November 8, 2024 • 11 mins
The Breakers are flying high in the NBL.
They’re at the top of the table after two huge wins – claiming victory over both the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne United.
Piney caught up with Head Coach Petteri Koponen to discuss the success the team’s found so far this season.
“We're playing well, but, you know, it's still early in the season.”
“We have to stay hungry, have the same mentality, and go out there and compete every game.”
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
For the New Zealand Breakers are top of the Australian
National Basketball League Ladder six wins from their eight games
so far this season. The latest victory are hugely impressive
one one hundred and thirteen seventy nine over Melbourne United
in Melbourne earlier this week.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It goes in again.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
He's Downtyjerson who delivers.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
But it's back to back statement victories.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
For New Zealand's who take on the.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Toughest test in the league and for the first time
in ten to tens they beat Melbourne United in john
Can Arena. Yeah and it was a massive win. Two
on Melbourne Cup eve. They next take on the Breakers
that is the defending champion Tasmania jack Jumpers that is
away tonight. They'm a judaheely tough start to the season.
(00:59):
Actually the jack Jumper is their bottom with just three
wins from their eleven games so far. Breakers coach pe
Terry Copenan is with us. Pe Terry, thanks for taking
the time for a chair to hit of this one.
Let's look back to Monday night's performance. What pleased you
the most about the big win over Melbourne United.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Well, I think it's just overall we start to see
how we improve as a team. The guys are getting
to know how to play with each other. And not
only the Melbourne win, but the win also against Sydney Away,
how we played against Adelaide. We have really, let's say,
impressive one week of basketball. And now you know, we
(01:40):
just keep going focus and you know, we have to
still stay hungry and this is the challenge.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Now.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
You know, Okay, we got some win wins early on,
we're playing playing well, but you know it's still early
early in the season, and we have to stay hungry,
have the same mentality and go out there and compete
every every game. And now, like you said, we play
against Tasmania next game. It's going to be a great,
great challenge for us. And so far they haven't played
(02:07):
that well, but they got that potential and they are,
you know, one of the best defensive team in the league,
and we have to be ready.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So those three ones you've just talked about came off
the back of a home defeat by Southeast Melbourne Phoenix
eighty eight sixty two. I remember watching your media conference
afterwards and you were hugely disappointed after that game. Was
that in some way a turning point for your side though?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I think the guys kind of realized, like we don't
have that luxury to come out flat and play. How
we played against the Southeast in christ Church and something
really really clicked when we went to Sydney and everything
started with that one on one responsibility. The guys really
(02:54):
wanted to compete wind those fifty to fifty situations defensively
and then when we get some stuffs when rebounds, we
always have opportunity to run and find solution. And like
you said, I think it's just something. Of course, the
Southeast game was also we were missing our three three guys.
(03:15):
We were still looking how who is the guy maybe
who can I you know, produce something? And we after
that game Sean Berstel and Kriein Lopez really really gave us,
you know, big boosts. Both of them been playing really
really well, and you know Parker and Mooney, Johonnah Bolding Salmoning.
(03:36):
I can say all of out our eight nine guys
you know, being really really playing well last last games,
and I hope we can continue.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
This the one hundred and thirteen you scored against Melbourne
United was a season high for you. But do you
take as much satisfaction from keeping Melbourne United to just
seventy nine points?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, of course, I think in basketball it goes both ways.
You know, you get some stops, it makes your job
also easier in the offense even you can you know,
run after those rebounds or steals and then you can
find some easy, easy baskets and boosts the moral and
the confidence of the team. And if you always have
(04:17):
to take the ball out of then it's much much harder.
And overall in that game, we were really really good
both ends of the floor and then focused and play
played really well all forty minutes and that's the way
to go. But like I said, everything for me started
in Sydney. For I think with the two huge steps there, we,
(04:40):
like I said, we want the one on one situations
and then that gave us the chance to win win
that game and at the same time gave us a
huge confidence boost.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You mentioned a number of your roster, but I just
want to ask about Parker Jackson cart right. Can you
talk a bit about his influence on this team.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Well, he's our you know, leader with the for me
best player brought in the in the league and his
special kind of player with how he used his speed
and that that was kind of how how I see
also our team how we want to play to to
to use him and give him the space, and everybody
(05:21):
else have to have to be ready. And I think
Parker is also improving now after these eight games, to
pick his spots, finding his teammates, and we have our
our system how we want to play, and the guys
are really picking it up, you know, both defensively offensively
getting on the same page and and and Melbourne everything
(05:43):
offensively we were really good. Okay, we still had seventeen turnovers,
it's too much, but almost every other possession when we
didn't turn the ball over, we had high quality shots
and the guys were playing with confidence, ready to make plays.
