Kerron Johnson sat out training today to rest a sore shoulder.

Will be a real test of defensive discipline for the Breakers. Goulding is scoring in bulk lots and there are plenty of supporting acts there. Losing against the Crocs at home like they did made Anstey very, very angry; he probably chased them around the practice court yesterday with cattle prods. It will help them if Farrakhan can start getting in the groove this week, but it might be another couple games yet before he reaches peak.

Would expect Breakers to be very careful with that shoulder, he is someone they will need to take on the Tigers.

The NZ Herald have said Johnson is in doubt for the game but their reporting of anything basketball related should be taken with a grain of salt.
He (Kerron Johnson) has a swollen shoulder and had some discomfort at training earlier in the week so they have rested him since. He has had an MRI which was inconclusive and the Breakers are chasing more information and specialists opinions.
Mika Vukona also has a sore shoulder which has limited his neck movement at practice the last couple of days but will be good to go by game day.

Yikes, that's a strange one for Johnson. Hope nothing untoward is going on there. If those two are down on performance, or miss the game, will put a lot of pressure on Bruton. Does Corletto run the point at all?

PG duties will be split between Webster & the aged CJ Bruton and Corletto is just a secondary ball handler in the event of a press.
Wouldn't be so bad if we were playing the Kings, both teams could run 3x SG's all game.

We really need Mika. We need someone to take advantage of Lucas Walker.

Still can't believe that every time I see your username my first thought is "Harry Potter reference?"

Anyway - "take advantage" of Walker?

I will go for tigers in this one especially without johnson melb by 12

Johnson is in doubt, by how much only the Breakers know. Vukona, Pledger, Abercrombie etc all have played with injuries so hopefully Johnson has had a tweet from Worthington telling him to harden up.
I expect him to suit up but could be wrong.

You might need to get Johnson onto Wortho's fantasy NBL team first.

Does anyone remember the time when all teams were afraid to play Aukland? Even the cheerleaders were scary!

Goulding is the obvious key to the game and for the Breakers to have any chance, they need to keep him down. Who will step up and drink from the poisoned chalice?

With Goulding in white hot form, its hard not to see the Tigers tear out the heart of the Breakers.

Tomlinson/Goulding v Johnson/Corletto is much more even proposition than a Buton/Corletto backcourt. If Johnson plays, I'm in the air over the result, but if he doesn't, that gives Anstey a lot of material to work with and Tigers should get it done.

I'm sticking with the match-point theme for the Breakers, a win would set them up nicely- MUST win game again!

I would have thought that Abercrombie would get the job on Goulding using his length and athleticism to contest, but his scoring of late has been super valuable so Corletto may have to use his fouls wisely on Goulding.
I'd be comfortable with TeRangi/Vukona covering and negating anything Walker may bring to the table.

Abercrombie is the best match-up, but with Walker and Wortho and the two forward spots the Tigers make it very hard to play a SF on Goulding.

Breakers could play Webster @ PG and shift Abercrombie down to SG, TeRangi at SF and Vukona/Wilkinson at PF and the Pledge at C.
Would be a long and athletic team capable of switching on defense and tough cover offensively.

If the season goes south I think the Breakers should give Webster a lot of time at PG. He will never be a pure PG but the more time there the better he'll get, and he's already their best pick-and-roll guy, just needs to learn how to spot the non-obvious pass when the defence rotates to cover the roller/kick-out etc.

Abercrombie and Webster are still on the youngish side when it comes to go-to guys down the stretch, but Id like to see the Breakers back that pair in because they are both more than capable.

Goulding is going to go off tonight.

The Breakers are the most ill-equipped team to defending elite Shooting Guards.

Corletto can't defend to save himself.

Webster could match Gouldings' speed, but is giving up 3 inches or so. (Shame Corey didn't get his dad's height, Tai clearly has).

Abercrombie is your only real option.

