Loe back, Webster out for Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers aren’t expecting miracles but they’re rapt to have a further personnel boost with Tall Blacks centre Rob Loe rejoining the team for their Australian NBL campaign, starting in Melbourne tonight.
Loe played five games for the Breakers this season before deciding to return to New Zealand in February. He and wife Kelly had their first baby, a boy, in December. The experienced centre averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds before his early return home.
But, as has been the way for the Breakers this season, it is one step forward, one back, with Loe’s addition offset by the loss of star point guard Tai Webster (19.4ppg, 6.0apg) for up to a month with an Achilles injury. New Aussie signing William McDowell-White will step in as starting point guard while the younger of the Webster brothers rehabilitates his tendon.
Coach Dan Shamir told Stuff from Melbourne that the change in circumstances opened the door for a Loe return.
‘‘With the border open between the two countries, and Rob still being under contract with the Breakers for this year and the future, we decided to reintegrate him to the team,’’ he said. ‘‘Obviously with him being away from playing for so long it’s hard for us to say how this process will go, but we think anything we can do to help the team we should do.’’
Loe’s return further solidifies the Kiwi club for a potential run at a playoff spot over the back half of the season, though at 5-12 they have a lot of work to do. They have just had Corey Webster return from a long stint out with a knee injury and McDowell-White join them out of managed isolation.
Both played, and showed predictable signs of rust, in the 92-85 defeat to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on April 4 that dropped the Breakers to 5-12 for the season.
New import signing Levi Randolph, a highly regarded perimeter player who has played most recently in the NBA’s G-League, has also joined the team out of managed isolation and will make his debut tonight against Melbourne.
‘‘Levi is a very versatile player, and can a do lot of things for us,’’ said Shamir. ‘‘He can defend, also score in a variety of ways within our system ... he’s a very good piece for us. As always in situations like this he needs a few games to get used to our style. He’s experienced and we expect him to help us a lot.’’
In terms of tonight’s clash against the in-form Melbourne United (15-5), Shamir believes he has a lineup capable of rolling
the title favourites, even if Tai Webster’s absence will compromise their chances a little.
‘‘In terms of the roster we are in one of the best shapes we have been. We’ve added Corey, Will and Levi over the last week, and now we’re going to have Rob available. With the exception of Tai, we’ve got a full squad. ‘‘The issue we’re going to have to overcome is we’ve waited for quite some time to be in this position roster wise, but the other side of the coin we’ve had so many changes ... and in pro sport it’s not so easy to get the chemistry so quick, and to get everybody playing together in a very short period of time. ‘‘We’re going to have to overcome this. We have 19 more
games to play, and we need to catch a massive run.’’
The Breakers are due to head to their temporary home in Launceston, Tasmania, after tonight’s game, though are awaiting word from the NBL on a potential return to New Zealand after the recent announcement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble that is due to start on April 19.
The Kiwi club will host the Perth Wildcats next Tuesday in their first Tasmania ‘home’ game, and are also due to meet Brisbane (April 16) there as well, before heading to Perth for a clash against the defending champions (April 18).
Melbourne sit second on the standings at 15-5 and have won their last five games while the Wildcats lead the competition.