But everything starts with Parker, you know, he set the
tone and he gets to those spots and either his
course or he finds his teammates and negret It creates
(06:07):
those advantages.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You've mentioned the challenging start of the season for Tasmania.
Are you still expecting a pretty stuff challenge from them?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Though, of course you know they are many they lost
many games, you know, they were tight, tight games, and
yesterday also against Berth, it was very very tight game.
What they you know, lost in in the end. But
you know the team they have, you know, been been together.
They are really well coached. Also they got you know, uh,
(06:39):
like I said, one of the best defensive teams in
the league, and that gives them always option to be competitive.
They had some of their problems in an offensive ent,
but last game they were shooting the ball already much
better and very dangerous team. And they play at home,
they are always always dangerous and like I said, it's
gonna be another another great forty minute fight if you
(07:01):
want to take that win. And then we can't expect
nothing that comes easy to us. We have to earn
everything and go with that right mentality and ready to
work and earn everything.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I'm having a look at your schedule, and after Tasmania,
you've got three more away games before you even get
back to Spark Arena, by which time you wouldn't have
played at home for a month, then four or five
games at home, so it's almost a little bit unbalanced.
Would you prefer it to be a bit more even
between home and away games?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Well, of course, of course it's you know, the schedule,
it's what it is. You know, we can't change that now,
and it's it is. But of course overall during the
season we love playing in Spark Arena, but now we
got also home games away from a Spark. I think
the next home game in Spark we played twentieth of December.
It's I think it's it's a long long time we
(07:55):
don't play there. And this also something as coaches and
the staff to try to think how we can keep
our guys also fresh mentally, you know, all this traveling,
and that's also one aspect we try to try to manage.
But you know, at the same time, like I said,
the schedule is what it is, and now we just
have to go game by game, try to do our
(08:16):
work daily, practice well and prepare for those games. And
you know, we showed ourselves also we can win on
the road, and it has to be our focus always
the next game and try to do the things what
we practice every day the best possible in the game
and go to compete in the.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Trip to the United States, when you played three NBA
sides after you played a couple of games in the
Australian National Basketball League. Was that trip a good thing
or not?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Well, at least everybody was thinking like after when we
come back from that trip, we will be you know, tired,
and definitely the guys didn't feel perfect. But at the
same time, I think the trip kind of make our group.
I don't know if the right world is special, but
you know, you can see the guys are really enjoying
(09:08):
spending time together on and off the court, and that's
also really important aspect. And you never know when you
put new team together, how the guys, you know, how
is the group gonna come together? And I think that
that is the big biggest I think take away from
that trip. How the guys spent time there three weeks together,
(09:31):
was forced to do things together and we kind of
grow grew as a team. And maybe that's also, you know,
the biggest thing what we can take from that trip.
And of course it's great the experience basketball wise, but
I think like a team chemistry wise, I think that's
that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
That's a great way of looking at it. Well, you
can focus fully on the Australian season, nap, but they
thank you for taking the time for a chat all
the based against Tasmania.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
No, I appreciate you taking the corp Terry. But Terry
copenhanm there the head coach, former Finland international basketball a
good basketballer too. I was actually even look at some
of the footage yesterday on YouTube. He was a player
man and he's clearly got something in the coaching side
of things as well, coaching the Breakers to currently top
spot on the ANBL ladder. So Tasmania tonight that is
(10:19):
seven thirty New Zealand time. Their next Saturday. Ken's away
the following Thursday. In fact, two thursdays after that, Illawarra away,
so that's November. December is so packed. They've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight games in December, including one on Christmas Day. But
they also move around. You heard but Terry say there
that they're not back at Spark Arena until the twentieth
(10:41):
that's against the Sydney Kings, but they do have home
games and other places. They take on Melbourne United in
christ Church that's on the fifth of December. They've all
sort of game against the Sydney Kings and Wellington on
the seventh and they also play at event Finders Stadium
on the twelfth of December. So they're all over the place,
but as long as they stay where they are at
(11:03):
the top of the table then it doesn't probably matter
where they they're obviously doing something right, So Tasmania, it's
a night annexed for the New Zealand Breakers.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
For the New Zealand Breakers are top of the Australian
National Basketball League Ladder six wins from their eight games
so far this season. The latest victory are hugely impressive
one one hundred and thirteen seventy nine over Melbourne United
in Melbourne earlier this week.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It goes in again.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
He's Downtyjerson who delivers.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
But it's back to back statement victories.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
For New Zealand's who take on the.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Toughest test in the league and for the first time
in ten to tens they beat Melbourne United in john
Can Arena. Yeah and it was a massive win. Two
on Melbourne Cup eve. They next take on the Breakers
that is the defending champion Tasmania jack Jumpers that is
away tonight. They'm a judaheely tough start to the season.
