Coaching breakers seems to be a bit of a poisoned chalice, I'm not convinced that there is a lot back room pressure on the coaches to do what they thinks right. No different to last season. Other than a few players it’s a highly overrated squad. Tell me how many teams does Terangi start in, Mennenga hasn’t lived up to expectations either, plus others. Nznbl was very good this season but they really didn’t take the best out of it, re locals, even the import mvp would been better than Baker. Loe just getting to many minutes etc. I really like Kop as a coach but sometimes it’s better to cut your losses. I’m hoping for a good contest but imo kings got this by ten plus even playing badly.

My heart reaches out to NZ, but sad reality is vets bought in for culture reasons should not be starters and imports need to be better than locals and of starting quality, Baker unfortunately does not fill a need in MHO. Picking Kings ( so on my form NZ got a chance) by a big margin. Chance for some of teh kings boys to build their stats me thinks.

I don't think it was intended that Te Rangi would start. I think that's a reflection that Baker isn't at the level they need him to be.

Something for the new owners to also think about it is that, while a Kiwi core is important, the last Kiwis core had legends like Penney, Jones, Boucher and Vukona. None of the current NZ players have achieved anything remotely like those players. Furthermore, the winning culture was also built by the likes of Ronaldson, Bruton and, among others, Corletto.

Ironic Penney just quit his college coaching post?

Abercrombie has got to be in the best core of players, imo right up there with the best, beautiful player at both ends. Sorry going off track.

It would be quite unfortunate if Koponen were to get the axe in large part due to the roster building incompetence of two different NZB administrations.

I said preseason that breakers is probably the roster most reliant on their imports and it looks like that's proving true. And one of them well before par, another carrying an injury. I think brockington is valuable and needs to be handling the ball much more

Btw I see baker starting ahead of te rangi tonight

Yes, Abercrombie's up there. Prior to that injury Peter Crawford inflicted on him, he was an incredible athlete. Corey Webster was also a bucket in his prime.

I doubt Penney is interested in coaching. He's doing well being entrepreneurial.

1.2 million per season and can't make free throws or a jump shot. Nice start here by both sides

Delly and Cooks should do the right thing and give their contracts to players that actual deserve it.

Low scoring normally means good tough D or in this case very poor shooting.

Second best league of n the world, yep. Soares playing well.

Imo breakers imports PJC and Brockington are good quality, it's the locals around them are just out form or just not that good or over hyped average players. They might not win a game. Lopez’s game hasn’t been at last seasons level.

Kings looked rough early but got there rhythm going, looked very reasonable. Davis is an excellent player, still young but could be the difference maker. Kings should play finals.

NZB are not up to it again.

NBL is NOT the 2nd best league in the world, we just had 2 euro teams come over and prove that. Plus a "League" of 10 teams has no right even being part of that conversation.

Kings look pretty average right now.

I actually said that in jest, sorry about that.

Any ideas why davison was left on the bench till late? Seemed to add some movement on offence and solid on D. He and darling are undoubtedly better than te rangi

Davison is a bit raw and makes some basic mistakes. However, Darling was starting last year. I don't understand how he isn't in the rotation at all. Having said all of that, I don't think Te Rangi has played that badly. The team, as a whole, is shooting extremely poorly from 3. Even my social team isn't going 6/32 for 3.

Completely agree he's raw but his error rate isn't much more than te rangi and defence twice as good i think!

Tonight was one of te rangis better games but he shot 0/3 from three, about 15% for the season and even nz nbl only 27%.

Coach kop making some bizarre calls at the moment

How do breakers turn this around? My thoughts are

1) get rid of baker and sign a straight out defensive/ rebounding/ screening centre. Think Marcus Lee or Jesse Edwards. Move menninga to 4 covering 5

2) Loe and te rangi get minimal minutes

3) pjc drives need to feed lopez and menninga cutting rather than kicking for threes. If he takes the shot or floater we're crashing the boards

4) darling and davison are filling the minutes at 3 and 4

5) brockington plays back up point with leafa at SG