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February 5, 2025 • 14 mins

NBL NOW | Everything NBL

Derek Rucker & Jack Heverin

  • Hawks make history 
  • Is Tatum coach of the year?
  • Hawks wont rest players heading into the Playoffs
  • What will we see in NZ in NBL26
  • Brisbane to launch independent review after another tough year
  • Sam Waardenburg set for a return to the Taipans
  • Perth Vs Adelaide is big Friday night
  • KD and Cotton love is real

 

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:00):
Great to be with you this morning, Thursday morning's edition
of NBL. Now, we've had our first game of the
final round of the season, but I've just got the
sense that there are going to be a few twists
and turns in this tale before we get to Saturday
night and the last game of the regular season, I'm
Jack Hebron. Derek Rucker, morning to you. Round 20. Jack
is finally here. And let's see what teams can get

(00:24):
hot in.

S2 (00:24):
This round and how second place turns out.

S1 (00:27):
Yeah, it could be a case of who gets hot
and who gets cold, doesn't it? That's that might be
the big story of it. Last night Illawarra handled their business.
There was this maybe this small part of Hawks fans
I reckon that would have thought don't go to New
Zealand and drop one in the last round of the season.
But as I say, they handled their business 96 to
82 did it without Trey Kell. But the story here, Derek,

(00:49):
is that Illawarra for the first time in their long
and storied history here in the Hungry Jack's NBL, are
going to finish the regular season on top of the table.

S2 (00:58):
And it's kind of hard to believe. As one of
the foundation members of the of the NBL. You thought
by now they would have finished on top at least
one of the seasons. But full credit to the Hawks,
they made a significant and drastic turnaround in just a
matter of 18 months, and one could argue that they've
been the best team since Justin Tatum has taken over.

(01:20):
It was a bold move by the Hawks front office
to make a coaching change last season, early in the season,
but it's worked brilliantly.

S1 (01:30):
I was thinking about it this morning from where they
were early in last season, so forget about this season.
Go all the way back to where it all happened
last year. It was a very rough start. Front office
were bold enough to make a coaching change, and it
kind of felt like you look back now, that fork
in the in the road moment Derek where they they

(01:51):
maybe didn't make that change. And we're probably not having
this conversation right now.

S2 (01:56):
Well you're correct. And there are two facets to that story.
A management understood this isn't working. They didn't try and
persist with the losing situation and hope that it would
turn around. They said no, we got to make a change.
And then secondly, they went in the right direction. They
went for someone who that was who was widely unknown

(02:17):
in Australian basketball circles, other than being the father of
a very famous NBA superstar, and that's Justin Tatum. And
this guy's winning 70% of his games now, Jack, which
is sensational. But he's given them energy, he's given them identity,
and he's turned them into the best offensive team in

(02:38):
the NBA.

S1 (02:39):
Is he coach of the year?

S2 (02:41):
Undoubtedly he's coach of the year, which is, you know,
probably a natural progression from where he was last season.
I think I had him in the top three for
coach of the year last season. So he's deservedly probably
going to get that award right, right. This season.

S1 (02:57):
Yeah. To to be totally honest, um, and Josh King's
made a really good case. John really has had a
good season as well. It's. I'm finding it hard to
to mount a stronger argument for any other coach than
Justin Tatum.

S2 (03:10):
And if you look at it and remember early in
the season where he was getting so much criticism for
being over animated and stimulated towards the referees, Jackie sorted
that all out. Now he still has his moments where
he goes off, but I think they're better chosen and
he understands how to use his emotions for the betterment

(03:31):
of his team, as opposed to the distraction that it
was at times earlier in the season.

S1 (03:38):
The other interesting facet out of the post game last
night was Coach Tatum. And this is good news for
Supercoach fans who are in their grand finals this weekend.
He's not resting anyone. Trey Kell didn't play last night
so that's that's a precautionary measure. But they've got Sydney
on Friday night and he said no no we're going
to come out and we're going to play our full

(03:58):
team and we're going to play hard because we've got
quite a long rest after that.

S2 (04:03):
Jack the whole reason of Illinois would lose their minds
if they arrested their people against the Sydney Kings. Are
you kidding me? There is no way there. There is
no condition under which Illawarra would rest their troops against Sydney.
They want to bury the Kings again. They have the
chance to sweep them this season. And Justin Tatum has

(04:25):
never lost to the Sydney Kings. And Illawarra will be
damned if they're going to try and help the Sydney
Kings get a better ladder position. Nah man, that ain't happening.

