It's been an action-packed 12 days to open the 2025 Sal's NBL season and amazingly all 12 teams have already lost a game, while the Giants, Tuatara and Panthers are still looking for their first win. Let's take a look at what we learned in week two of Mad March.
Moving On
It didn't take long for the Indian Panthers to make some adjustments with the news coach Miles Pearce had stepped down coming after just one game. The Panthers have endured a number of hurdles over the first fortnight of the season, much of which has been out of their control with the late arrival of players, however the partnership with Pearce never got going and it looks like both parties decided to call it a day. Respected Australian coach and scout Jonathan Goodman will fill the role until a replacement is found. The Panthers have shown patches of form but remain without a win after three games. A number of new players are expected to arrive in Auckland ahead of the Panthers next game on Friday night against the Whai.
Rams Look Sharp
You can probably forgive the Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams for their slow star to 2025 against the Whai, a new coach and all three imports yet to arrive, but the response since then has been clinical with a 13-point win over the Giants followed by a 36-point smashing of the Sharks. The victory against the Sharks was comprehensive and featured the talents of so many locals, in particular the Isaac brothers - Kaia and Tama. And yet again, Taylor Britt, arguably the most reliable point guard and perhaps the most admired captain in the Sal's NBL is delivering the goods. The depth of this Rams team is frighteningly good.
Young Hawks Spreading Their Wings
With coach Sam Gruggen and three star players (Grida, Lo Buluk, Yates) all still to arrive from the Illawarra Hawks, it's hard not to be impressed by what Kaine Hokianga and the Big Barrel Hawks have done over the first two weeks of the season. Sitting on top of the ladder with a 3-1 record, including a stirring comeback win against the Bulls at the Stockyard, this local crew (plus import Darnell Cowart) has taken the competition by storm. There is simply no doubt that Rapid League action a season ago has helped to propel the confidence of Jackson Ball, Jacob Murphy and Kobe Kara, while the return (from injury) of Clifton Bush III and the emerging next crop of Hawks has also been a highlight. And then you have the incoming talent of 21-year-old Campbell Scott, who somehow was let go by the Jets - the boy from Fielding has fitted in perfectly with the Hawks.
Ageing Like A Fine Red Wine
There is simply no stopping Corey Webster - the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets star is ageing like a fine red wine. At 36-years of age, the Tall Blacks centurion has had a blistering start to the season, averaging 30 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 triples per game, leading the Jets to a 2-1 record ahead of the Southern Swing this week. The only concern might be having to play 36-plus minutes per game and seemingly this might need to come down a bit as the season progresses, but right now the mercurial one is showing everyone that he's still the premier Kiwi guard in the Sal's NBL.
The Birdman Has Arrived
Early days, but it looks like the most noted high flying and athletic player in the Sal's NBL has gone to a whole new level. New Zealand's very own 'Birdman' is soaring over the competition and preying on opponents like never before - and he's only 21-years old. Of course, we speak of none other than Carlin Davison, the New Plymouth local who has become the most electric and dangerous player on the Steelformers Taranaki Airs roster. Davison is arguably an early leader for Most Improved Player (plus MVP, All Star 5) with per game averages of 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.3 steals, 1 block and 3.3 made triples @ 53%. While the Breakers have provided Davison with some fleeting opportunities in the Aussie NBL, expect interest from other teams to increase dramatically over the coming weeks and months - it feels like Davison could soon be one of the most sought-after Kiwis across the ditch.
Bulls Lack Offensive Punch
The Logik Franklin Bulls have enjoyed a solid 3-1 start to the season, they have some really good Kiwi pieces to add in Flynn Cameron and Ethan Rusbatch, and speculation continues to swirl over the possible return of 2024 star Luther Muhammad at some stage. However, coach Sebastian Gleim will be keen to make some improvements on his team's offence. After wins against the Tuatara, Whai and Panthers, the Bulls came unstuck down the stretch against the young Hawks. The Bulls led by as much as 15 points, but were overrun (23-13) down the stretch and shot just 5-of-15 in the last quarter. The sample size is small, but the Bulls have the second best defence in the competition and this already looks like a massive strength that should carry them to the playoffs, but their offence sits 7th overall, and they sit 11th for free-throw attempts per game. One other concern that comes with their high-octane defence is a league-worst 22.5 fouls per game. The good news for Bulls fans is the defence is there, which Gleim will love, and once the offence evolves and improves the Bulls will be a force.
Cameo Awards
We love a good cameo in the Sal's NBL and these players are worthy of some recognition. If you are new to the 'Cameo Awards' then let us explain ... a good cameo performance (worthy of some accolades) is for a player who comes off the bench and delivers the goods. Each week in What We Learned we're going to give some love to the cameo performers, the players coming off the bench and making a big impact. This week's list of Cameo Awards also includes a standout cameo in the Rapid League.
The Bench Factor
Every coach craves depth in their squad. Player and positional depth help to counter form, injuries and opposition tactics. Depth can also provide scoring punch when a team's second unit goes up against an opposition's second unit. We are currently 17 games into the season, so like many things we are dealing with a small sample size, and we also need to factor in that coaches rotate in different ways, but here's a snapshot of what each team's bench is contributing when it comes to points scored.
Competitive Balance - Best Ever?
It has taken 12 days and 16 games for all 12 teams to lose a game this season - is that a record? When the Hawks took down the Bulls on Sundy afternoon is brought an end to a 3-game winning streak for the Bulls and also marked a loss for every team. At the other end of the scale, the Giants, Tuatara and Panthers are all still searching for a first win.
