Basketball: Breakers bow out with one loss too many

By PETER JESSUP

The Breakers' first season in the Australian basketball league ended with a couple of dodgy refereeing calls and some ill-discipline and immaturity in response - something that defined their season.

They missed the playoffs by one competition point, and during the off-season will have time to watch video of several close games they should have won, and time to ponder the few missed free-throws and the crucial turnovers that cost them.

The Breakers won almost everywhere but on the scoreboard in Adelaide on Saturday night.

They led for all but the last 90 seconds, but went down 93-88 as a vocal home crowd spurred their team to the eighth and last playoff spot.

Two drives by Mike Chappell to the basket were called offensive fouls - 50/50 calls against him.

When Blake Truslove objected, he was called for a technical foul with 90 seconds to go, and the 36ers went to the free-throw line and took the lead.

The 36ers shot 17 of 22 free-throws and the Breakers conceded 20 fouls.

The Breakers shot only eight of 14 free-throws, and the 36ers gave away 14 fouls.

Adelaide gave away fewer turnovers - nine to the Breakers' 17 - and took more steals, 7 to 3.

They rarely went to their bench, and the starting five scored all but three of their points.

Had the Breakers sunk a couple more free-throws and not turned over a couple of possessions, they would have won. They end with a 12-21 record and 10th place, a better start than most new franchises have made and significantly better than the other new team, Hunter Pirates, who won only two of 33 games.

The major area of change before next season is likely to be in mental approach.

General manager Peter Chapman said the New Zealand players had, "to a man", admitted that the grind of the Australian league was tougher than they'd expected.

When the team was in a mid-season malaise after five losses on the trot, Chapman foreshadowed major roster changes in an article in the Herald.

That prompted several players to "put both hands up" to say they wanted to remain with the organisation, Chapman said.

"It caused a lot of ruckus at the time, but we're a professional sporting organisation. Losing is not acceptable.

"After that, there were more players with the right attitude, and I think we saw that in Adelaide. The team improved dramatically towards the end of the season.


"I'm pleased with a passion we've started to develop. That maturity will definitely strengthen us next season."

Coach Frank Arsego today begins a player review, from fitness testing to study of development.

Only four of the current team are signed - Mike Chappell for two more seasons and Tall Blacks Pero Cameron, Dillon Boucher and Phill Jones for one.

The others will this week get an indication of whether they are wanted.

Paul Henare, Aaron Olson and Lindsay Tait are likely to stay.

The future for the rest may be determined by the balance Arsego seeks for next season.

Import Iona Enosa's time might be done, as Chapman has said the Breakers would look for "another gun player like Mike Chappell".

But he said the improved returns from others meant there would not be the number of roster changes he'd envisaged mid-season.

The crowds started slowly but built during the season as the side gained some credibility.

Naming rights sponsor Harvey Norman and other backers are re-signed. Arsego has two more years on his contract and this week Wayne Brown was signed for two years as assistant.

Player breakdown

PERO CAMERON. Had no pre-season and started unfit and overweight. Struggled with niggling injuries. Looked tired and out of form but proved his worth at crucial times in big games. Will be much better next season. Rating: 6.5.

PAUL HENARE. Inconsistent performances to start, struggled to work a constantly changing team and with the pace and intensity. Improved rapidly from mid-season. Should be more authoritative in 2004-05. Rating: 6.5.

AARON OLSON. Also struggled with the pace, size and power of the Aussies and couldn't deliver his trademark long shots. Grew into the game and should also return more consistent performances next season. Rating: 6.

LINDSAY TAIT. Only 21 and already finding his feet in a tough competition. Has loads of ability and looks sure to become a big contributor from the bench. Rating: 7.

MIKE CHAPPELL. The season would have turned to dust without him. Played most minutes in most of the 21 games he fronted in. Average 21 points at 47 per cent accuracy - the team's best. Fierce competitor with heaps of skill. Rating: 9.

PAORA WINITANA. Grew into an awareness that he could make it at this level but that took time. His returns started to come right only mid-season. Has talent, needs more self-confidence to contribute more. Rating: 6.5.

PHILL JONES. Looked tired, coming off four consecutive seasons here and in Europe. Slowly warmed into the season to deliver the outside options for which he was signed. Showed only flashes of the dominance of which he is capable. Much better to come. Rating: 6.5.

IONA ENOSA. Tough, uncompromising attitude what they needed at times, but has a tendency to collect fouls, forcing interchanges at unfortunate times. No 3 point shot a disadvantage. Good competitor. Rating: 7.5.

BEN MELMETH. A disappointment because of injuries. Played 17 games, some at only 75 per cent fitness. Made a huge change to the team when in form and provided great leadership in the first season, but his personal contribution was well down on expectation. Rating: 6.5.

DILLON BOUCHER. Mr 110 per cent. Gave everything in every game and was probably the only player to perform above expectation. Drove the team when times were tough, never faltered in his own returns. Their best. Rating: 9.5.

BLAKE TRUSLOVE. Gave journeyman performances, solid, but no game-breaker. Pushed himself and lifted the team at times but was no substitute for the big-name stars whose playing spots he was filling because of injury. Rating: 7.

OTHERS: Mike Homik had little game-time, mostly when the result was settled. Casey Frank was the league's most accurate shooter but played only a handful of games before Melmeth's injury forced him out for Enosa at centre.

The record

Beat Adelaide 111-110 at home

Lost to Cairns 84-73 away

Lost to Hawks 108-78 away

Lost to Tigers 108-97 at home

Lost to Adelaide 134-105 away

Beat Cairns 93-91 at home

Lost to Cairns 81-68 in Wellington

Lost to Brisbane 90-84 in Christchurch

Lost to Razorbacks 103-95 at home

Lost to Hawks 93-89 away

Lost to Brisbane 137-96 in Hamilton

Beat Razorbacks 82-80 away

Beat Hunter 104-101 away

Beat Giants 113-81 away

Lost to Tigers 78-75 away

Lost to Perth 98-86 away

Beat Tigers 98-83 at home

Lost to Kings 93-83 at home

Lost to Brisbane 103-83 away

Lost to Townsville 112-103 away

Lost to Razorbacks 98-82 away

Lost to Kings 109-99 away

Lost to Townsville 96-80 at home

Beat Townsville 93-79 in Christchurch

Beat Hunter 110-100 at home

Beat Perth 98-89 away

Beat Perth 104-93 in Christchurch

Beat Hunter 93-82 away

Beat Giants 87-69 at home

Lost to Kings 120-104 away

Lost to Hawks 108-84 at home

Lost to Adelaide 93-88 away