The Week That Was
Amp'd April began with what looked to be a heavy weight matchup between a Steelformers Airs team looking to solidify their rep as a top tier team against the top tier Wheeler Motor Company Rams. The size of the Airs posed issues early in the game but the Rams bigs figured it out and the collective outshone the individual efforts once again as the Rams locked down the Airs from the perimeter, holding them to 9% 3point shooing (2-21) while keeping Owen Foxwell (2pts, 6ast, 0-6 fg) under lock and key. Overall the Rams defense was the key, allowing just 34% shooting, while the offense kept things spread out 9 players scoring (led by Tama Isaac's 18) across a balanced offense. The Rams signaling their dominance once again with CJ Penha set to join the squad to add to the talent level , but will soon face different challenges when Tohi Smith-Milner departs until the back end of the season.
The Jadcup Auckland Tuatara and Mills Albert Wellington Saints took 2 games across the round but did so in unconvincing fashion. Auckland's arms were wide open to welcome Will 'Davo' Hickey as they took part in an early season Southern swing, Hickey's arrival did not disappoint (more on that later) while lifting the Tuatara to new heights offensively, both in transition and in the half court. it their first three games of the season they averaged a paltry 72 points per game , but since adding Rob Loe and Hickey they have won three in a row and topped 81 each time while averaging 99.5ppg since Hickey's arrival. Suddenly this team is long and athletic at every starting position while sitting at 3-3 1 game back of a 5 way tie for 2nd on the ladder , and still have Dan Fotu to come later in the season making them just as dangerous as they have been across their runners-up performances over the last three years.
The Saints would have been happy to grab their two wins to claim a spot in the traffic jam of teams sitting on four wins with two losses, but will need to scour the film to see why they are having trouble keeping big leads. Against the Bulls they looked well in control, building a 27 point 4th quarter lead as Aaron Bruce controlled the offense while Hyrum Harris and Nick Muszynski provided the backbone for the defense, but that all dried up down the stretch when the Bulls found some gritty defense and crowbarred their way back into the game. Wellington would eventually seal the win, putting the late game performance into the 'not that big of a deal' pile. But the giving up of leads late has been an issue from the opening tip of the season including when they lost to the Airs (up 8 with 3 minutes to go, lost in double ot) and game two where they beat a Giants squad after squandering a double digit 4th quarter lead. These are questions that coach Aaron Young will need to ponder, but better to be able to ponder those issues when sitting on the second rung of the league ladder.
The Saints sit on second spot by virtue of their 108 points percentage, but sit on equal record with the Whai, Airs, Hawks and Bulls while the Jets, Nuggets and Tuatara sit just one win back at 3-3 while the Sharks are still within touch distance with their 2-4 record making this week a big one for the majority of the league as they try to stay withing touch distance of the top 6 and a spot in the postseason.
But outside that group of squads that all have hope of moving up the ladder quickly sit the Indian Panthers and NBS Nelson Giants who are stuck in the caboose, winless in six and five tries. The Panthers early season struggles continue, the lineup still not at full strength and now worse off after the mid-game departure of Alex Robinson. leaving the Indian team hoping that clearance will arrive quickly for Shengze Li. But they did play their best game of the season, holding the lead in the first half and tied at 62 late in the third before the Sharks tore off 13 straight to claim the win.
The Giants also parted ways with an import, as Coach Mike Fitchett saw enough to know that a change was required, wishing Jaylen Forbes happy trails in his future after his 2-20 three point shooting across the first four games of the year hampered the squads offense. The change in lineup hasn't led to a change in results yet, going down to the Airs with a valiant effort despite being outmanned on the court, but they can take heart in the relative closeness of the final results where they were within striking distance late in a majority of the games. But time is running out on their postseason hopes and if a win doesn't come on their homecourt against the Whai this week they may be playing the role of spoiler down the stretch.
Worth a Mention
Hawks Arrivals - The Hawks pulled off somewhat of an upset on the road against previous table toppers Tauranga Whai did so with a vastly different look. The arrival of three starters has provided size in Luca Yates (9rbs), elite defense in Swako Lo-Buluk (16pts) and a do it all tool in Dan Grida (30pts, 7rbs, 3 stls). A squad that was an early season surprise behind the play of Jackson Ball and Darnell Cowart now looks like they can be more than that. A tough game in Auckland against the Tuatara will show us a bit more about both squads, but the depth of talent for the Hawks has the look of a finals squad.
Jose Perez Offensive Hub - Jose Perez has been a revelation for the Nuggets as the squad has come together more quickly than expected after pulling the squad together late in the offseason. Their surprise start (3-3) was nearly a bit better after taking a 5 point lead in the 4th quarter against the Tuatara. Don Carey Jr. (26pts, 6.2ast, 5.4rbs) has carried much of the offensive load but his freedom of movement is supplied by the gravity that Perez has in the post. Perex is a triple double threat every time he steps on the court (21.2ppg, 8.3rpg, 6apg) and though he is yet to find his range from deep he counters that with his uncanny ability to get to the free throw line (61 attempts in 6 games), making him one of the most dangerous players to cover on the low block in the league.
Davo Hickey Triple Double King - Did I mention that Hickey pulled off back to back triple doubles to start his Sal's NBL career?!?! Talk about arriving with a bang as he dropped 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his opening victory at Southland only to top that with a 31 point, 11 rebound, 10 assist performance on 66% shooting! His athleticism is elite and his effort on defense is contagious. The turnovers aren't ideal(7 and 6 in the games respectively) but they should come down once he builds some familiarity with his new squad. But some of that is built into his game and with a production like that ocach Cam Gliddon won't mind loosening the leash. Yeah, back to back triple doubles is worth a mention.
