NBL Showdown: New format tips-off
The seven team, NBL Showdown, tips off tonight, running for the next six weeks. BRENDON EGAN assesses how the sides stack up.
AUCKLAND HUSKIES Coach: Kevin Braswell
Squad: Izayah MauriohoohoLe’afa, Tohi Smith-Milner, Leon Henry, Taine Murray, Rashid AlKaleem, Tinashe Matambanadzo, Ana Haku, Johnny Fesolai, Marvin Williams-Dunn, Jaylen Gerrand, Nick Brophy, Nathan Wilson.
TAB title odds: $3.70
The lowdown: Point guard Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa returns after a four-year college stint at Sacramento State University and will be a crucial figure for the Kevin Braswellcoached Huskies. Pronounced ‘Mo-dee-oh-ho-ho Lee-ah-fuh’, the 23-year-old is the son of former NBL point guard George Le’afa, and looks set to make a major impact. Add in improved power forward Tohi Smith-Milner, NBL stalwart Leon Henry, rising teenage talent Taine Murray, and the experience of Rashid AlKaleem, the Breakers’ director of player development, it’s not hard to see why the Huskies are title favourites at the TAB. ‘‘I’m expecting a fast team. They’re young, they’re energetic, they’ll be fast, pretty dynamic, and a lot of the workload will rely on some young shoulders,’’ Kiwi hoops legend Dillon Boucher toldStuff.
FRANKLIN BULLS Coach: Liam Simmons
Squad: Dom Kelman-Poto, Sam Timmins, Everard Bartlett, Jackson Stubbins, Isaac Davidson, Nick Barrow, Joel Vaiangina, Nikau McCullough, Connor Woodbridge, Joe Reddish, Chris McIntosh, DruLeo Leusogi-Ape.
TAB title odds: $4.50
The lowdown: The first-year Franklin Bulls’ hopes will rest heavily on the ‘big three’ of 2.01m forward Dom Kelman-Poto, centre Sam Timmins, and NBL veteran Everard Bartlett. Boucher says Kelman-Poto is in the best shape of his career and will be a handful during the NBL Showdown. All eyes will be on the 23-year-old Timmins, who returns following fours years at the University of Washington, where he played in 132 games for the division one Pac-12 Huskies. Bartlett is among the senior statesmen of New Zealand basketball at 34, debuting for the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in 2005. A reliable three-point shooter, Bartlett will provide the Bulls with strong scoring punch.
TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS
Coach: Doug Courtney
Squad: Derone Raukawa, Marcel Jones, Shane Temara, Tai Wynyard, Mitch Dance, Francis Mulvihill, Kenneth Tuffin, Denhym Brooke, Zach Easthope, Oscar Robertson, Carlin Davison, Baxter Fenwick.
TAB title odds: $10 The lowdown: The Mountain Airs might be the least favoured team at the TAB, but Boucher expects them to pick up some wins. ‘‘I think they’ve got two of the best scorers in the league in Marcel Jones and Derone Raukawa. I think they’ll be a team that can definitely put the ball in the hole.’’ Jones, a USborn, naturalised Kiwi, could lead the league in scoring and always hauls down plenty of boards. Few players have more to prove than Tai Wynyard. Still only 22, Wynyard was once dubbed the next Steven Adams when he headed to the University of Kentucky in 2016, but hasn’t lived up to that lofty billing. ‘‘It hasn’t panned out the way he wanted it to, but he’s a man mountain, and he’s got some size on his side,’’ Boucher says. ‘‘Being a smaller league, he should impose himself on this league as well.’’
MANAWATU JETS Coach: Tim McTamney
Squad: Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris, Jayden Bezzant, Taane Samuel, Nick Fee, Haize Walker, Tia Temata-Frost, Ashton McQueen, Matangirei Hipango, Josiah Laracy, Nelson Kirksey, Kalib Mullins.
