Image: Richard Connelly
The Week that Was
The Rams are Deeeeep!! And they still have 2 import spots and Walter Brown to come back healthy? Canterbury kicked off their season with a lackadaisical performance where they went down to the Whai 86-70, raising eyebrows about their chase for a third straight title. Since that game the Rams are 3-0 and have outscored opponents 309- 242 (an average of 103-81), and this having added a single import for just the last game. Taylor Britt's (21.8ppg, 4.5ast, 1.25stls on 53%fg, 42% 3pfg adn 100%ft) early season improvement on an All Star 5 season is notable but no more so than the leap of Tama Isaac(18.8ppg, 4.3rb, 5.25ast) or the overall play of note from Tohi Smith-Milner, Max Darling or Kaia Isaac and the wider playing group. Quinn Clinton has them playing with great pace on defense and when running through actions in the half court when great transition opportunities aren't available. They have the second most efficient offense (56%efg), second highest steal rate (12%) and highest offensive rebound rate keeping the scoreboard ticking over even when they've been tamed by opposition defenses. The 4th lowest defensive rebounding rate (72%) and 2nd worst free throw rate (23%) will be tested against the Airs massive front line, but with Walter Brown and the remaining restricted players yet to be added in the mix, the two-time defending champs have put the league on notice again.
On the other end of the spectrum you have the NBS Nelson Giants and Indian Panthers yet to win a game and the Jadcup Tuatara and Southland Sharks just 1 win better. Auckland seems on the mend thanks to a prescription of Rob Loe and a dash of soon to arrive Will Hickey (not to mention Dan Fotu down the road) while the Sharks showed signs of improvement as they snapped out of their two game -efense funk (forgot the D after giving up 142 points in two games) and came ever so close to getting the win in their home opener before going down by 3, The Panthers were expected to struggle and that has been compounded with the delays to the full roster formation, making their winless March less than surprising. But the Giants start 0 for March record has boxed them into a corner with a flourishing Airs squad coming to town.
Dyanmic Duo's
Duo's across the League have been elite, some carrying their teams to surprise early season success. So I pulled together an incomplete list of the best combos Adjusted plus minus' across the league, with the caveat that you have to be at least .500 to make the list. Using adjusted plus minus as a lazy way to rank teams best, but sprinkling in some eye test as well. 50 possessions minimum and advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
Whai - The first place Whai analytics say Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Sean Bairstow (52.8) are the duo most responsible for the squads success, but Chris Jones has willed the club to more than one victory while Carter Hopoi's vertical play is integral to their play.
Rams - The Rams have the adjusted 2-man duo in the league, Max Darling and Tama Isaac (65.6 adjusted +/-) with the Darling and Kaia Isaac (48.4) the 11th highest rank. The trio has helped power Canterbury to third on the ladder with a 3-1 record but I would think that Taylor Britt would have a bit to do with things but the squad seems more reliant on the collective than any duo.
Jets- Unsurprisingly league leading scorer Corey Webster is in Manawatū's best two lineups, that crack 20 and 21 on the list. His partnership with Kenny Goins a plus 41 and with Miles Gibson 40.5. When Gibson and Webster are both going the Jets offense reaches new speeds. Eric Williams top flight athleticism on the wing might be the ingredient that makes it all work.
Airs- Taranaki has six of the top seven adjusted lineups on the list with Armon Fletcher and Jack Andrew (62) their best and second in the league, Owen Foxwell joining Andrew as the Air that shows up most. Carlin Davison and Harry Froling might be the most physically and athletically imposing duo in the league, especially with Andrew in the mix.
Hawks - Jackson Ball and Clifton Bush III are tops on the Hawks stats chart (26.5) but they don't crack the leagues top 30. Darnell Cowart and Ball have found ways to lift each others games early in the year and have put the most pressure on defenses, which will only increase when Swaka Lo Buluk arrives.
Nuggets - Don Carey Jr and Matthew Bardsley are Otago's highest rank (12.4) but they play through Jose Perez and Carey Jr with more regularity. With Perez's number of post touches he could almost be a offense upon himself. With Todd Withers exit the balance will be changing.
Saints - Hyrum Harris and Shaun Bruce top the chart with 52 and that makes sense, but the defensive backbone could be the Harris Nick Muszynski pairing. The Saints still have some shuffling of their own to do so the combos are yet to finalise.
Bulls- This is another team that doesn't seem duo based but more in the Rams total squad mode Rueben Te Rangi and Til Gloger (44) have played their way to the top pairing of the squad but surely Tae Hardy would have to feature. And it wouldn't seem long until its a Flynn Cameron/Hardy backcourt pairing that lifts things on the defensive end.
Worth a Mention
Carlin Davison Triple Double - Have I not mentioned this yet? The first triple dub of the season came with his 15 point, 11 rebound, 10 assist performance. His Passing ability taking a leap this season with his 5.8 assists second on the squad to Owen Foxwells 9.7 per game but he leads the squad with 25 points per game and contributes 8.5 boards as well as hitting 52% from three on 23 attempts. He threads the needle a bit too often on the pass, but his improving decision making is another sign of his development across the board.
Liam Judd's Trey Ball- The Giants haven't gotten the wins they've been looking for but it hasn't been because of a lack of shooting from Judd. He's dropped 10 of 14 three's this season, at a fiery 71%, the second highest clip in the league for any player shooting at least 1 three a game (second to Sam Smith's 5-6 @ 83% which isn't too shabby either).
Max Darling Off the Bench - Max Darling finished with 20pts, 3rbs, 2ast and 2 steals in the Rams convincing win over the Saints but it was his first half off the bench that set the tone with 17 points that featured deep trey's, rim rattling dunks and activity off the glass. Performing like that after being asked to give up a starting spot even more impressive.
Dontae Russo-Nance- No Webster? No Problem for the Jets who have a young guard who can do a fair impression of the missing guard he considers an older brother he looks up to. Russo Nance hit big buckets down the stretch of the Jets win against the Sharks, responding down the stretch after an Alonzo Burton triple cut the lead to 75-76 with 5 minutes left by scoring 9 of Manawatū's 12 points down the stretch. Just starting to sniff his prime his 35 point, 5 rebound 4assistl 3 steal performance is definitely worth a mention.
