Delany optimistic as Breakers visit Sydney
Finn Delany wants the New Zealand Breakers to lean into their underdog status for tonight’s post-season eliminator in Sydney against the back-to-back champion Kings.
The Tall Blacks forward, who is fit again after back spasms kept him out of the regular season finale in Adelaide, had more than a glint in his eye before boarding the plane for Sydney this week for a sudden-death eliminator between last year’s grand finalists.
The clubs arrive at this juncture because they have had less than consistent campaigns, both finishing on 13-15 and the Kings pipping the Breakers for fifth on their superior points percentage – even if they did lose 12 of their last 18 since starting the season 7-3.
But with the Breakers looking underpowered on offence since they lost star forward Anthony Lamb for the season to an Achilles rupture, the Kings at home, and fresh off a 122-67 mauling of the Phoenix to round out their regular season, most of the buzz favours the defending champions progressing to the play-in finale against the loser of the third v fourth qualifier.
“It is my kind of game, our kind of game, and we’re really up for it,” said Delany, who pronounced himself over the back issue that saw him miss his 11th game of a frustrating season in Adelaide.
The Fiba break ahead of the finals proved a godsend for the Breakers, with Will McDowell-White also looking to shake off a shoulder issue against the Sixers.
“They have strong characteristics,” added Delany of a Kings side that won two of three against the Breakers in ’23-24, including both in Sydney.
“They’re a fast-paced team, and play very free-flowing. This is no secret. More than anything, it’s about us, and what version of us we get. The best version of ourselves is one of the best teams in the league, so we’ll be trying to come out of the gates hot and put it on them.”
Mody Maor’s Breakers are not without hope. They won the championship series opener in Sydney last season to put the cat among the pigeons, and also won there in the last of their Covid seasons on the road (a game Delany played in, and recalls like it was yesterday).
Also, arguably their signature performance of this season came on the road when they rolled the red-hot Wildcats in Perth when Lamb went down after playing just 8 minutes.
“It’s a nice arena – a good place to play,” said the 28-year-old Kiwi of the Qudos venue, which will be packed. “I think in all those situations we were seen as the underdog. It’s a characteristic we kind of lean into. That we like. Any real competitor likes that kind of environment.’’
Having Delany back is key. McDowell-White even more so. With Lamb out, the Breakers have little margin for error and need all their pieces in the top eight contributing.
With McDowell-White’s ability off the dribble and size at the point, Delany believes they tick enough boxes to provide more than nuisance value for the Kings.
“We have an extremely competitive bunch, and we went through periods where people weren’t happy with where we were. When your expectations are high and you’re not playing up to that standard, it’s frustrating. We’ve come out of that, and we’ve put ourselves into a position to see what we’re capable of. It’s exciting.”