TAB title odds: $9
The lowdown: The Manawatu Jets are Boucher’s tip for the title. They struck gold in the NBL Showdown draft, landing Tall Black and Breakers forward Tom Vodanovich in the
first round, then forward Hyrum Harris in the second. Vodanovich will be one of the best players and Harris, who has made huge strides in the past few years, could also take the tournament by storm. ‘‘I think they’ve got their core group together, and then they’ve added some great pieces to it. [Vodanovich and Harris], I think they’re two of the up-and-coming players in the league.’’ Boucher expects guard Jayden Bezzant, back from Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho, to thrive. ‘‘He’s a dynamic player that New Zealanders don’t know a lot about. They’ll know his name after this tournament for sure.’’
NELSON GIANTS
Coach: Mike Fitchett
Squad: Mika Vukona, Mike Karena, Dane Brooks, Tom Ingham, Josh Bloxham, Nic Trathen, Riley Bensemann, Tysxun Aiolupotea, Zeb Lovell, Thane O’Leary, Theo Johnson, Tommy Garguilo.
TAB title odds: $8
The lowdown: New Zealand basketball great Mika Vukona’s presence is a huge boost for the Giants. Between Vukona and big man Mike Karena, the Giants will be formidable defensively and with their rebounding. Point guard Josh Bloxham returns to the Giants after several years away, and he’ll be important in orchestrating the offence. Guard Dane Brooks, who was set to play for Southland this season, after impressing at Taranaki, was a nice addition in the draft. ‘‘A lot will come down to their guards and what a few of their guards can do,’’ Boucher says. ‘‘Any team that has Mika on it, you can never discount. He’ll die for
‘‘Any team that has Mika on it, you can never discount.’’ Dillon Boucher
NBL Showdown pundit
this Nelson Giants team.’’
CANTERBURY RAMS Coach: Mick Downer
Squad: Taylor Britt, Alex Talma, Sam Smith, Toby Gillooly, Jack Exeter, Tom Cowie, Thomas Webley, Mac Stodart, Ben Carlile-Smith, Mason Whittaker, (two players TBC).
TAB title odds: $4.50
The lowdown: Canterbury’s NBL Showdown title odds have taken a hit over the past week with Tall Blacks centre Jack Salt, a 2019 NCAA title winner at the University of Virginia, ruled out of the tournament through injury. It was a double blow for the Rams with guard Joe Cook-Green also succumbing to injury, leaving Canterbury without two vital cogs. The Rams will be working frantically behind the scenes to line up a replacement for Salt, but finding a player of his ability won’t be easy. Without Salt and Cook-Green (both knee), Canterbury will need point guard Taylor Britt, Alex Talma, Sam Smith, and the rest of their young core to lead the way. ‘‘I feel like the Rams, their upper hand is that they’ve been able to train together. They’ve pretty much had their full roster together,’’ Boucher says.
OTAGO NUGGETS
Coach: Brent Matehaere
Squad: Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt, Kane Keil, Josh Aitcheson, Benoit Hayman, Darcy Knox, Richie Rodger, Sam Aruwa, Akiva McBirney-Griffin, Jack Andrew, Matthew Bardsley.
TAB title odds: $6.50
The lowdown: The Otago Nuggets joined the NBL Showdown at late notice and will be an intriguing outfit in Auckland. They had a fantastic draft, landing forward Jordan Ngatai with the first pick, then somehow scooping up veteran point guard Jarrod Kenny in the second round. The Tall Blacks duo will be leaders on court for the Nuggets and make their team-mates better. ‘‘You couldn’t script it any better if you’re the Otago Nuggets, picking up Jordan Ngatai and Jarrod Kenny, two very established Tall Blacks to start your roster,’’ Boucher says. The Nuggets have a handy collection of homegrown talents with guard Benoit Hayman, who has been playing pro ball in Switzerland, one to watch. He is a deadly three point shooter and one to watch.