Maor's Dislike for MyState Bank Arena

Thursday, February 16, 2023

New Zealand coach Mody Maor has declared the Breakers are confident in getting the job done against the Tasmania JackJumpers tonight in a venue he doesn’t like, MyState Bank Arena.

MyState Bank Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for the Breakers, with a 1-10 record and a losing margin of 13.5 points there. New Zealand played several home games there behind closed doors last season as they were relocated due to COVID.

The Breakers coach said the JackJumpers’ home arena was not liked by the team but a win there tonight will see New Zealand advance to the Championship Series.

“It’s a place I don’t like...it’s a place I don’t like to be in” Maor said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?GAMEDAY!! ? <br><br>Breakers vs Tasmania in game 2 of their playoffs series ?<br><br>The Breakers have a chance to book an early ticket to the Championship Final with a win tonight ? <br><br>Tune in Sky Sport 1 or free to air Prime at 9:30pm NZT <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNBREAKABLE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNBREAKABLE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ROADTOTHECHAMPIONSHIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ROADTOTHECHAMPIONSHIP</a> <a href="https://t.co/avObSxDUuY">pic.twitter.com/avObSxDUuY</a></p>— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1625925410067185682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maor mentioned he had PTSD from MyState Bank Arena back in round 12 after their Boxing Day clash where they lost 93-82. Now, Maor proclaimed the PTSD is done, and they’re ready to move on in this year’s fight for the title.

“This has been a nice circle to close back,” he said.

“We had a week at the Quest hotel in Melbourne last week, and now we get to be in Tasmania. These are probably the two signs of PTSD if you want to mark some of them for the last two years.

“All the guys have been through it, coaching staff and players. We’ve all said it, this is the happiest I’ve been in this place.

“I’ll take that as a good sign.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not always the best of friends.... ? <br><br>TOMORROW NIGHT <br>Game #2 NBL PLAYOFFS<br>9:30pm <br>Sky Sport 1 & free to air Prime <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNBREAKABLE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNBREAKABLE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PqP9as6fmZ">pic.twitter.com/PqP9as6fmZ</a></p>— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1625721570185383943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Breakers have claims to be one of the toughest teams in the league, with Cyclone Gabrielle stopping them from an easy and simple sail to the Championship Series.

New Zealand won 88-68 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three Playoff Series. Having to rush out of New Zealand and into Hobart during the early hours of Monday morning to escape the cyclone, Maor said it was just another barrier that didn’t faze them.

Maor explained how their tough stint over the last two seasons has made the Breakers who they are today and how they’re possibly built different from rival clubs.

“The way the game will play out, I’m fairly confident that we’ve been through most scenarios this year,” Maor said.

“We’ve come back from games; we’ve won a lot by a lot and needed to perform. We’ve come back from losses, and we’ve been down and up.

“We have a feeling where we’ve seen most scenarios and we know how to respond to them.

“This is the nature of being a New Zealand team in the NBL, we relish in those challenges, and we overcome. We keep focused on the things we can control, and the guys did incredible work in the two practices building up.”