Breakers Need Time
Tagged in: NZ Breakers
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Mike Kilpatrick, Sportal
Harvey Norman NZ Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis says he may have been expecting too much too soon from his team despite their come-from-behind win against the Townsville Crocodiles on Thursday night.
The Breakers scored their maiden victory in this year’s Hummer Championship NBL season with the thrilling 98-97 victory over the Crocs at the North Shore Events Centre.
But Lemanis says that the number of new faces in the team this year means it’s going to take a little while for them to gel.
“I know we have good talent and I know we have a good team,” he said.
“Sometimes when you get that combination your expectations of what you can do are quite high and sometimes you forget about the fact that Kirk Penney had never played a game with us until last week. He practised a total of 40 minutes.”
Lemanis says that other teams have an advantage over the Breakers because many have a core of players who have worked together for two or three years and play with an understanding that takes time to create.
“We obviously aren’t there yet. We haven’t been together long enough,” said Lemanis.
“But I’m confident with the group that the more we play the better we will get.”
Veteran Phill Jones, who scored what turned out to be the winning point from the free-throw line on Thursday night, was pleased to open the account.
“It relieves a bit of the pressure. We had three home games and lost the first two. We want to be able to protect our home court and it was a must win game.”
Because of Paul Henare‘s knee injury and Wayne Turner fouling out of the game, Jones moved into the point guard role against Townsville for the first time this season.
“I don’t mind it. I have done it in the past.”
“I spent a little time there when I was in Europe and I’ve done it for the Tall Blacks. You have a lot of time on the ball and you get to make some decisions and get to choose whatÃs going on,” said Jones.
“But it will be nice to get Paul Henare back.”
The Breakers next face the 2-2 Adelaide 36ers at the North Shore Events Centre on Thursday.
