Mystro
Years ago
Leon Henry is the final local player signed to the NZ Breakers.
Cedric Jackson*
Cory Webster
CJ Bruton
Leon Henry
Tom Abercrombie
Mika Vukona
Dillion Boucher
Gary Wilkinson*
BJ Anthony
Alex Pledger
Development Bloxham, Prewster, Fotu (non contracted)
Mystro
Years ago
Breakers were lucky to have a player of his caliber on their roster fullstop and he got us a championship.
Still a very solid roster with tons of chemistry and talent across the court.
I expect CJ Bruton will step up and take up even more of a leadership role within the team with Henare and Penney gone along with Mika Vukona although Boucher has tons of experience and respect amongst the roster.
Sharod
Years ago
Hope that Lindsay Tait can also be signed with an NBL club. He is an asset for Tall Blacks development too.
Mystro
Years ago
Lindsay seems to step up in a black jersey but I agree that he deserves an NBL contract and it isn't like he'd cost a packet.
I'm looking forward to seeing Vukona and Abercrombie get more looks this season and BJ Anthony and Webster getting more court time. Apparently BJ played well in China recently for the Tall Blacks so I hope he can carry that confidence through to the Breakers. Leon Henry isn't a bad signing and he has earned it by training hard with the team all of last season after his temp contract to cover Penney's stint in the NBA along with a great season with Wellington in the NZNBL.
dingo
Years ago
so it is:
Out: Penney, Henare, Braswell
In: Henry, Anthony, Jackson
Not bad, team saves a lot of money here also. Good opportunity to upgrade the contracts on Vukona & co.
paul
Years ago
Going into the season with only three guards is interesting, especially when one of them is ageing, one unproven and one new to the league!
I would have thought Tait would fit better into this line-up, but Henry has certainly put in the hard yards for his spot. Hopefully Lindsay gets his chance somewhere else, though it looks like he might have to wait for another injury replacement spot.
Sharod
Years ago
In this case, I think Corey would play some minutes in PG. Also it seems future Tall Blacks lack of pg options. Hope Corey and Josh would develop great.
hustle
Years ago
Fair to say the rotation looks like this?
Wilkinson/Pledger
Vukona/Boucher
Abercrombie/Anthony
Bruton/Webster
Jackson/Henry
Bruton starts?
Isaac
Years ago
Henry is more of a small forward and Anthony plays bigger than Boucher, so maybe:
Wilkinson/Pledger
Vukona/Anthony
Abercrombie/Boucher
Bruton/Henry
Jackson/Webster
Or something like this:
Wilkinson/Pledger
Vukona/Anthony
Boucher/Henry
Abercrombie/Webster
Jackson/Bruton
If Anthony has come along quickly, they could start him at PF, play Vukona as SF and have Boucher off the bench. Obviously Bruton wouldn't play minimal minutes behind Jackson, but cover SG while Abercrombie did SG and some SF. My rationale of Boucher in the five is that Lemanis has favoured starting offensively-limited players like Henare and Boucher in the past. I guess with Vukona there, that's less of an issue.
LC
Years ago
Still a very good team.
I'm not sure how much of the load that Bruton can shoulder with Penney's departure.
Mystro
Years ago
agree LC but I'm hoping they won't rely on one player for the bulk of their scoring this season preferring that guys like Vukona/Abercrombie get more looks and the ball going into Wilkinson inside a bit more.
Leon Henry is a swing man much like Abercrombie minus the leaping ability but he can rebound, defend and shoot the 3ball.
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