Breakers impressive but far from satisfied

Dererk Pardon bristles just a little when it’s suggested his New Zealand Breakers must feel satisfied at the 6-3 record with which they resume their Australian NBL campaign in Tasmania tonight.

The 26-year-old, 2.03-metre import centre, who has made an impressive start to his first stint in the league, exemplifies the shifting mindset at the Kiwi club which has emerged as the major surprise packet of the first part of the season. Despite sitting second on the table, the Breakers believe their best is still to come.

So, as Pardon and his teammates (minus French Next Star Rayan Rupert who has a broken wrist) jetted out for their third matchup of the campaign against the second-year 5-5 JackJumpers, quickly followed by a Sunday home clash against the Adelaide 36ers, they did so with a purpose in their stride.

Yes, the league may be abuzz over the competitiveness of the four-time champions from Auckland now they finally have a regular hoops schedule on their plate, and a balanced roster, but for them a spot at the pointy end of the playoff race means nothing until it actually means something.

‘‘I don’t think satisfied is a good word for us,’’ Pardon told Stuff before heading to Tasmania. ‘‘We understand this early period had the potential to make or break our season. If we had gone into those games lackadaisical, without the right preparation, we could be having a totally different conversation right now.

‘‘It’s still super early and we still have a lot of stuff we need to improve on both ends of the floor. That’s what we took these last two weeks to do – to get everybody healthy again, and put in the work we need to finish out this year strong.’’

If you could sum up the success of the Breakers thus far it’s that they have, alongside defending champs and pacesetters the Sydney Kings, best figured themselves out, as much as their opposition.

First-year head coach Mody Maor recruited a tough, defenceminded, team-first roster, and his players have delivered admirably. They are the league’s No 1 defensive side, holding opponents to 75 points a game at a 40% shooting clip.

They are also first in offensive rebounding, second in boards overall and third in 3-point percentage allowed.

In other words, they are making it as tough as they can for whomever they step on court against.

‘‘We sat down and established roles from the jump,’’ said Pardon. ‘‘We made sure everybody knew what they needed to do for us be a great team, and we try to maximise that every day. Wherever the team needs me to contribute, I’m there to do it.

‘‘I love this team. We have a lot of good guys, we make sure every day we compete, and that makes it easier for us in games.’’