But I don't think he could keep up with Goulding. If Abercrombie did guard him, I could see him picking up a few early fouls, which will mean he has to sit on the pine (which ultimately negates his offensive game)

The thing they could do is just rotate the defensive assignments and throw a combination of those guys at him, along with Te Rangi.

Either way, im tipping Chris to have 30 + tonight.

Corletto did a great job on Lisch in the finals, all be it very physically

Because he is in the league for his shooting ability?

Steve Novak has being in the NBA for a while..doesn't make him a good defender.

So, is Johnson suiting/not suiting?

Corletto is a very smart defender, not too many bad ones play on four championship teams, but Goulding's athleticism would trouble him (and most others). It's about team D with superstar players, as Townsville showed in the second half last week.

I believe Johnson is suiting up, how many minutes he plays is anyones guess

Thanks Mystro - NZ away to Perth and Melbourne next round, does call for some judicious injury management.

First points of game = Goulding absolutely blows by Corletto for the and1

Looks like Corletto has the job (inasmuch as he can) on Goulding.

And a second foul by Corletto on Goulding in the first three minutes of the game. Bad start.

Could someone please give me a running score update please? (Internet really slow!)

ARGH this foul situation, bloody sort it out already! FFS!

Scores are 7-5, with fouls keeping pace at 3-3 after only three and a bit minutes.

Only person in multiple fouls atm is Corletto on 2, was not subbed out at the time, but now as been subbed for Webster about halfway through the quarter. Johnson fouled Goulding, no one is shooting well and the foul count is 4-3, score 9-7.

Thanks, you're a life saver

Corey Webster with a USF on Farrakhan, made both, then Tomlinson sank a three on the retained possession, assisted by Ballinger.

Ouuuuch, Vickerman would not have loved that.

Webster redeemed himself with his own three, then Te Rangi made a steal and 3pt of his own.

Goulding has drawn his 3rd foul, this time from Abercrombie, Morrison has dunked and we are rattling along 26-21 with a minute to go.

Very high quality game thus far!

Damn it...#BREAKERNATION
#LETSGOBREAKERS

Abercrombie and Corletto both on 2 fouls at quarter time, Goulding having drawn 4 so far. Not shooting well so far but if he keeps getting his defenders in trouble he will capitalise.

Top scorers are Morrison 6, Wortho 5, Vukona 4.

Te Rangi just missed two free throws.

NZB cleaning up on the boards behind Vukona

Vukona, Waxy, Goulding each on 3 assists

Vukona having an absolute blinder so far, 4p 4a **9**r 1b

Trip Dub watch??

From Hero to Zero, Wilkinson goes from hitting the triple to committing NZ's 2nd USF of the game, this time on Morrison.

@Griffin

He's certainly tracking for it, and staying out of foul trouble so far for a miracle (just watch, he's going to be straight out ejected now I've said this)

Yeah probs

Correct me if I'm wrong but is Corey Webster the laziest player in the NBL or just the laziest guard?

Lol @ Anstey using a cattle prod on his players... Think Webster could use this!

2:21 left in the second and Melbourne 36-33. I think I'll stick with Melbourne for this game.

Goulding has started well

As much as i dislike Wortho...Damn the refs have screwed him over

Vukona is on fire...

When the refs were letting small contact go in the first quarter the game was free flowing and exciting..

When they started calling it much tighter, the quality of the game diminished greatly

Melb can not get a call. The Tigers get frustrated when the reffing doesn't go their way. Breakers lead is about to get a lot bigger lucky half time is only a minute away

12 Points, 12 Rebounds, 4 Assists, No Fouls...MIKA, HOW ANGRY ARE YOU?

Is Mika wanting player of the week (nomination) or just the win?

He has been ridiculous tonight...

