Basketball: New Zealand Breakers go down to Sydney Kings

NZ Breakers import Scotty Hopson. Photo / Photosport

Kings 76
Breakers 66

The New Zealand Breakers might be a hot mess, but at least they're embracing the chaos.

Sure, they've only provided a small sample size, but if there's one thing we know about the RJ Hampton-led offence, it's that it's going to play fast and shoot their shots.

The inconsistencies that come with a jump shooting offence aren't going to make life all that easy for the fans; Scotty Hopson's 5-22 shooting line in the side's 76-66 loss against the Sydney Kings in Auckland on Sunday an example of exactly why.

For the near 8000 in at Spark Arena there was plenty to cheer about in the side's first home game of the season, with the Breakers' quick-fire offence digging them out of an early hole, before becoming the very reason the game slipped away from them in the final stanza.

As the Kings worked into the paint through the speed of Casper Ware Jr and Didi Louzada, the Breakers settled for midrange jump shots and three pointers. The hosts nailed just one of seven three point attempts in the quarter.

With the Breakers still finding their feet after coming together on the eve of the competition, there were some promising signs – none more so than the play of Rob Loe.

With the chaos created by a high paced offence, Loe's prowess in the pick and roll game provided the balance. Surrounded by four ball handlers, Loe set strong screens before either cutting to the hoop or peeling out to the three-point line. Loe was impressive for the Breakers in the preseason matches against NBA opponents, and looks like his balancing act will be an important feature of the Breakers' season, contributing 11 points and draining three of his five three point attempts in the loss.

The Kings exploited the downside to the Breakers' small line-up, with centre Andrew Bogut having his way on the glas. The former NBA star needed just 12 minutes to notch 10 rebounds in the game, finishing the night with 16 to go with 13 points.

Fellow big man Brandon Ashley, who wore CJ Bruton's retired No 23 due to a mix-up in organising the team's gear for the game, also provided a lift with eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks off the bench – though his constant foul trouble could be a worry down the track if he doesn't learn the league's officiating.

The loss sees the Breakers drop to 0-2 to start the season, following a loss to the Kings in Sydney on Friday, with the Illawarra Hawks coming to town next Thursday.

Sydney Kings 76 (Casper Ware Jr 17 points, Jae'sean Tate 15, Andrew Bogut 13)
NZ Breakers 66 (Corey Webster 14, Scotty Hopson 13, Rob Loe 11)