Ten games into the new campaign and the signs are promising that these are the Breakers of old rather than the impostors who replaced them last season.
The 7-3 record and spot inside the Australian NBL top three are impressive enough but it's the manner of the opening month's success that will inspire the most confidence in Dean Vickerman. The shut-down defence is back after a year's vacation, the roster is deeper in previous areas of weakness and in Cedric Jackson the Breakers boast one of the league's best.
Restricting Wollongong to 55 in Friday's win must be taken with a handful of salt, considering the last-placed side were a week removed from scoring a record-low 53 against Sydney. But it was indicative of the progress the Breakers have made at the defensive end. Only twice have the Kiwi club conceded more than 90 points, a number they shipped last year in more than half their games.
The Breakers' championships were built on a hard-nosed defence and that looks to have returned, allowing an average of 77 points through 10 games to sit in a share of second in that category.