(00:59):
Actually the jack Jumper is their bottom with just three
wins from their eleven games so far. Breakers coach pe
Terry Copenan is with us. Pe Terry, thanks for taking
the time for a chair to hit of this one.
Let's look back to Monday night's performance. What pleased you
the most about the big win over Melbourne United.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Well, I think it's just overall we start to see
how we improve as a team. The guys are getting
to know how to play with each other. And not
only the Melbourne win, but the win also against Sydney Away,
how we played against Adelaide. We have really, let's say,
impressive one week of basketball. And now you know, we
(01:40):
just keep going focus and you know, we have to
still stay hungry and this is the challenge.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Now.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
You know, Okay, we got some win wins early on,
we're playing playing well, but you know it's still early
early in the season, and we have to stay hungry,
have the same mentality and go out there and compete
every every game. And now, like you said, we play
against Tasmania next game. It's going to be a great,
great challenge for us. And so far they haven't played
(02:07):
that well, but they got that potential and they are,
you know, one of the best defensive team in the league,
and we have to be ready.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So those three ones you've just talked about came off
the back of a home defeat by Southeast Melbourne Phoenix
eighty eight sixty two. I remember watching your media conference
afterwards and you were hugely disappointed after that game. Was
that in some way a turning point for your side though?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I think the guys kind of realized, like we don't
have that luxury to come out flat and play. How
we played against the Southeast in christ Church and something
really really clicked when we went to Sydney and everything
started with that one on one responsibility. The guys really
(02:54):
wanted to compete wind those fifty to fifty situations defensively
and then when we get some stuffs when rebounds, we
always have opportunity to run and find solution. And like
you said, I think it's just something. Of course, the
Southeast game was also we were missing our three three guys.
(03:15):
We were still looking how who is the guy maybe
who can I you know, produce something? And we after
that game Sean Berstel and Kriein Lopez really really gave us,
you know, big boosts. Both of them been playing really
really well, and you know Parker and Mooney, Johonnah Bolding Salmoning.
(03:36):
I can say all of out our eight nine guys
you know, being really really playing well last last games,
and I hope we can continue.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
This the one hundred and thirteen you scored against Melbourne
United was a season high for you. But do you
take as much satisfaction from keeping Melbourne United to just
seventy nine points?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, of course, I think in basketball it goes both ways.
You know, you get some stops, it makes your job
also easier in the offense even you can you know,
run after those rebounds or steals and then you can
find some easy, easy baskets and boosts the moral and
the confidence of the team. And if you always have
(04:17):
to take the ball out of then it's much much harder.
And overall in that game, we were really really good
both ends of the floor and then focused and play
played really well all forty minutes and that's the way
to go. But like I said, everything for me started
in Sydney. For I think with the two huge steps there, we,
(04:40):
like I said, we want the one on one situations
and then that gave us the chance to win win
that game and at the same time gave us a
huge confidence boost.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You mentioned a number of your roster, but I just
want to ask about Parker Jackson cart right. Can you
talk a bit about his influence on this team.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Well, he's our you know, leader with the for me
best player brought in the in the league and his
special kind of player with how he used his speed
and that that was kind of how how I see
also our team how we want to play to to
to use him and give him the space, and everybody
(05:21):
else have to have to be ready. And I think
Parker is also improving now after these eight games, to
pick his spots, finding his teammates, and we have our
our system how we want to play, and the guys
are really picking it up, you know, both defensively offensively
getting on the same page and and and Melbourne everything
(05:43):
offensively we were really good. Okay, we still had seventeen turnovers,
it's too much, but almost every other possession when we
didn't turn the ball over, we had high quality shots
and the guys were playing with confidence, ready to make plays.
