Club-By-Club: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 5)

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 Tasmania.

HOOYAH – With his family in the stands, Jason Cadee ran out for his 400th game and celebrated in style, getting lifted up by his teammates. I’ve never heard a bad word uttered about Jason, and he’s got plenty more games left in the tank.

HARDEN UP – I know coach Wells is still figuring out the rotations with so many moving parts, and it’s great that Jarell Martin is back, but we still don’t know who the 36ers are and what we’re gonna get each week. Y’all better figure it out quick, because as they say, ‘Every Game Matters’.

Defeated New Zealand.

HOOYAH – Off the bench with 21 points, James Batemon is 11/17 from deep water in his last two games. P.S James didn’t get benched, he offered to come off the bench ... and that’s someone of HIGH CHARACTER!

HARDEN UP – The move to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre is no doubt gonna pay off with the ability to have larger crowds, but someone needs to fix the baseline seating. You could drive a truck through the gap between the front-row of the grandstand and the courtside seats – it looks terrible on TV and it can’t be a good viewing experience for the fans who are seated there.

Defeated by Illawarra.

HOOYAH – He’s been flying under the radar all season, but Pedro Bradshaw produced a big double-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.

HARDEN UP – With starting point guard Taran Armstrong out, the Taipans are compromised. Backup Kyle Adnam now has more responsibility and contributed 7 points and 4 assists but fouled out in 28 minutes. Gotta stay on the floor, Kyle.

Defeated Cairns.

HOOYAH – He’s still a pathological scorer but he’s becoming more surgical. Tyler Harvey diced up the Taipans’ defence with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in only 26 minutes.

HARDEN UP – Darius ‘had one of the those’ Days, fouling out in 13 minutes with 2 points and 6 rebounds.

Defeated by South East Melbourne.

HOOYAH – Ian Clark is back, leading United in scoring with 19 points, including 3 triples. The silky-smooth, cagey veteran rarely disappoints.

HARDEN UP – He’s a bit of a Swiss army knife and can do a little bit of everything on the court, but United needed Jack White to channel his inner ‘Walter White’ and Break Bad. He had just 7 points against the Phoenix, but smashed it last week against Adelaide with 15 points, and 15 the week before against Cairns.

Defeated by Brisbane. Defeated Perth.

HOOYAH – The essence of a HOOYAH, this time last season Max Darling was a DP (Development Player) and played one game. This season he’s in the starting five and had the game of his life with 15 points including 4 triples, 4 boards, and 2 blocks.

HARDEN UP – To whoever thought it was a good idea to have a Tacko Fall meet & greet. Just a small reminder: HE’S NOT ON THE TEAM! As if that’s not bad enough, you’re charging punters $30 to meet him and get a photo? Spark Arena is not a circus.

Defeated by New Zealand.

HOOYAH – When MVP Bryce Cotton got hurt two minutes into the game and didn’t return, Tai Webster led from the front and was lethal in transition. Transition Tai anyone? 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists.

HARDEN UP – 6 points, 6 rebounds in 31 minutes ain’t gonna to cut it, Dylan Windler. More is expected and needed now that Bryce could be out for a while. 

Defeated Melbourne.

HOOYAH – All of you! You broke your duck and got your first DUB of the season. You rallied around interim coach, Sam Mackinnon and didn’t crumble when starting point guard Derrick Walton Jr went down with a hamstring injury. You showed collective heart when United made their run and restored the integrity of the ‘THROWDOWN’!  Great Job!

HARDEN UP – I was gonna give you a pass after such a good win ... until I saw one of the owners Romie Chaudhari’s tweet calling Chris Goulding a flopper and that he’s weak. Romie, you highjacked the moment! All the news outlets are running that, instead of the main focus being that awesome win.  

Defeated Tasmania.

HOOYAH – There’s a saying: “You don’t have to get ready, if you stay ready” and Kouat Noi is the epitome of it. ‘Big Shot Kouat’ came off the bench and dropped 14 points with 13 of those in the decisive 4th quarter.

HARDEN UP – Your disdain in taking care of the most prized possession on the court – the basketball! 21 turnovers didn’t cost you in this game, but if you keep mucking around like that, it will.

Defeated by Sydney and Adelaide.

HOOYAH – Jordon Crawford against Sydney dropped 25 points (18 in the 1st half). The ‘Lil Big Man’ may be the smallest dude in the League, but he’s a professional scorer and don’t ever forget that.

HARDEN UP – The lack of offensive punch is not only an issue with the starters but also the bench. Against Sydney, in just over 58 combined minutes, the bench scored 8 out of a total 71 points on 4/13 FG, that’s 31% and no Bueno.

HOOYAH – Behind the scenes I’m sure the NBL played a part in getting Montrezl Harrell to stay in the League. Now, we just need more like him. This week, dozens of NBA players got waived and have nowhere to play – so go out and find the best ones with the best personalities, and help the teams bring em’ here.

HARDEN UP – Is it just me or was scoring down across the board this week? What’s the problem? No one broke 100 points?! The lowest score being Tasmania with 71. I know defence wins championships but so does offense. #wewantbuckets.