NZ slump not on Tacko

New Zealand guard Matt Mooney has come to the defence of Tacko Fall, as the Breakers aim to snap a four-game losing streak tonight.  

After a 7-3 start, New Zealand has slumped to 7-7 while trying to implement Fall into the team, but Mooney says the poor form is due to many more reasons than just the 7’6 giant. 

“None of this losing skid is on Tacko,” Mooney told The Post.  

“We’ve got to adjust to playing with him and figure out how to utilise him because he’s such a mismatch. But the starting five are getting off to bad starts, digging ourselves a hole, and we’re starting third quarters poorly. We’re not executing out of timeouts, and we need everybody focused and on the same page. 

“It’s got nothing to do with Tacko. Unfortunately he gets the most flak because he’s new. Once we figure out how to utilise him, get a win under our belt and get this thing rolling, I think we’re going to get it going.”

Fall had nine points and eight rebounds in last week’s loss to the Sydney Kings, but has failed to make the same positive impact as the man he replaced, Freddie Gillespie, did during his short Breakers career. 

New Zealand hosts the Tasmania JackJumpers tonight at 5:30pm AEDT live on ESPN and TVNZ+.