JTB player comps:
Oscar Goodman = Rich Man’s Jordan Ngatai. Smidge short to truly play the four. Clearly came up as a big so mashes in the post.
Lachy Crate = Finn Delany. So many similarities. Back scratching dunks. Two footed leaper. Hopefully can develop his skills like Finn
Jackson Ball = Kirk Penney. Gorgeous shooting pocket. Leverages his shooting to punish top-locking.
Hayden Jones = Reuben Te Rangi. Weird to say for the son of Phill but speeding up his release is the key to unlocking his greatness. Super underrated defensively.
Outstanding Hayden Jones on both ends. Deputised in ball handling duties with Tama Isaac in foul trouble. Very calm getting to his spots and his counters. Elite secondary rim protection on the defensive end with four blocks.
JTBs had 17 OREB on 17 missed 2PAs through 3QT.
JTBs G1 notes:
- JTB size immense. Never seen a NZ basketball team at any level dominate via size and athleticism.
- Scoreline flattered the Argentinians. NZ shot quality was significantly better. Ball, Hopoi, Jones missed great 3s.
- Ball is the best player on the team at 17.
Zico Coronel
🥉HC Bay Hawks ‘18 14-4 (4-14 prior)
🥈HC Bay Hawks ‘19 14-4
🥇HC Wellington Saints ‘21 16-2
💹AC Shimane Magic ‘22 40-15 (team record, 28-32 prior)
💹AC Shimane Magic ‘23 48-12
📈 HC Wellington Saints ‘24 14-6 (9-9 prior)
🥇HC Utsunomiya Brex ‘25 48-12
The goat
What Jackson Ball has done this year has been very underplayed. Sure, he got plenty of press for the preseason MVP and the 40-piece in a glorified scrimmage, but there hasn't been that much coverage of THE 17 YEAR OLD KID being the most efficient high-volume scorer in the league.
The Indian Panthers had to take a player from the opposing team to make up the numbers #ClassicNBL
Replying to @nznbl @manawatujets
UPDATE:
@manawatujets
C. Webster - Hip Injury
@PanthersNZNBL
L. Kelemete - Personal
L. Henry - Personal
Z. Te Puni - Personal
J. Gerrand - Personal
D. Matakatea - Personal
Judd Flavell such a great get for the Sky commentary team this season, brings an unmatched knowledge and understanding to of league to the viewer. As one would expect, a few first match jitters in round one but his combination with Nick Bewley this past week was elite.
Hot Take: Alex Toohey is a significantly better prospect than Rocco Zikarsky. Not sure that people have grasped how great Toohey is right now. Best wing defender in the NBL already and -- intra-racial comparisons I know -- very Franz Wagner-y w the long strides getting to the rim
Illawarra nailed their recruitment this past off-season. I would consider every single player in their rotation outside of Swaka Lo Buluk to be underrated, imports included.
Super talented and perfect basketball fits across every position. What a contrast to this time last year.
Had Loe rated as the 18th (!!) best player per min in the Aus NBL last season — +0.2 on O / +2.7 on D per 80 possessions. Does so much that doesn’t show up in the box score. NBL Brook Lopez remains extremely underrated and should remain effective as long as he chooses to play.
Inevitably there will be plenty of chatter about the same old stacked Saints after this game but despite my best efforts they still closed reasonable underdogs at home tonight.
A travesty that there wasn’t a higher-level gig for Zico to stop him dominating the NZNBL once again.
Sam Garriock retweeted
NBL lens: There’s some good commentators, but overall we have a big increase in self promotion, storytelling that’s irrelevant to the game, some lack prep/research, and loose recollections of prior seasons. Pair that with less audio in timeouts, cameras still missing live play…
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