Can Webster snap out of his form slump?
The Corey Webster conundrum hangs over the Breakers ahead of a pivotal clash tonight against the Illawarra Hawks in Hamilton.
Kevin Braswell’s men snapped their five-game Australian NBL losing skid in Cairns last Sunday to improve to 5-8, and can make further inroads with a homeaway-from-home victory over former star Cedric Jackson and the Hawks at Claudelands Arena (tipoff 7.20pm).
It’s a game with plenty riding on it as the 6-8 Hawks are one of four teams, along with the Breakers, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers, all within one loss of each other seemingly battling for the fourth and final playoff spot even at this halfway stage of the season.
Every game they play against each other from here on in carries double significance in what’s expected to be a battle to the play-offs.
It’s why Webster’s dramatic form slump hovers over the Breakers as they look to get on a winning run and firm their position in the playoff pecking order. He was one of their key off-season signings and was recruited to provide a solid scoring thrust from the shooting guard position.
The problem is over the past five games Webster is providing less a spark than a damp whimper. Since he exploded for 31 points in the defeat to Melbourne in Invercargill he has managed just 21 points at 4.2 a game, while shooting 20 per cent from the floor and 19 from beyond the arc.
Coach Braswell, who recruited Webster heavily and backed himself to get the best out of the attimes troubled Tall Blacks star, puts his star’s slump down to fatigue, nothing more, nothing less, and remains confident a turnaround is only a game away.
‘‘He’s been going all year round with no break, and at some point it catches up with you,’’ Braswell told Stuff. ‘‘He went to China [after Israel] and played maybe 40 games in three months. It happens. Even Pat [Richard] has been in a slump the last couple games.’’
Braswell said he would further ponder his rotations, after the decision to bench Webster and start Richard hardly set the world on fire. Not only has Webster been misfiring, but Richard has a combined 5 points on 2-of-13 shooting over his last two outings as a starter.
The Cairns victory did throw up some positives. The dynamic Jarrad Weeks is on a tear with four straight double-figure outings and a combined 36 points over the last two. Braswell said Weeks’ play has been ‘‘unbelievable’’ as he’s embraced the energy role off the bench.
‘‘I kept telling him just to be aggressive, just be you, the guy I’ve watched from Illawarra to Cairns, and then play so well in the New Zealand NBL. He’s done that week after week in training and now it’s transferring across to games.’’