S1 (04:37):
No. Which is great. I love that sort of coaching. Um,
to the breakers. Speaking of coaching. Fascinating exchange last night
between coach Petteri Koponen and Matt Mooney. Frustrations clearly boiled
over and we didn't see Matt Mooney in the second half.

S2 (04:54):
Yeah, well, if you're a betting man, you'd say that's
the end of Matt Mooney in New Zealand. And I'm
not even sure what what Coach Kopp's future holds. But
given the success they had in the first ten games
of the season, one would estimate that he has some
coaching talent, and New Zealand would probably be probably better

(05:16):
off bringing him back and trying to find a replacement
for Matt Mooney. Now, Matt Mooney is a guy who
I think can play in the NBL, and there should
be some other suitors for his services for NBL 26.

S1 (05:28):
Yeah, I like him as a player. Um, do you
think we've seen the last of Taco? We know he
had 16 points last night. He actually had a big
presence in that game. And as the season's gone on,
he started to work it out. I think they started
to work it out. But the numbers, Derrick, you can
put whatever rhetoric on it you like. The numbers do
not lie with what's happened to the New Zealand Breakers

(05:50):
since they made that change.

S2 (05:52):
I'm just entirely uncomfortable with the whole taco ball experience,
and it has nothing to do with him as an individual.
I just hate I hate the energy that it makes
me feel when we have to discuss it, because the
breakers were off to a good start, and I feel
like due to some decisions that were outside of the

(06:14):
players control, it's been a wasted season for some of
those guys and a season you can't get back as
a pro athlete, so I wouldn't foresee tako coming back.
I think it's probably in the best interest of both parties.
And for just all of New Zealand basketball, they've done
the tako experience. Let's move on now, go in a

(06:36):
different direction and let's try and build a program now
that can get back to winning basketball games.

S1 (06:42):
It's got all the hallmarks of a rebuild, Derek, to
be totally honest. Because you're right, I don't think we're
going to see Matt Mooney again. We won't see tako again.
I think they'll come to a mutual decision there, which
is best for both parties. Uh, it feels less likely
than likely at this stage that we'll see Parker, Jackson,
Cartwright back with New Zealand next season. But I could
be wrong there.

S2 (07:03):
Well, you could be exact, but if I'm Parker, Jackson Cartwright,
I'm not going back. I have no interest in going back.
And I'd be trying to get to another NBL team.
And there are several teams. Jack, this isn't the marketplace,
but there are several places where he could have a
significant impact, and I'm sure that they would welcome Parker

(07:24):
Jackson Cartwright in there a the first day of free agency.

S1 (07:29):
Yeah. And they they gambled on Jonah Bolden, whose future
is uncertain. They've gambled on Mojave King, who I think
is worth persisting with. It's. Yeah. This off season Derek
is is crucial for the New Zealand Breakers.

S2 (07:43):
Crucial it is. And I think you know there's been
some rhetoric out there that they're pushing for more Kiwi
players and that's fine. But I wouldn't be that myopic.
You know what type of players I'm looking for Jack
what's help me win basketball games.

S1 (08:02):
Yeah I'm with you on that one. Hey, let's go
to the Brisbane Bullets now. I read with interest this morning.
News Corp Mick Randall and Matt Logue have started to
do their season reviews on some of the of the
teams who won't be involved in postseason. They've had a
look at the breakers. They've had a look at the Taipans.
We'll get to in a moment. They had a good
look at the Brisbane Bullets and the headline grabs you
straight away. The opening line of the article suggests that

(08:23):
Brisbane are going to launch an independent review into their
injury riddled season. Um, I think there's this is a
bit of a watch, this space. I think the Brisbane Bullets.

S2 (08:36):
Well, over the past month or so, we started hearing
rumours of overtraining and guys being tired and this and that,
and you can never really ascertain what's accurate. When we
hear these rumours. But when it follows with this type
of directive and that they're hiring someone outside of the

(08:59):
building to come in and review what's been going on
with their strength, conditioning and their training, whatever you want
to call it. Well, you can start going to the
alarm centre because the bells will be ringing soon and
I don't know what's going to come of this, but
it probably doesn't augur well for the coaching staff. And
I've been one all along that supported Justin Schuler, whom

(09:23):
I think some things are outside of his control with
the injuries. But if there's any belief that maybe there
was friction between the coaching staff and the training staff
or the medical staff, well, it could be a situation where,
you know what, everybody has to go or you sit
in a room together and you work it all out.

