THE National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason competition is past the halfway point, with plenty of action as the league’s 10 teams hit the court in Darwin ahead of the fixture commencement next weekend.
Tuesday night saw a pair of clashes, as the Illawarra Hawks snuck past the New Zealand Breakers, while the Brisbane Bullets held on against the Cairns Taipans as a pair of thrillers played out on a gripping night of basketball.
While the results have no say on the regular season directly, there is still a bit to take out of the evening’s action on the eve of next Saturday’s tip-off.
In news that is new to no one, the Brisbane Bullets loaded up in the offseason, with some big name additions launching them from strugglers to contenders overnight. While the return of Aron Baynes dominated the headlines, one that may have flown under the radar is the addition of Tyler Johnson, with the former NBA guard set to play a key role in season 2022/23. Against the Taipans, Johnson chimed in from some crucial buckets, showcasing an ability to pull up from midrange but also drive to the hoop. To cap off an impressive night, he nailed the match-winning basket after converting a lay-up with 15 seconds to go to give the Bullets the lead.
The Illawarra Hawks may have lost some key personnel over the offseason, but Tyler Harvey‘s offensive ability remains a constant. He tormented the Breakers’ defence with an uncanny capability to find the bottom of the net, and finished with a game-high 27 points on 8-14 shooting. Teams are going to have to find ways to defend him without fouling, as one of Harvey’s biggest strengths is his ability to force the opposition into unnecessary contact, and punish them at the free throw line. His individual performance will have a big say in Illawarra’s success this season.
The New Zealand Breakers could not get the job done for the second game in a row, but they still showed promise over the course of the game. Seven three-pointers in the third term alone saw the Breakers drag themselves back into the game, but they were only in that position thanks to a second consecutive strong showing from Next Star Rayan Rupert, who appears set for a big year in a NZ jersey. He scored 11 points in the first half alone on Tuesday night, and ended up top-scoring for the Breakers with 17 to go with eight boards. If he continues this sort of form, his NBA Draft stock will go through the roof.
THE National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason competition is past the halfway point, with plenty of action as the league’s 10 teams hit the court in Darwin ahead of the fixture commencement next weekend. Tuesday night saw a pair of clashes, as the Illawarra Hawks snuck past the New Zealand Breakers, while the Brisbane Bullets […]THE 2022/23 National Basketball League season is less than two weeks away from getting underway, and it is shaping up as one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Last year saw the Tassie fairytale, some new stars step to the forefront and Sydney dominance in the big dance. With some big names joining […]THE 2022/23 National Basketball League season is less than two weeks away from getting underway, and it is shaping up as one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Last year saw the Tassie fairytale, some new stars step to the forefront and Sydney dominance in the big dance. With some big names joining […]THE Brisbane Bullets look to be boosted by the addition of Aron Baynes in season 2022/23 of the National Basketball League (NBL), with the big man making a significant impact in his first outing in a Bullets jumper. Brisbane faced off against the New Zealand Breakers in the Blitz preseason competition in Darwin on Sunday, […]THE Adelaide 36ers have added to the hype surrounding their upcoming campaign with an 84-76 triumph to kick off the National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason competition against the SEM Phoenix on Friday night. With the addition of some big names in the offseason, the 36ers are looming as one of the contenders for the […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season for 2022/23 is just weeks away, but even closer than that is the commencement of the Blitz preseason competition, which kicks off on Friday night in Darwin. The Northern Territory’s capital city will host the entire league for a week of games, which gives all 10 teams the opportunity […]THE NEXT National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, and there is plenty to keep an eye on in the 2022/23 campaign. One of the biggest positives for the competition over the past few years has been the injection of young talent into the league, with the NBL attracting not only domestic, […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) preseason hitouts continued on Thursday night, with a pair of clashes taking place as sides continue to ramp up their preparations for the 2022/23 season. With the fixture set to kick off in just over three weeks, preseason matches are the perfect opportunity for sides to see how their new […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, and there is plenty to keep an eye on in the 2022/23 campaign. One of the biggest positives for the competition over the past few years has been the injection of young talent into the league, with the NBL attracting not only domestic, also […]If you like the content that Rookie Me Central provides and don’t want to miss any of it, then sign up to receive our newsletter today.
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