Broken Breakers pushing through
It was a welcome sight at Breakers practice to see forward Finn Delany out of his moon boot yesterday, as the injury-depleted side battles through a tough start to its Australian NBL season.
The Breakers will play the Cairns Taipans tonight with several key players out, such has been the story of their 2019 campaign so far.
Delany said he was hoping to be back ‘‘next week’’, though coach Dan Shamir wasn’t quite as optimistic.
Forward Rob Loe, who suffered a fractured skull in the team’s recent home win over the Hawks, is expected to be out for several weeks and centre Ater Majok has been struck down by an illness.
Already severely depleted in the front court, Delany’s recovery cannot come quick enough for the Breakers who have made a 1-3 start to the year.
The 24-year-old is hopeful he can come back better than ever.
‘‘It’s been frustrating [being injured] but I’m feeling really good at the moment and am in and out of the moon boot,’’ Delany told Stuff.
‘‘I’m very confident in our medical team here and we are in constant contact. I’m hopeful to play next week and if they say I’m ready to go then I’m ready to go.’’
The ankle injury that sidelined him threatened to ground the high-flying forward for much longer. And for a player who relies on such athleticism, there was concern it would take Delany a fair chunk of the season to get back to his best.
But his time off the court has allowed the Tall Black to strengthen other areas of his game.
‘‘Honestly, it sounds strange, but this is the best I have ever felt physically,’’ he said. ‘‘Being off my feet has allowed me to further my cardio and work on other parts of my body. As soon as I can jump and land safely I’ll be back hooping and I can’t wait.’’
Shamir said despite ‘‘desperately’’ wanting to get the young forward back on the court, he wouldn’t be rushed into making any decisions.
‘‘It will be up to the medical team. I know he [Delany] wants to play, but we will see how he goes over the next while,’’ Shamir said.
It will be a small lineup that takes the floor against Cairns tonight but the Breakers have won their last three home games against the Taipans.
The match also marks the first of four games over the next 10 days for the New Zealand side.
‘‘It’s going to be a tough stretch, no doubt about that, but I’ve been happy with how the guys are competing at both ends of late,’’ Shamir said.
‘‘As long as we keep competing we will be in every game, and hopefully can get back to being a healthy side as soon as possible.’’