Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be it's warm.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Welcome to the program. To Sam MENINGA, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
How you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'm doing very well. More's the point. How are you
guys doing? It's been a bit of a shocking old
time for the Breakers over recent times. You're really really
looking for that elusive w What are you going to
put down up against the jack jumpers to I suppose secure.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
That, Sam, Yeah, No, it's been rough.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
I mean, first of all, we're finally home for at
least two or three days and being able to sleep
in our own bed and you know, regroup and have
some couple of practices to figure things out. But it'll
be an interesting game tomorrow if we just come with
the energy and really effort. It's that little effort players
and everything like that that'll set us up nice. And
like we've been successful with our starts and those wins
(00:57):
we've had. We've started off well, so we can focus
on that and let everything else happen.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
It seems to be an old time Breaker's habit. There's
a quarter of things just fall apart a third quarter
more often than not. Have you ring fence that to
work out what's actually me going on?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Sam, Yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Think it's a discipline thing as far as discipline to
be you know, locked in and present for all four quarters.
We've been doing it really good in the first half.
We've done it for three quarters at a time. It's
like really peace and four quarters together and staying locked
in and staying present. You know, you can drift away
from the game if you're up by twenty or if
you're down by twenty. So it's how can you just
you know, put everything into each play and let those
players build up for the forty minute period and then
(01:36):
leave with the result being what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
How about the meter side of things, how are you
guys all coping with all these losses in a row?
Is that discussed much at the gym or maybe in
the sheds?
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I mean, honestly, no, Like, guys have been good. We
enjoy each other's company. We understand that it's a long season.
We understand that, you know, things happen, so the spirits
are good. This frustration obviously that guys don't like losing
and that it should be frustrating, So I think guys
are eager to get back on track and get some
wins on the board.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
We're staying positive and we're staying together.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
It's game of runs and very much a season of
runs too, so you've got to ride these ups and
downs and you can't get too emotional around that. Is
that what coach Kopp is talking about as well? And
what exactly has he changed as far as your ex's
and o's for one of a better word.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
That's he's definitely appreached that and we're definitely aware of
that as pros. As far as the ex's and o's
is a couple of little tweaks, but it's honestly getting
back to what we were successful at the start of
the season and making sure we're fine tuning that and
making sure we're disciplined with that. He's just made sure
everyone's staying positive and everyone's staying with each other on this.
You know, if a team breaks apart, everything can you know,
become a lot worse.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
So we've done a good job with that.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
He's done a good job with that and we should
be pretty well equipped tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Can you tell us exactly what it is that you're
looking to, what the good stuff is, What you're trying
to lift. What these points are, Sam.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
I mean, we did a great job of stobbing teams
and transition and being good at making sure they don't
get out and run us and score early quick points.
So it's being able to get back to that, being
aggressive on ball screens, handoffs, being able to do that,
making sure the rotation is right, making sure we're closing
out to the right personnel, and knowing the scout.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Well, you talk about the personnel, and you haven't mentioned
this at all so far. You've got to be commended
for this. You've hardly had the best of time as
far as bodies on the boards have you There's been
a lot of players they simply couldn't front up. How's
the sick bay looking looking like? Having a full convlment
or a fullish quiver of players up against the jack jumpers.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah, this might be the first time in a little
while we've had, you know, close.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
To a full ross or close to the roster we
have healthy and ready to go.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
So I know there's a lot of guys excited for that,
and I know that it'll be a refreshing thing to have,
especially on the court, and especially with how we've been
playing lately.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah, it must be tempting to lean into that, but
you haven't. That's a philosophy I'm presuming sits through the
whole team. You work with what you've got and don't
look for excuses yet.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yeah, I mean we did a good job with that,
and guys definitely stepped up. You have to understand, we
we had injuries early on in the season when we
had guys that one we're winning, we had you know,
when it was six and two, we had a few
guys out, and few guys stepped up and played their
role to perfection. And so now that guys are filtering
back in, it's figuring out who sits where and what
(04:19):
each person needs to growing.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Well, what about your own form, Sam, Where do you
need to tweak? Where do you need to lift? Do
you think what do you need to leave in the sheds?
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I mean there's always everything you can do right, like
make more shots or physical I think, leading a charge
from that area in the big man's department, being physical,
being aggressive, helping league guys, helping guys, you know, stay
calm during the game with those ups and downs, and
just being that presence on the floor.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And talking about big men. Taco fall has been the
story of recent times. As he finally slipped into position,
he knows what he's doing now, he feels comfortable as
part of the unit because it has been a long
time story.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Isn't it same?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
And maybe even a distraction? Is he going to come?
Is he going to not? But he's there now.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, I mean he's been good.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
I mean especially last game was probably his best game.
And he's he's a monster group and and enjoying himself
and we're enjoying his company. So it just takes time
with repetition of getting used to his style of play
and for us being used to being around someone like him.
So the more we play together and the more we
train together and get games under our belt, the better
we'll look with him.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Jack Jumpers. What do they bring to the floor.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
They're an aggressive team.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
They bring a lot of physicality, they don't let you
get into sets. They really like to muck things up,
and they're a discipline team on offense. They run a
lot of players. They're a well coached team. They're a
veteran team. I mean they reigning champions. So you can't
you can't let that slip by you. We've gotta be
ready for a dog vote.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
You say, sleeping in your own beds. Again, you have
had home games, but they've not been at home, which
must be a source of frustration. It's great to get
the game in and around New Zealand, but I suppose
that takes away to a degree. Are you happy enough
with the way the schedule work, Sam?
Speaker 4 (06:05):
I mean, I mean, if you want an idealidget like schedule,
you would write it up yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
But it's life. You'd have every home game you can.
But it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I don't think you read too much into it. I
think there's nothing you can do to change it. Once
that schedule comes out in preseason, you got to understand
that's what you got, that's what you got to work with. Yeah,
it's exciting to be back in your own bed.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
That's going to help.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
But I think, just in general, if you think about
the season and the schedule too much, you can get
caught up and distracted and the wrong things.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Make stops score baskets. It's a simple old game if
you put it down to that, isn't it? Sam and Inger,
thanks very much for your time. You go well tomorrow.
That game tips off against the Jack Jumpers seven thirty
at Spark on Thursday evening.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Thanks big Man, Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
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