Club-By-Club: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 19, NBL25)

Author disclaimer: To all the players, coaches and administrators, the following opinions are mine and mine alone. It’s ALWAYS business – and NEVER personal. So, if I name you, shame you, offend you or slap you on the back and put your name up in lights, just accept it for what it is and move on.

By Damon Lowery.

Defeated by Brisbane and South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Wiley veteran Jason Cadee was instrumental in the fight back against the Phoenix. Although it wasn’t enough in the end, your 15 points and 7 rebounds were more than much needed.

HARDEN UP – Last regular season home game, another sellout and against a Brisbane team ravaged by injury - but you thought all you had to do was show up. You disrespected the game.

Defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – I love a double-double and when it’s your 1st career one, I love it even more. Tohi Smith-Milner, you had 14 points & 10 rebounds in an unbelievable road win against Adelaide.

HARDEN UP – Talk amongst yourselves, I’ve got nothing for you.

Defeated by New Zealand

HOOYAH – Winners of the 1st Summer Shootout with the biggest score on the road against Brisbane with 111. Now you got $50k to put towards the end of season shenanigans.

HARDEN UP – Your defence lacked any bite. Allowing the Breakers to shoot 80% FG in the 1st half and 61% for the game makes it next to impossible to win.

Defeated Tasmania

HOOYAH – Sam Froling went “Full Bully Mode” against the JackJumpers. Your strength was on full display as you committed to living two inches from the hoop on your way to 18 points at 80% FG and 7 rebounds.

HARDEN UP – 18/29 from the foul line? Hmmm, we all know how important those freebies are, and you can’t shoot them with your eyes closed. Tidy that up.

Defeated Tasmania

HOOYAH – Shea Ili, you are basketball’s version of a Strait Jacket. Your all-around game was outstanding: 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

HARDEN UP – Giving up 61 first-half points is concerning heading into the post season. To your credit, you re-established your defensive integrity to hold the JackJumpers to 31 second half points.

Defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – Matt Mooney, you balled-out again with 24 points, 8 assists and 3 steals.

HARDEN UP – 17 turnovers is why you didn’t blow the Taipans out of the joint. You’ve got 1 more game to show the basketball world how much you care about it.

Defeated South East Melbourne and Sydney

HOOYAH – It’s rarer than hen’s teeth when a player plays the whole game in this era. The Kings had to deal with 40 minutes of you, Bryce Cotton, and it didn’t go well for them. 30 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and ZERO turnovers. Damn.

HARDEN UP – Dylan Windler, your 2 points (1/5 FG) in 25 minutes against the Phoenix is a tough way to return from injury. You’re a great shooter and a paid-up member of the “Snipers Association”. 14 points against the Kings two days later was more like it. I wasn’t that worried…

Defeated by Perth, defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – An aggressive and involved Jordi Hunter never lets you down. A 13-point, 13-rebound double-double against Perth is proof of that.

HARDEN UP – Your ability to blow big leads and disregard what got you the big lead is an issue. Against Adelaide you were up 23 early in the third and ended up being down 5 early in the fourth. That won’t fly in the playoffs.

Defeated by Perth

HOOYAH – Cam Oliver, you delivered a big 22-point, 10-rebound double-double against Perth. I can only imagine the numbers you would put up if you played more.

HARDEN UP – 1 point, Jaylen Adams? 1 single point? Let that sink in. Playing only 14 minutes due to the personal foul count didn’t help. But ONE point?! Damn!

Defeated by Illawarra and Melbourne

HOOYAH – I won’t reveal Clint Steindl’s age, but he turns 36 next month. This Hooyah is not about your 13 points in 24 minutes and it’s not about the 3 triples you hit - it’s all about that dunk you threw down against the Hawks. That wasn’t on anybody’s bingo card. Way to get up!

HARDEN UP – Ian Hummer, you’ve been playing basketball around the world and for a long time. 24% on the season from the foul line and an airball against Illawarra is … staggering.

HOOYAH – (DOUBLE BANGER ALERT):

Champion Pride Round is a downright beautiful initiative, that reinforces the importance of diversity and inclusion. With so many unsafe places in the world, it’s comforting to know the NBL is not one of them. MASSIVE HOOYAH!

HOOYAH – Referee Marc Mill may have snapped his Achilles in the 1st quarter, but did he crumble to the ground in agony? Nope. Did he get carried from the floor? Nope. He calmly walked off the court and into the tunnel like a gladiator (and he’s built like one too!). Speedy recovery, Marc - you are now my favorite referee.

HARDEN UP – With MVP night a week away, how can we not have an NBL All-Defensive Team. There’s way too many stoppers, clampers, and human Strait Jackets out there to not recognise the best 5! C’mon now, this ain’t right!