Bullets vs Breakers NBL Blitz 18/09/22
It was exciting to see Aron Baynes and Tyler Johnson here from the NBA, suiting up for the first time on the Bullets roster, and to see if Brisbane could keep their impressive play style going from the early preseason games. Prior to the Blitz Brisbane dominated Melbourne United with consistent ball movement and a flowing offence. Bringing in the stars could have been a struggle to continue with that style. Sobey was also back but was on a large minutes restriction along with Aron Baynes.
New Zealand were without their starting point guard William McDowell White, so they would definitely be at a disadvantage and hard to get a true read on them as a team. Rayan Rupert will always be worth the entry ticket though. I'm sure we will be watching him in the NBA next year, so enjoy it while you can.
1st Qtr:
Akoldah Gak got the scoring started with a tip in rebound and Brisbane were on the board early.
Aron Baynes quickly pulled down his first rebound and he is looking strong to start the season. As athletic as ever judging from this early look.
The Breakers opened their scoring account with a Barry Brown drive and got fouled by Gak completing the 3 point play.
Early on you can see Baynes absolutely shutting down the paint on defence. The breakers don't want a look in. He is a big body and takes up so much of the area inside. He got an early bucket off an under the basket drop shot and finished the and 1. He looks happy to be playing professionally again!
Tyler Johnson and Baynes both missed a couple of open corner 3's but as we have seen a lot of people are struggling on these "Tight" rims. Maybe Baynes can loosen them up with some big dunks through the tournament.
Already you could see Brisbane are trying to keep the flowing offence in this new look team as Devondrick Walker dishes to Baynes, then to Gak for an easy floater and it all looks too easy for Brisbane.
I really like Devondrick walker on this Brisbane roster. It has been said that he may be a temporary feature for the team, and will face plenty of scrutiny playing beside players like Sobey, Johnson and Baynes, but I feel like he fits in well with the ball movement offence that the Bullets are implementing and that can be hard to find in an import willing to play in a system like that. It is refreshing to watch after the Patterson black hole in previous season where the ball may go through the basket eventually but it stopped moving as well.
Tom Vadonovich got New Zealand going with a couple of bomb 3's getting the lead for the Breakers. 13-14 with 4:11 left in the quarter.
New Zealands french phenom Rayan Rupert makes his presence and skill known in the first quarter with a steal off Sobey and Dunk for New Zealand extending the lead 13-19.
Sobey then made a couple of strong drives but certainly still looks to be nursing that injury. New Zealand hit a couple of 3's and blow the lead out to 10, 16-26 with 40 seconds left in the 1st.
Harry Froling got to the line to keep the bullets in it, but some smooth moves from Rupert leads to a Rob Lowe dunk to close out the quarter. 18-28. Rupert has a very smooth skillset for an 18yr old.
2nd Qtr:
Jason Cadee got a nice layup from some good ball movement to open the quarter. While on the other end Rob Lowe has a huge tip jam to get the scoring going for the Breakers.
Baynes got a nice mini hook to get his scoring going in the quarter and then got another inside bucket after a missed 3 attempt. He as such a post presence. He is just so big!
On the defensive end, Baynes is everywhere! As the commentator said "he is a walking wall"
Sobey continued to attack the rim after a couple of missed 3 attempts and gets to the hole on multiple times also getting to the charity stripe. On limited minutes he is making an impact attacking the basket. Since it looks like no one can hit on these rims!
Tyler Johnson starts attacking the paint and finished a nice mini hook bringing the score 32-33 with 3:26 left in the half.
DJ Mitchel got a huge dunk from a Harry Froling post up and dish on the inside, bringing the lead back for Brisbane.
It looks like the teams that attack the rims in this tournament will be successful as the rims are so tight, no one can hit a 3! Tyler Johnson must have noticed as he continued to attack the rim with a strong move here to the basket for the and one play.
Izaya Li'afa had a nice pass to Rob Lowe to get the Breakers offence back on.
But a Froling post play for Brisbane closed the quarter holding a good lead 43-37.
3rd Qtr:
Baynes started early in the half with a lefty hook to open Brisbane's account, and drops the too little smack talk on the defence. He certainly was having fun out there.
Jarrell Brantley got scoring started for the Breakers in the half with an offensive board and tip in.
Devondrik Walker made a nice move off a Baynes back screen and got an easy layup from a Jason Cadee assist. He moves well without the ball as well.
Cadee then had an insane dime on transition to DJ Mitchell for the layup and the score started blowing out 50-39 with 6:00 left in the quarter.
Baynes then hit a 3 pointer extending the lead.
Jason Caddee got a transition layup off a New Zealand free throw and it couldn't be more evident they have to work on their transition D.
Rayan Rupert made a good 3 to keep New Zealand alive but it looks like he will have to work on increasing his speed on the shot to raise his draft stock. He certainly has all the other tools!
Vodanovich hit a 3 Bomb and the Breakers were ready to mount a come back down 57-51, but a strong Drive by Gak and its still an 8 point game.
Tyler Johnson then had a very smooth drive to close out the quarter Brisbane holding the lead 62-53.
4th Qtr:
Jarell Brantley had a strong post play to open the quarter for NZ but on the other side Tyler Johnson had a smooth cut and tough finish to get the and 1 lay up off a nice pass from Gak, who is putting together a good all round game for the Bullets.
New Zealands transition defence continued to be hopeless and the bullets blow the lead out and run away with the win. With 5 min left in the 4th quarter it was 74-57 and the coaches clear out the benches.
Brisbane get the W 81-69
Brisbane:
Aron Baynes 14 points, 6 Rebounds (14 minutes)
Tyler Johnson 14 points
Breakers:
Jarell Brantley 10 Points
Tom Vodanovich 15 points, 5 rebounds
Brisbane continued to move the ball well. Their first couple of preseason games had the ball moving and they continued it all game in this big win. Its a beautiful brand of basketball they are playing at the moment and hopefully they can continue to play like this throughout the season.
Just fun to watch!
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