Talking about ridiculous... Got some of our better refs in this league calling this game and that second quarter was ugly

That in huddle cam was rad. Cj Bruton "2 things, Keep him off the glass and don't let Goulding beat us""He's got 21 points is the leading scorer in the league do you think he cares."

always a great atmosphere at NSEC

That's a Breakers team I would pay to watch, much better performance.
There were still large periods where the offense completely dried up but the Tigers deserve a lot of credit for pressuring NZ into wasting possessions.

Goulding still got open more than I'd like but in the end it didn't matter.
Great to get the win at home with a half decent performance against a good opponent.

Vukona lead by example and I loved Webster, Wilkinson & TeRangi's hustle & energy off the bench.

After Goulding & Morrison the Tigers didn't have anyone else who looked like doing much offensively apart from chuck up a 3. Their new import hasn't really found his feet in the league and looks pretty frustrated.

I've been thinking about this since the game ended and instead of going off at Melbourne I think Breakers need their props as they Tigers were no way comfortable.

Watching that last quarter, I couldn't help but feel that Tigers are a 3rd rate team, Goulding was being stopped, Wortho was ineffective and they couldn't get the ball inside to Morrison. Ballinger should have been out there and as for Mustaphar; he looked like Bennie Lewis with even less game (both wear #9)

On a lighter note, that's 3 poor games in a row for Worthington... If he doesn't destroy Garlepp and his mates then he won't be in my dream team next week

Melbourne wont be a factor while Anstey is calling the shots. He has no control over the group. Have it on very good authority that Wortho doesnt do weights because he doesnt feel like it. Farrakhan is another misstep by him. lazy players are attracted to the environment. Even Goulding has had enough and only taken leaps forward because he is doing extra work and wants to get better.

Holy crap, Mika Vukona

Well, the we have a pack now for the playoff positions and after dropping the hammer on Melbourne in the 4th, and Sydney's 43, you would have to give some thought to NZ being the 3rd strongest team at present.

Vukona doing another Rodman

When the Breakers sent out an SOS for a hero, enter M Vukona.

So that's what happens when Vukona stays out of foul trouble.

@ Muzz Buzz

Why would there be so much discontent?

What's Tommy Greer doing about it ? As captain you'd believe he wouldn't want his team being so divided and surely Greer is good for something (commentary isn't his go either) but I'm not sure exactly what it is yet!

I think Nate Tomlinson is progressing along great and surely Anstey has fast tracked him with all the minutes he gives him and he is getting better and I'd rather have Nate on the floor over the angry Mustaphar

Anyone saying Ubaka back in for Farrakhan is jumping the gun so badly they probably need to get on one of those AMI ads as well.

I love the invisible foul from Johnson on Goulding for the and1 play.

TeRangi is a hybrid of Vukona & Abercrombie, once his IQ is up he'll be great.
Love his energy on the boards, guess Mika set the tone for him.

I thought Pledger was meant to be an elite defender, yet he's giving up big numbers to his matchups.

Breakers played Pledger, Wilkinson & Vukona at Centre for stretches.

Not necessarily just last night. Conklin did really well in at least two of the three games they played Townsville, Daniel Johnson beat him convincingly, Traghardh bagged above his average, Larry Davidson got a double double.

It's not just the points and rebounds he gives up, but the number of shots he gives his opponent.

Didn't pledger block the shit out of DJ a few times last time they played?

Watched the game again and very few of Morrisons points came from scoring "on" pledger.
He generally took advantage of mismatches with smaller players on him and a few cheap put backs from poor team defense.

Yeah, not many were on Pledger who spent a lot of time helping out, but I thought Alex got outhustled by Morrison, full credit to him for playing a really good game.

Look, if Knight can be labelled just a good role player, Pledger can get labelled a bad defender, it happens!

Agreed Paul re: outhustled, Vickerman called him out in a timeout for pretty much that.

Indeed.

He had a dominant mindset for much of last season at the defensive end which has only popped up in patches this year. Maybe the soft calls at the start of the season have made him a bit more tentative, but he needs to get back to that mindset to get NZ through this upcoming road stretch, as Abercrombie has done in recent games.