Key takeaways from Round 2 NBL23
With round two finished, here are some key takeaways from each team going into Round 3.
After writing off my Blitz impressions on each team I had a better week of Picks going 6/8 for the round and only missing the Brisbane VS Tasmania game and Perth vs Cairns picks.
Sydney Kings
What can be said about the Sydney Kings other than they are looking like the out and out favourites this year! With two players as possible MVP candidates in Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jnr. Just look at the that dunk! Both players displayed their ability to just take over for Sydney, and took turns on offence to shut out the Brisbane bullets in the fourth quarter and then just roll over Melbourne United. Xavier Cooks is playing the best I have seen through his career. He is attacking the basket and taking over games for large portions. Derrick Walton Jnr looks like he can do it all for Sydney, with stellar playmaking skills and getting open shots to all their players, to attacking the basket and dropping shots. He is looking like the best new player of the season. Then when you have DJ Vasiljvic open to bomb from outside and Justin Simon attacking the rim, the Sydney Kings will be tough to beat. If one player is having an off night, as with DJ being streaky to start the season, they have plenty of weapons to keep their offence ticking.
Cairns Taipans
Cairns as it looked in preseason would be a streaky hot shooting team. If they're hitting their shots they will get some good wins against good teams, but if their shots are off they are ugly to watch as seen when Perth rolled them. They will be a hard pick all season until we see how consistent they can be from deep. After shooting the lights out against Tasmania DJ Hogg went cold and could not hit a shot against Perth as the Wildcats absolutely rolled them. More shots do not always mean more buckets.
Melbourne United
A well rested united squad were steamrolled by the Sydney Kings this week with 4/5 starters only putting in single digit scoring each. Melbourne were looking the goods in preseason and maybe it was just a rough night but it has not made me confident about this Melbourne squad. They won they're first game in overtime against the breakers but until we see more games they are looking shaky. They're results this week will really show where they stand on the board playing Tasmania and Perth. Their imports more then any other I think will be on the chopping block with the salary Melbourne have at their disposal.
Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane have started the season 0-3 in the season and the team must be disappointed. They have at times looked like a playoff team and at others a cellar dweller. The Bullets have had a tough start playing good teams away from home, with their easiest game against the Tasmania Jackjumpers who themselves started 0-3 and were hungry for a win playing at home. They really look like they need to establish they're play style with what everyone thought would be heavy post play team is barely seen. Tyler Johnson has been hot and cold with pushing his play in the game. At times he will force his will and attack the basket and others not barely be seen on the court.
Brisbane did get Jason Cadee going against the Sydney Kings and he really balled out for awhile after 0 points in game 1. Brisbane really need Sobey and Cadee shooting well to play well as a team. They can not solely rely on Baynes and Johnson to carry them against these stacked rosters in Sydney, Perth etc. And they need to go inside more often. Find Baynes and Froling for more post touches and watch the offence develop as the double team comes and they find the open shooter. They played well like this in the preseason but its barely been seen so far in regular season. Why? I don't know, maybe its too easily predicted and with Fiba defence the help is to quick to find the open shooter. Will we see a coach change sooner then we see an import sent home this year?
Tasmania JackJumpers
Tasmania look like a solid team. After going to the finals last year they could not be expected to start at the top, but as last year, I think they will have a strong 2nd half of the season with the coach and play style they utilise. Which is heavy on the defensive end and this will become stronger as the season progresses and the team learns all of Scott Roths defensive rotations. As the team really starts to gel and the imports find their time to take over they should be a solid team that can stand toe to toe with any team out there. That said it might be a slower start to the season. I do like their imports and McVeigh can shoot from anywhere but if they are having an off night the Jackjumpers will certainly have some tough losses.
Melbourne Phoenix
Melbourne got its first win of the season off an amazing display from Kyle Adnam but I cant see him shooting that well every night. They then went on to drop their next two games against the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans. I was not confident with the Phoenix going into the season but mostly due to missing players from injury which have still not returned. Apparently that may change this week with the possibility of Ryan Broekhoff and ZouQi returning to the line up in the next game and Gary Brown possibly the week after. Im still not very high on them at least until Brown is back and we see how they play as a team with the new starters onto the team.
New Zealand Breakers
The Breakers are looking solid but like Tasmania may get better as the season progresses. They look to still be establishing their play style and with some young players they may need some time to find the their feet before putting up some big wins. William McDowell White will be a great floor general when he can find where his team-mates want the ball.
Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide did what no other NBL squad has been able to in history by taking down the Phoenix Suns! they put on an absolute shooting clinic to take an unprecedented win. However they did turn around and get absolutely rolled by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Was it just a hot shooting night or are Adelaide about to return and roll through to the top of the NBL. Im not sure but Craig Randall looks like he can put up big numbers on any night. They may not start as well as others are expecting until Daniel Johnson returns to the lineup, but when fully healthy I can see them going toe to toe with Sydney. This is CJ's team and they look good!
Perth Wildcats
The Wildcats are looking stronger and stronger with every game they play. Bryce Cotton is balling out night in and night out, but their role players are stepping up to contribute everywhere, and put them in the top 2 to start the season. Luke Travers is playing excellent D and is everywhere, while Todd Blantchfield was absolutely on fire in this 350th game of this career. Brady Manek and Teshawn Thomas are contributing both inside and from the perimeter. The Wildcats look to have a well rounded team that has been made for Bryce Cotton to continue to be the MVP calibre player he is. At this stage in the season its a two horse race with Sydney and Perth the standout teams. Thomas did go down with an ankle injury but missing him and Corey Webster did not hamper their ability to beat down the Cairns Taipans. They may have some difficulty to overcome losing them and I will be interested to hear when they are back. Against stronger defensive teams they may struggle until they both return to the lineup.
Illawarra Hawks
The Hawks have a had a tough start to the season matching up against some strong teams with their only win against the SE Melbourne Phoenix. The Hawks are looking a little shaky without Brian Goojian at the helm and after losing Justin Robinson with a torn meniscus the Hawks may have a tough run the next few games until they find a replacement. Tyler Harvey will have to be playing his best to keep them in the hunt this week.
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