Sydney Kings 82-69 NZ Breakers

The win streak is over for the Breakers, after they went down in Sydney. The kiwi side had beaten the Kings at Vector last week, but looking for their sixth consecutive win they floundered in the second half.

Here’s the thing, though: The Breakers played every bit well enough to win this game. They defended very well, limiting Josh Childress about as much as is humanly possible. There was a slight Childress-shaped advantage on the boards for the Kings but hardly a chasm, while the passing was at times visionary and turnovers weren’t much of a factor. There was just the one thing that held them back. That one unsurpassable weakness that ruined everything.

Three point shooting.

It’s weird, coz the Breakers are usually a powerful three point shooting side. Not always in percentage but definitely in quantity, as they shoot plenty of them. Trebles are always a major weapon for this team. So to see them shoot just TWO of TWENTY is beyond shocking.

Just look at this filth:

	Made	Attempts
Cedric Jackson	1	6
Corey Webster	0	6
Tom Abercrombie	0	3
Duane Bailey	0	1
Rhys Carter	1	3
Tai Wesley	0	1

You don’t expect to hit every three. A good deep shooter goes 40% from that distance, 50% is beyond elite. But the Breakers didn’t need elite. They just needed something. Say they hit 6-20, still not good, but it would have been enough for a win. Late in the game, as NZB pushed to close the gap they found wide open threes for the likes of Webster, Abercrombie and Cedric… and they missed. Cedric finally hit one for the team’s final points of the game but it was too late by then. While their shots were rimming out, Sydney were capitalising with hard fought put backs and free throws. The scoreboard blew out at the end for that reason, it didn’t really matter.

On the bright side, Tom Abercrombie played. He still showed signs that his quad was giving him some grief though that’s to be expected after a quick recovery. Abers was a big part of the containment of Childress too, along with Mika and a splash of Te Rangi. Childress had 16 and 16 with 6 assists, which seems enormous but he never quite dominate. There were more than a few second chance tip ins included there.

That’s something that the Breakers have found success with and Uncle Kenny’s efforts around the rim again came in handy, especially with the perimeter shooting apparently sleeping in and missing the team bus. He had 15 points to top score for the Breaks and also clocked 5 rejections. Abercrombie had 13 and Webster had 11 (from 18 shots). Mika had 7pts & 10ast. Cedric had 9p/4r/5a.

Stocks:

Movin’ On Up Like Curtis Mayfield – A solid cameo from Rhys Carter. He didn’t exactly light things up, logging 5p/6r/3a, though there were moments of absolute class with his passing and for a long time he was the only Breaker to land a three. His defensive game is one of the best in the team among the non-imports and his experience is a clear advantage.

Goin’ Down Slow Like Howlin’ Wolf – Like so often printed in Fast Break Reports this season, Corey Webster is a streaky shooter. With only 5-18 in this game, missing all 6 threes, this was the downside of what he can be.

Key Stat

Twenty three pointers attempted, two made. More bricks than a construction site.

Play of the Game

Love some Uncle Kenny. Here Mr Ebekwe goes all the way up to finish the lob pass from Rhys Carter. If it ain’t working from deep, this is a decent alternative now and then.