But everything starts with Parker, you know, he set the
tone and he gets to those spots and either his
course or he finds his teammates and negret It creates
(06:07):
those advantages.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You've mentioned the challenging start of the season for Tasmania.
Are you still expecting a pretty stuff challenge from them?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Though, of course you know they are many they lost
many games, you know, they were tight, tight games, and
yesterday also against Berth, it was very very tight game.
What they you know, lost in in the end. But
you know the team they have, you know, been been together.
They are really well coached. Also they got you know, uh,
(06:39):
like I said, one of the best defensive teams in
the league, and that gives them always option to be competitive.
They had some of their problems in an offensive ent,
but last game they were shooting the ball already much
better and very dangerous team. And they play at home,
they are always always dangerous and like I said, it's
gonna be another another great forty minute fight if you
(07:01):
want to take that win. And then we can't expect
nothing that comes easy to us. We have to earn
everything and go with that right mentality and ready to
work and earn everything.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I'm having a look at your schedule, and after Tasmania,
you've got three more away games before you even get
back to Spark Arena, by which time you wouldn't have
played at home for a month, then four or five
games at home, so it's almost a little bit unbalanced.
Would you prefer it to be a bit more even
between home and away games?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Well, of course, of course it's you know, the schedule,
it's what it is. You know, we can't change that now,
and it's it is. But of course overall during the
season we love playing in Spark Arena, but now we
got also home games away from a Spark. I think
the next home game in Spark we played twentieth of December.
It's I think it's it's a long long time we
(07:55):
don't play there. And this also something as coaches and
the staff to try to think how we can keep
our guys also fresh mentally, you know, all this traveling,
and that's also one aspect we try to try to manage.
But you know, at the same time, like I said,
the schedule is what it is, and now we just
have to go game by game, try to do our
(08:16):
work daily, practice well and prepare for those games. And
you know, we showed ourselves also we can win on
the road, and it has to be our focus always
the next game and try to do the things what
we practice every day the best possible in the game
and go to compete in the.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Trip to the United States, when you played three NBA
sides after you played a couple of games in the
Australian National Basketball League. Was that trip a good thing
or not?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Well, at least everybody was thinking like after when we
come back from that trip, we will be you know, tired,
and definitely the guys didn't feel perfect. But at the
same time, I think the trip kind of make our group.
I don't know if the right world is special, but
you know, you can see the guys are really enjoying
(09:08):
spending time together on and off the court, and that's
also really important aspect. And you never know when you
put new team together, how the guys, you know, how
is the group gonna come together? And I think that
that is the big biggest I think take away from
that trip. How the guys spent time there three weeks together,
(09:31):
was forced to do things together and we kind of
grow grew as a team. And maybe that's also, you know,
the biggest thing what we can take from that trip.
And of course it's great the experience basketball wise, but
I think like a team chemistry wise, I think that's
that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
That's a great way of looking at it. Well, you
can focus fully on the Australian season, nap, but they
thank you for taking the time for a chat all
the based against Tasmania.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
No, I appreciate you taking the corp Terry. But Terry
copenhanm there the head coach, former Finland international basketball a
good basketballer too. I was actually even look at some
of the footage yesterday on YouTube. He was a player
man and he's clearly got something in the coaching side
of things as well, coaching the Breakers to currently top
spot on the ANBL ladder. So Tasmania tonight that is
(10:19):
seven thirty New Zealand time. Their next Saturday. Ken's away
the following Thursday. In fact, two thursdays after that, Illawarra away,
so that's November. December is so packed. They've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight games in December, including one on Christmas Day. But
they also move around. You heard but Terry say there
that they're not back at Spark Arena until the twentieth
(10:41):
that's against the Sydney Kings, but they do have home
games and other places. They take on Melbourne United in
christ Church that's on the fifth of December. They've all
sort of game against the Sydney Kings and Wellington on
the seventh and they also play at event Finders Stadium
on the twelfth of December. So they're all over the place,
but as long as they stay where they are at
(11:03):
the top of the table then it doesn't probably matter
where they they're obviously doing something right, So Tasmania, it's
a night annexed for the New Zealand Breakers.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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