(09:43):
I don't know, but this is going to be a
very fascinating case to see what comes out of this review.

S1 (09:50):
The other aspect of the Brisbane Review with NewsCorp was
around Josh Bannon suggesting that he's got a player option.
And they alluded to the fact that Josh Bannon would explore.
What do you think? What do you think he'll do?
And what do you think he should do. Because they
might be two different things.

S2 (10:09):
What he should do is worry about maintaining good health
and doing everything Aim in his control this all season
to build his body up, get it flexible, get it
strong so that he can withstand the the rigors of
an NBL season and everything that is required to be successful. Now,

(10:30):
if he decides that Brisbane isn't the place for him again,
he wouldn't be in as demand as, say, a PJC
as I just mentioned. But there are some people that
I'm sure would like to have him in their lineup. Now,
do I think he's a starter in the NBL and
a championship level team? I do not. So he must
be willing to understand that perhaps he will have a

(10:54):
reduced role, similar to when Tanner Krebs left Brisbane to
go to Melbourne United. Yeah, you're on a better you're
in a better program, you're in a championship level team,
but your minutes are not going to be high. Every
now and then you'll get a chance to have a
contribution in extended minutes. But on the game to game
basis you're probably 15 Minutes.

S1 (11:17):
Perth and Adelaide. Let's have a look at that one.
On Friday night. Derek, we won't hear from you before then. Um.
It is. I called the Southeast Melbourne Adelaide game on
Sunday and Bec Allen in commentary said that that felt
like a playoff game and it absolutely did. Um, for
a lot of different reasons that that place could blow
on Friday night. You've got got the Wildcats fans that

(11:40):
that maybe might be. I'm not sure how many more
games they'll get at RAC arena for the rest of
the season. You've got Adelaide who who just simply need
to win and get some form going in the volatility
of that Adelaide team at the best of times. Bryce
v Kendrick like hook it into my veins.

S2 (11:58):
Yeah and Adelaide I, I rewatched the uh Southeast Melbourne
Adelaide game just last night Jack because I wanted to
get a true indication of what Adelaide were doing out
there on the floor in that third quarter. And in
the fourth quarter. They got great contributions from Jason Cady.
Kendrick Davis and Montrezl Harrell in that quarter. And it

(12:19):
was a very sensibly played offensive basketball quarter by the Sixers.
But can they replicate that Jack. Can they do it
over four quarters. Can they defend well enough to beat
Perth out in Perth. I don't know. But then Perth
have been somewhat unconvincing. Their last three performances out West

(12:40):
haven't been great. And I think they're vulnerable still. This
may be a team that is more comfortable playing on
the road, where they come together as a unit off
the court, and it just happens that way sometimes. But
no matter what we say about this game, Perth versus Adelaide,
it is a big time contest. And I think Adelaide,

(13:01):
we talk about a team needing to get hot. They
were hot a few weeks ago. They need to refine
that heat. Yeah.

S1 (13:07):
And that's the part that's very hard to work out
with this Adelaide team. Derek do we get the Adelaide
that we had in the first half against South East Melbourne.
Or do we get the Adelaide that we had in
the third quarter against South East Melbourne.

S2 (13:18):
I think we're going to get the hot Adelaide, and
I think we're going to get the smoking hot Bryce
Cotton and the Wildcats. I think this is going to
be potentially the game of the season. And can Bryce
and Kendrick stop being all buddy buddy? I know they
don't really like each other that much. Surely that can't
be legit.

S1 (13:36):
I heard Bryce with on on NBA now uh yesterday
saying that we're cut from the same cloth and you
know they're vibing together. These two and Kendrick saying nice
things about Bryce like get out there and put each
other in a headlock.

S2 (13:48):
Yeah let's go fellas.

S1 (13:50):
That's coming up tomorrow night. But of course tonight is
Cairns versus Brisbane. Bobby Pete Hawley and Damian Lowry for
that one a little later on tonight. Ariana Prather will
be courtside at the convention center. Derek you have a
great week. We'll break it all down across the weekend.
Who knows what's going to happen.

S2 (14:06):
An exciting round coming up. And, uh, I just can't
wait till it wraps up Saturday evening so we know
what the play in situation looks like. It's it's it's thrilling.

S1 (14:16):
Keep your eyes for all the latest news on Nbl.com.au.
Have a great day.
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