Turnover Nightmare For Hawks
A major flaw was uncovered in the big Good Friday clash between the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets and the Big Barrel Hawke's Bay Hawks where the latter succumbed to 20 turnovers. As if the 20 turnovers weren't problem enough, the bigger issue for Sam Gruggen was the inability of his Hawks to limit the damage from those turnovers, with the Jets landing an incredible 34 points from the Hawks' mistakes. Hawks import Darnell Cowart, who averages over 4 assists per game, did deliver another 6 dimes, but he also contributed 9 turnovers to his team's total of 20. Whether it was by accident or design, the Jets flooded Cowart defensively, limiting his space every time he had the ball in his hands - and it worked.
When Enough Isn’t Good Enough
The Night n Day Otago Nuggets did everything but win against the Wheeler Motor Company Rams on Easter Sunday. Having led by as much as 13 points, the Nuggets went down in a thrilling overtime contest, but it was even more grueling given Don Carey Jr missed a go-ahead lay-up on the overtime buzzer. In what was a let-off for the Rams, the loss could be a telling blow for the 3-6 Nuggets as they continue to drift further way from playoff contention. Talk about a heartbreaker.
Sharks Return To Predator Mode
The Southland Sharks swam north and got their season back on track with wins against two top 4 teams, the Northern Group Tauranga Whai and Logik Franklin Bulls. With Sam Timmins still to come, the Sharks looked like a unified team, much like we saw back in their opening game of the season against the Nuggets. Relentless defence and some hot shooting, along with much better decision-making, proved to be the catalyst for two memorable wins (against the odds). And how about that Keylan Boone and Josiah Allick combination!
Bulls Stumble … Badly
Sal’s NBL fans were left completely perplexed by the Bulls on Easter Saturday when they lost to the Sharks, at the Stockyard, by a staggering 43 points. In one of their worst performances since joining the competition back in 2020, the Bulls waved the white flag and looked a shadow of themselves. What must be a worry for coach Seb Gleim, and similar to what we saw for three quarters in Wellington when the Bulls trailed by as much as 27 points - when things turned pear-shaped against the Sharks, it was ugly. The Bulls are a very good team, and all credit to the Sharks for their red-hot performance, but the cracks were there for all to see and some deeper examination on the Bulls might be needed. What we do know right now is that when the Bulls lose momentum, it can go horrendously wrong.
Jets On The Verge Of Something Special
It’s fair to say that fans of the Property Brokers Manawatū Jets have been starved of success for many, many years. With no championships and only two (losing) grand finals to their name, the Jets have too often been cemented to the lower rungs of the ladder. However, this year’s group of fighter pilots look good, and Good Friday’s win over the Big Barrel Hawke’s Bay Hawks was all class. Sitting at 5-4 and with home games against the Whai, Panthers and Giants coming up, the skies literally are the limits for the Jets. We could be looking at an 8-4 record heading into the Trade Window. But with all of that said - good health is the glaring ‘must’ for the Jets given the big minutes their core six players are playing. So far, so good.
Giants Cut Down To Size
Six weeks into season 2025 and the NBS Nelson Giants are seemingly out of finals contention. At 0-7, the Giants will need to win at least 12 of their remaining 15 games to make the top 6, and that is highly unlikely based on what we have seen from them so far this season. For an organisation that usually nails import signings, this year has been a big miss with both Jaylen Forbes and Brice Johnson already shown the door. Easter Monday's 40-point loss to the Saints was a new low - the Giants were within 6 points at the half before being blown away 62-28 in the second half. While Cal McRae is expected to arrive shortly, a new import is also rumoured, and Callum Dalton set to depart after his short-term contract, the musical chairs will continue for the 11th-placed Giants for a little while longer.
One Tough Question For Rams
It’s extremely hard to knock anything about the Rams - when you’ve won the last two championships and currently have a 7-2 record, finding fault just seems like creating an argument for the sake of wanting one. However, the one area of concern for coach Quinn Clinton that must be somewhere in the back of his mind is how on earth is he going to keep everyone on his roster fed and happy? Loaded with an embarrassment of riches, in Sunday’s nail-biting overtime win against the Nuggets, the Rams had Max Darling (ANBL - Breakers), Kaia Isaac (ANBL - Breakers), CJ Penha (import) and Tama Isaac (young star on the rise and Rams’ second top scorer this season) all coming off the bench. Those same four players would arguably get starting gigs elsewhere. Keeping this squad happy and fully bought-in to the three-peat chase is a big job and arguably the toughest obstacle the Rams might face this season.
A New Rapid Record
A tip of the hat to Tyson Thata-Paese after his 26-point Sky Broadband Rapid League haul on Good Friday. The points total is a new single-game record in Rapid and adds to Thata-Paese's mantle as the competition's all-time leading scorer. With the Trade Window fast approaching, and minutes hard to come by in the Sal's NBL playing behind Corey Webster and Dontae Russo-Nance, it wouldn't be surprising at all if a few teams give Thata-Paese a call to ask if he would like more opportunity?
