Final Heartbreak for Breakers

Thursday, March 16, 2023

After what can only be described as a whirlwind past couple of years, the New Zealand Breakers suffered a heart-breaking Game 5, losing 77-69 in the deciding game of the NBL23 Championship Series.

They fought all season for the chance to win their first championship after a seven year wait, but a hot fourth quarter from the Sydney Kings saw them raise the trophy for the second year in a row.

Breakers’ head coach Mody Maor was disappointed with their loss as he felt the New Zealand side could have gone all the way but he is using the pain as “fuel” to come back better and stronger.

“Honestly very disappointed, this hurts deeply,” Maor said.

“I really felt that this team could’ve gotten it across the line. We didn’t play well enough.

“We’re gonna use this as fuel to come back better next season.”

Maor summarised his first season as head coach and was proud of what the organisation has turned into with New Zealand behind them.

A record was broken for New Zealand in Game 4 with a crowd number of 9,742 people, the most in Breakers’ home game history.

“One of the things we did great is putting in great people in this building, we were able to create an environment where everybody feels appreciated and everybody feels a part of,” Maor said.

“Unity as a team carried us through a lot of challenges this season. It’s definitely something I take pride in.

“One of the things I said at the beginning of this year is that everybody was talking about how great it is being back home. I didn’t feel it was cause for celebration, the sense that it gave me was the sense of responsibility.

“We wanted this team to conduct itself in a way that our fanbase, Kiwi’s, feel proud of and resonates with them, they want to be a part of it.

“Over the last month there were a few instances where it was really clear that we achieved that goal.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not how we had planned to finish, but beyond proud of last nights effort. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNBREAKABLE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNBREAKABLE</a> <a href="https://t.co/DkbmaQCaP5">pic.twitter.com/DkbmaQCaP5</a></p>— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1636079818050785282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

New Zealand put on a stellar performance in the first quarter, when they were up 11 points. However, they couldn't hold off Sydney during the contest's final stages.

Breakers’ guard and a clear leader throughout the season, Barry Brown Jr, top scored with 22 points whilst pushing through his lingering wrist and hand injuries.

Will McDowell-White showed his growth under Maor’s guidance as he enters a crucial free agency period.

Maor is hopeful of retaining McDowell-White, acknowledging their close relationship and the youngster’s contribution in the series.

“Like a father watching his kid. It’s not really a series for me and Will. It goes three years back where he couldn’t make a shot that wasn’t a layup,” Maor said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come for the Matt Walsh interview, stay for the Will McDowell-White free agency update ?<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLFinals</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | Sky Sports and Prime in NZ. <a href="https://t.co/vTauhQ9iE3">pic.twitter.com/vTauhQ9iE3</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1635933328246464513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We spent the whole COVID offseason shooting five or six hours a day. Both of us got tendonitis in the shoulder, me from being old and fat and rebounding, and him from shooting a lot.

“That was our first step, then it was adding his ability to finish and the in between, the floater, that was year two. Year three, this season was about taking a step forward as an individual taking responsibility.

“We saw him take another step forward and now step four is consistency.

“I’m really looking forward to us taking this step together as well. Where he impacts the game all the time, and every game.”

New Zealand Breakers’ owner Matt Walsh added on McDowell-White: “Watching him progress these last three years has been amazing. We’re gonna do everything we can (to keep him). I think he’ll be back”.