NBL Round 5 (Regular Season): NZL Breakers lose to Brisbane

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Breakers (3-1) recorded its first loss in Brisbane on Thursday night. Visitors were defeated by ninth ranked Bullets (2-3) 84-73. The best player for the winners was American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. The former international forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) produced 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Brisbane moved-up to seventh place. NZL Breakers at the other side dropped to the fifth position with one game lost. Brisbane are looking forward to face Tasmania JJ (#9) in Hobart in the next round. NZL Breakers will play on the road against the league's second-placed Sydney (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked United (4-3) against tenth ranked Phoenix (1-5) on Sunday night. Host United was defeated by Phoenix in a tough game in Melbourne 84-93. The former international center Jordan Hunter (208-1997, college: SMC) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points and 9 rebounds. Matt Hurt contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American guard Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) answered with 19 points for Melbourne. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Phoenix maintains tenth place with 1-5 record. Melbourne at the other side keeps the third position with three games lost. They share it with Adelaide. SE Melbourne will play against league's leader Illawarra in Gwynneville in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne will play at home against Cairns and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Cairns. Second ranked Hawks faced 4th placed Taipans. Guests from Gwynneville (5-1) defeated host Taipans (3-4) 87-75. Tyler Harvey stepped up and scored 20 points for the winners. Hawks' coach Justin Tatum used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Pedro Bradshaw responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 14 rebounds. Illawarra keeps a position of league leader. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with four games lost. Illawarra will meet bottom-ranked SE Melbourne (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cairns will play against Melbourne (#3) and hope to secure a win.

Other games of round 5 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Sydney defeated Tasmania JJ in a road game 80-71. NZL Breakers beat Perth at home 89-85. Tasmania JJ lost to Adelaide on the opponent's court 73-77.
The best stats of 5th round was 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by Montrezl Harrell of Adelaide.



Brisbane - NZL Breakers 84-73

Breakers (3-1) recorded its first loss in Brisbane on Thursday night. Visitors were defeated by ninth ranked Bullets (2-3) 84-73. The best player for the winners was American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. The former international forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) produced 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import guard Matt Mooney (189-1997, college: Texas Tech) added 13 points and 4 steals respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Brisbane moved-up to seventh place. NZL Breakers at the other side dropped to the fifth position with one game lost. Brisbane are looking forward to face Tasmania JJ (#9) in Hobart in the next round. NZL Breakers will play on the road against the league's second-placed Sydney (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Brisbane: J.Batemon 21+5reb+1ast, J.Bannan 15+9reb+3ast, C.Prather 13+5reb+2ast, T.Harrison 13+7reb+3ast, K.Cook 9+7reb+2ast, I.White 6+2reb+3ast
NZL Breakers: P.Jackson-Cartwright 20+7reb+6ast, S.Mennenga 15+5reb, M.Mooney 13+4reb+3ast, M.King 11+4reb, J.Bolden 9+5reb+2ast, F.Gillespie 3+6reb+2ast

Tasmania JJ - Sydney 71-80

There was no surprise in Hobart where 8th ranked JackJumpers (2-5) were defeated by third ranked Kings (5-2) 80-71 on Friday. Sydney outrebounded Tasmania JJ 46-30 including 35 on the defensive glass. The former international forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and international forward Alex Toohey (201-2004, college: Gonzaga) chipped in 12 points and 8 rebounds. American point guard Jordon Crawford (168-1990, college: BGSU, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 25 points and the former international forward Will Magnay (208-1998, college: Tulsa) scored 13 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Sydney moved-up to second place. Tasmania JJ lost third consecutive game. Defending champion dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. Sydney will meet at home NZL Breakers (#5) in the next round. Tasmania JJ will play against Brisbane (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sydney: X.Cooks 15+12reb+6ast, K.Noi 14+2reb+1ast, A.Toohey 12+8reb+1ast, J.Adams 8+5reb+4ast, C.Oliver 8+3reb, J.Galloway 8+2reb
Tasmania JJ: J.Crawford 25+1reb+2ast, W.Magnay 13+5reb+3ast, M.Deng 11+6reb+2ast, M.Doyle 8+7reb+2ast, C.Steindl 6+4reb+5ast, L.Barker 4+1ast

