn’t shock him because he sees it every day in practice.

‘‘He’s a talented kid, and he’s maturing every week. The more he understands about leaving the officials alone with certain calls, it gets better and better.

‘‘But there is no one person who’s going to lead us to the promised land. It’s going to be a collective effort. Everyone is starting to understand their roles, and what each other’s strengths are.’’

The Breakers now have a short break for Christmas before reconvening for a December 30 visit to Adelaide – the first of back-to-back games at the 36ers.

‘‘Everyone is starting to understand their roles, and what each other’s strengths are.’’ Breakers coach Kevin Braswell