Breakers shot down by Bullets
AUCKLAND: If you were not ready to welcome the new era of Breakers basketball before, you no longer have the choice.
With Mika Vukona lining up for the visiting Brisbane Bullets in the season opener at Spark Arena last night, any unwilling to embrace the new age were jolted into reality.
The New Zealand side rang in the new age with a hot opening quarter, as coowners Matt Walsh and exNBA star Shawn Marion watched courtside.
Unfortunately, basketball is a fourquarter game.
Leading 2114 after the opening 10 minutes for new coach Kevin Braswell, the Breakers teetered on the edge of a cliff before plunging completely off it. Outscored 2117 and 2417 in the second and third quarters respectively, things just got worse for the home team as the game went on.
With a revamped roster, it was the new additions in Shawn Long, Armani Moore, Jarrad Weeks and Patrick Richard who looked the most impressive, although their time on the court was largely limited.
Long drew the start at centre and it is hard to see him losing that spot after posting 10 points and seven rebounds as well as being one of just two Breakers who saw time on the court at the end of the game without a negative number in the plusminus column.
Recently named captain Thomas Abercrombie, the only member of last year’s starting five still with the team, was undeniably the most disappointing in the season opener.
He drained just one of five field goals and shot 50% at the charity stripe in a very forgettable 31minute performance.
While the Breakers captain went missing, Bullets leader Cameron Gliddon was everywhere. The Brisbane guard scored a gamehigh 29 points, including 15 from beyond the threepoint arc and shooting an efficient 61% from the floor.
Small forward Alonzo Gee and centre Cameron Bairstow, who both spent time in the NBA over their careers, proved to be good secondary scoring options for the visiting side, adding 13 and 14 points respectively.
On the bright side for the Breakers familiar faces, Corey Webster’s return to Spark Arena in a Breakers uniform was a welcome one. The 28yearold guard continued where he left off in the preseason showcase against the Phoenix Suns, carrying the team with 23 points, only four of which came in the final quarter, shooting 50%.
Committing more turnovers and being beaten convincingly on the offensive glass will be a concern to Braswell’s men. With plenty of strength and length on the roster, the Breakers could only collect 35 rebounds to Brisbane’s 39 — being outrebounded on the offensive end 12 to 6. — NZME