NZL Breakers - Perth 89-85

No shocking result in a game in Auckland where sixth ranked Breakers (3-1) defeated 8th ranked Wildcats (2-4) 89-85 on Saturday. NZL Breakers looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American guard Matt Mooney (189-1997, college: Texas Tech) stepped up and scored 28 points and 5 assists for the winners and his fellow American import point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) chipped in 13 points, 9 assists and 5 steals. New Zealand guard Tai Webster (193-1995, college: Nebraska) responded with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) and American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. NZL Breakers moved-up to fifth place. Loser Wildcats keeps the eighth position with four games lost. NZL Breakers will meet league's second-placed Sydney on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Perth will play against the league's second-placed Sydney (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: M.Mooney 28+4reb+5ast, M.Darling 15+4reb+1ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 13+3reb+9ast, M.King 10+1reb+2ast, G.Anticevich 9+5reb+2ast, F.Gillespie 5+8reb+1ast
Perth: T.Webster 20+6reb+6ast, K.Doolittle 15+11reb+4ast, B.Henshall 13+5reb+2ast, K.Pinder 9+3reb, J.Wagstaff 7+2reb+1ast, D.Windler 6+6reb+2ast

Cairns - Illawarra 75-87

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Cairns. Second ranked Hawks faced 4th placed Taipans. Guests from Gwynneville (5-1) defeated host Taipans (3-4) 87-75. Illawarra dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Taipans' 28. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Illawarra made 9 blocks. American guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) stepped up and scored 20 points for the winners and Syrian-American guard Trey Kell III (193-1996, college: SDSU, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 14 points and 7 assists. Hawks' coach Justin Tatum used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. American swingman Pedro Bradshaw (201-1998, college: Bellarmine) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 14 rebounds and New Zealand forward Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college: Miami, FL) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Illawarra keeps a position of league leader. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with four games lost. Illawarra will meet bottom-ranked SE Melbourne (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cairns will play against Melbourne (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Illawarra: T.Harvey 20+4reb+3ast, T.Kell III 14+2reb+7ast, L.Olbrich 10+5reb+1ast, S.Froling 10+8reb+1ast, H.Lee 9+4reb, W.Hickey 9+4reb+5ast
Cairns: P.Bradshaw 18+14reb+3ast, R.Edwards 17+7reb+2ast, S.Waardenburg 14+10reb+4ast, A.Gak 12+10reb, K.Adnam 7+1reb+4ast, K.Galloway 7+2reb

Melbourne - SE Melbourne 84-93

Very important is a home loss of third ranked United (4-3) against tenth ranked Phoenix (1-5) on Sunday night. Host United was defeated by Phoenix in a tough game in Melbourne 84-93. The former international center Jordan Hunter (208-1997, college: SMC) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points and 9 rebounds. American forward Matt Hurt (206-2000, college: Duke) contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American guard Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) answered with 19 points and the former international guard Matthew Dellavedova (193-1990, college: SMC) added 11 points and 9 assists in the effort for Melbourne. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Phoenix maintains tenth place with 1-5 record. Melbourne at the other side keeps the third position with three games lost. They share it with Adelaide. SE Melbourne will play against league's leader Illawarra in Gwynneville in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne will play at home against Cairns and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: J.Hunter 20+9reb, M.Hurt 18+7reb+2ast, N.Sobey 16+5reb+2ast, T.Vodanovich 9+2reb, A.Glover 7+5reb+8ast, M.Lewis 7+6reb+3ast
Melbourne: I.Clark 19+4reb+2ast, C.Goulding 16, F.Cameron 12+3reb+1ast, M.Dellavedova 11+4reb+9ast, J.White 7+10reb+1ast, R.Loe 6+9reb+3ast

Adelaide - Tasmania JJ 77-73

Rather expected game in Findon where 8th ranked JackJumpers (2-5) were defeated by fifth ranked Adelaide 36ers (4-3) 77-73 on Sunday. Adelaide made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Montrezl Harrell (203-1994, college: Louisville) stepped up and scored 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) chipped in 23 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) responded with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and point guard Jordon Crawford (168-1990, college: BGSU, agency: Slash Sports) scored 13 points and 6 assists. Adelaide moved-up to third place, which they share with Melbourne. Tasmania JJ lost third consecutive game. Defending champion dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. Adelaide will meet at home Cairns (#6) in the next round. Tasmania JJ will play against Brisbane and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: K.Davis 23+2reb+6ast, M.Harrell 22+7reb+4ast, D.Vasiljevic 11+2reb+1ast, J.Martin 7+4reb, I.Humphries 6+7reb+2ast, S.Dech 6+3reb
Tasmania JJ: M.Doyle 22+7reb+6ast, J.Crawford 13+1reb+6ast, W.Magnay 11+6reb, R.Te Rangi 9, C.Steindl 6+1reb, C.Sword 4+1reb+2ast