Basketball: Wesley searching for form

Tai Wesley recorded back-to-back 26-point games to drive the Breakers to a pair of wins. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Breakers coach welcomes power forward back into fold after debilitating health scare

The past 12 months have been kind to Tai Wesley and the Breakers.

The match between player and team was a roaring success in the American's maiden season with the Kiwi club, immediately producing a championship, while this campaign began with Wesley appearing ready to play an even greater role.

But with 2015 set to conclude after a clash against the Cairns Taipans tonight, Wesley sounds more than happy to leave behind this year and embrace the fresh start that awaits.

Wesley was one of the Breakers' most important players in the season's opening weeks. With Mika Vukona and Alex Pledger both suffering injury issues, and new recruit Charles Jackson taking time to adjust to the league, Wesley was ever-present and effective in the paint at both ends of the floor.

Then, as the competition crept near its second month, the power forward found a previously-untapped scoring touch, recording back-to-back 26-point games to drive the Breakers to a pair of wins.

Wesley's minutes were up and he was poised to provide his side with an inside threat to match Corey Webster's prowess from range - but his body had other ideas.

First there was the operation to remove his appendix, then there was the liver infection that stemmed as a result from the surgery.

Before he knew it, Wesley had missed seven games and was required to recapture both his form and fitness over the festive season.

Asked how his body was feeling after featuring in the Breakers' past three games, Wesley offered a reply that spoke to his frustration with a newly-found impediment.

"That's a good question. I don't know," he said. "Some days I feel great and other days I'm struggling to breathe. It's just different every time. Once I hit my second wind, I'm good, and that's kind of how it went in the Sydney game."

Wesley has continued to display a similar offensive ability since his month on the sidelines. The 11 points he scored in Sunday's win over Sydney has his scoring average pre- and post-hospital both hovering around 14 points per game.

But the 29-year-old isn't fooling himself - he knows there is much more work awaiting if he wishes to rediscover the player he was before his health woes.

"I want to say that [my form] is back to where it was, but realistically, it's almost there but not all the way there," he said.

That work has been helped by the presence of Wesley's fellow big men. Coach Dean Vickerman is finally able to call on his complete quartet: Vukona and Pledger are approaching full fitness and Jackson has markedly improved, allowing Wesley the time he needs to settle back into the side.

"It's a lot easier, I'll tell you that. Especially with guys like Alex and they way he's been playing, and Mika beginning to be healthy again."

That group will leave the Breakers (11-6) confident of a win over Cairns (6-11) tonight and leaves Wesley optimistic that 2016 will provide more positive memories.