Subdued starters searching for volume switch
BASKETBALL
THERE are some seriously miffed New Zealand Breaker starters who understand the challenge they face tonight against the Melbourne Tigers in Auckland.
Last week four-fifths of the champion Kiwi club’s starting five under-performed in a dispiriting 89-64 defeat in Perth
So, Mika Vukona is angry, Daryl Corletto is brassed off, Tom Abercrombie is hurting and Alex Pledger would be in a similar state of flux if he wasn’t so ill.
Starters play the lion’s share of minutes because they’re the bigtime contributors. But against the Cats – a defeat dropping the Breakers to 7-2 and second on the standings – mediocrity ruled from the anointed ones.
Vukona had just one rebound and shot two-for-nine in 19 minutes; Corletto went one-for-four for three points in 16; Abercrombie was twofor-six for six points and four boards in 21; while Pledger, in front of off-season tutor Luke Longley, mustered four points and a pair of boards in 15.
‘‘It was terrible,’’ a seriously irate Vukona said. ‘‘[One rebound] is pretty embarrassing. It happens but it shouldn’t happen too often.
‘‘The guys were pretty soft going into that game and we came home pretty humbled after it.’’
Corletto also put his hand up for failing to do his part.
‘‘At shootaround that morning we felt great but we got to the game and were just flat. We had nothing. The beauty of this team is that different players step up every week. I don’t think we’ve ever had a game where four starters were quiet.’’
Abercrombie continues to struggle with consistency as his longstanding ankle problem restricts his range of movement, while Pledger’s quiet night at the office was surprising after a solid run of performances. A bout of sickness this week won’t have helped as he looks to get things back on track.
The best way to respond, reckons Vukona, is in the effort areas. around their flagging season.
So far the jury’s out on Flynn’s saviour status, with the Tigers losing two of their three games since he joined them. He’s shown flashes of his pedigree, without unleashing the dominant display he seems capable of.
It’s fair to say the Breakers are wary of that possibility.
‘‘They’re got quality imports,’’ Vukona said. ‘‘Seth Scott can shoot from anywhere and is a big body, and nobody’s really seen what Flynn can do, but for some reason teams tend to have their A game against us. ‘‘We’ve got to be ready for that.’’ Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis has made it clear he doesn’t want his star point guard Cedric Jackson indulging in a one-on-one showdown with Flynn but understands the Tigers’ new point guard is the key to their challenge.
‘‘The ball is in his hands a lot,’’ Lemanis said. ‘‘If you can nullify his impact on the game it’s going to give you a better opportunity to win for sure.’’