AT A GLANCE
One down, three to go. The Breakers’ ANBL playoff equation is a simple one, even if their pathway presents as a much more complicated traverse.
After last weekend’s heartbreaking one-point defeat in Perth, Dan Shamir’s Aucklandbased side stepped on to the metaphorical playoff tightrope. One misstep and their ambitions would take the proverbial plunge.
Heading into Friday’s Spark Arena season finale in Auckland against the Adelaide 36ers, the Breakers had to win all four of their remaining regular season games to avoid back-to-back playoff whiffs for the first time since 2007.
They comfortably took care of the first part of that challenge, outgunning the Sixers 113-89 behind a 31-point explosion from Tom Abercrombie to move to 12-13 for the season. They remain locked in a tight battle with the Brisbane Bullets (13-11) and Melbourne United (12-12) for the fourth and final post-season spot.
The Breakers must get to 15 wins to have any shot at the final playoff berth, and also hope Brisbane and Melbourne lose enough of their remaining games
(13-11): v Melbourne (h), NZ (h), Perth (a), Cairns (h). Best finish: 17-11.
(12-12): v Brisbane (a), Illawarra (h), Cairns (h), SEM (a). Best finish: 16-12.
(12-13): v Illawarra (a), Brisbane (a), SEM (h). Best finish: 15-13.
to fall shy of that mark. It’s a tricky scenario in which points percentage could also come into the equation, should two or more teams finish on the same record.
It’s why at the end of a blowout on Friday night that Breakers coach Shamir kept his starters on court to play it out to the predictable end, rather than rest them up ahead of today’s visit to Illawarra.
‘‘We’re locked in a tight battle for that fourth spot and every point could matter,’’ noted Abercrombie afterwards. ‘‘That’s why we stayed out there, to try extend that lead out a little bit more.’’
The Breakers are dialled very much into a one game at a time mentality. Next up are the undermanned Hawks today – a game they should win comfortably. After that comes a pivotal visit to Brisbane before the season wraps up against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Christchurch.
‘‘We know there are still a number of steps along the way to get there,’’ added Abercrombie, who drilled seven three-pointers from 11 attempts in his game-high haul against the Sixers. He was 11 of 16 overall and finished just two points off his career best.
‘‘It’s good to start off the weekend with a good win and build confidence and hopefully go to Illawarra and pick up another one.’’
If the Breakers play like they did on Friday night they should have few issues with the 5-20 Hawks who are largely running with their younger brigade at this stage of the season. Their eye is now very much on the future.
There was a lot to like about the Breakers on Friday. They moved the ball really well – a hallmark of their play since Corey Webster departed – and knocked down shots with stunning efficiency. They went at a 57 per cent clip overall and made a sizzling, and club record, 20 triples (from 37 attempts). Abercrombie had solid support from Finn Delany (21 points, 10 rebounds), Sek Henry (18 points) and Scotty Hopson (13 points), while Jarrad Weeks, Jordan Ngatai and Tom Vodanovich chipped in with handy minutes off the bench.
Ngatai provided one of the highlights of the season when he picked Jerome Randle’s pocket and then raced downcourt to finish with an ‘‘Air Jordan’’ dunk.
‘‘Part of their job is to keep working and stay ready,’’ said Delany of the contributions of the bench brigade.
‘‘Credit to both [Ngatai and Vodanovich] as that’s exactly what they’ve done all season long.’’
The Breakers also did some positive things defensively on Friday. After Daniel Johnson got away on them with 20 first-half points, they kept him to just four after the break. They limited Randle to just 10 points and dangerous forward Eddie Griffin to a mere four on just three shots.
More of the same will be required all the way home.
RACE FOR 4TH Brisbane
Melbourne
New Zealand