Breakers set for Sydney rematch
Two games into the new NBL season and Tom Abercrombie believes the Breakers have found their groove.
If there was a moment the 2017/18 came alive for the team, it was with 3.1 seconds to go against Sydney last Friday.
The score 85-85 when import DJ Newbill’s layup snatched the win and launched scenes of hysteria inside Spark Arena.
It was the moment where this Breakers team showed what they’re about and it was also something that could galvanise the squad for the season ahead.
‘‘It’s always good to get your first win, especially to take care of home court,’’ Abercrombie said.
‘‘We had a disappointing first game against Cairns (losing 82-71) and to get that monkey off our back and get that first win means we’ll hopefully play with more confidence and we feel like we’ve got our rhythm now.’’
The schedule has the Breakers playing Sydney again at the same venue tonight.
But while it’s two games in a row against the same side for the Breakers, Sydney squeezed in a game against Illawarra on Sunday, winning 103-87.
However, that victory came at a cost as they lost the league’s twotime MVP Kevin Lisch for a
month, picking up a calf injury.
‘‘There are a few little quirks in the draw where these things happen this year,’’ Abercrombie said.
‘‘But you’ve got to play everyone four times and playing them so close in succession, the little tactical changes and those little things make a big difference.’’
This is Abercrombie’s 10th year at the Breakers, so he’s been there for all four of their championship seasons and also the down times too.
So how does he rate the current Breakers outfit?
‘‘I’m very confident in the group and what we’re about,’’ he said.
‘‘The new American guys who’ve come in have really bought into everything.
‘‘The whole group is having fun out there and we need to make sure we translate that to the results on the court and make sure we’re playing with a lot of intensity on the court.
‘‘We’re starting to find that, it’s still a work in progress and we’re two games into the season and we’ll get better, but I like what I’ve seen so far.’’