At a glance
Breakers – by the numbers
Shea Ili 7.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 43% FG, 23% 3PT
Corey Webster 10.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 38% FG, 35% 3PT
Tom Abercrombie 8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 42% FG, 36% 3PT
Tai Wesley 14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.5 apg,
48% FG, 33% 3PT
Shawn Long 18.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.3 apg,
56% FG, 40% 3PT
Jarrad Weeks 10.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 44% FG, 40% 3PT
Patrick Richard 11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43% FG, 38% 3PT
Armani Moore 7.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 42% FG, 34% 3PT
Finn Delany 8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg,
58% FG, 39% 3PT
Also: Majok Majok (6.3 mpg, 1.9 ppg,
1.4 rpg), Jordan Ngatai (3.7 mpg, 1.1 ppg).
numbers back up their frailties with the club finishing bottom of the league in opponents’ threepoint percentage and free-throw attempts, second from bottom in opponents’ turnovers and fifth in rivals’ field goal percentage.
Where else did they come up short?
Webster, Abercrombie and Ili, all outstanding performers for the Tall Blacks, simply did not deliver.
The decision to instil Ili as the starting point guard backfired, and in a position awash with quality around the league, the Kiwi club could not compete.
Ili struggled all season on offence and when his three-point shot deserted him (23 per cent for the campaign) his driving game was compromised.
Webster (38 per cent from the floor) was also a shadow of the world-class scorer he is consistently for the national team. Partly that’s on him, and partly on Braswell’s stilted offensive system which did not create quality looks for the perimeter men.
Abercrombie had moments where he used his athleticism and all-round game effectively, but just not enough to be the influential performer he is capable of.
Long, Wesley and Weeks were the team’s best three players. Long was a powerhouse on offence and it was a great shame the Breakers failed to cash in on the qualities he brought in what will be a one-term stay.
Wesley faded a little towards the end but generally delivered with his cagey low-post game and the energetic Weeks was a revelation off the bench, unlucky not to win at least one of the sixth man and most improved awards at the league’s big night.
Delany produced enough over the back half of the season to encourage Braswell he could yet emerge as advertised and Richard was good without being great in a bench role he never really mastered.
Moore won’t be back with his limitations and Majok and Ngatai never found favour with Braswell in the rotation.
So where to now? Well, owner Matt Walsh and GM Dillon Boucher are limited to a degree with Webster, Ili, Delany, Ngatai, Abercrombie and Weeks all still contracted, along with Braswell. That leaves the three import slots and Wesley and Majok off their deals.
Wesley should be retained. That’s a no-brainer. Long won’t be back. He will make too much elsewhere off the back of that season highlight reel.
Richard, who enjoyed his stint and was a good fit, comes into the 50-50 category, while word is the club hope to offer Majok’s spot to graduating Kiwi collegian Jack Salt.
Leadership is also a major issue. The departure of Milka Vukona hurt more than anybody will acknowledge because suddenly the senior locker-room voice and guy who held everybody to account was gone. That was never replaced.
There is a lot of need in this team. And limited spots to fill it.