The Championship Series Defining Battle

There are ridiculous, series defining matchups everywhere you look in the upcoming NBL23 Championship Series.

Whether it’s the potential defensive job Justin Simon will be given on Will McDowell-White, the crash-and-bash fest expected between Dererk Pardon and Rob Loe against Tim Soares and Jordi Hunter, or the star battle between forwards Xavier Cooks and Jarrell Brantley – there are plenty of one-on-one clashes that could decide the series.

The battle between the two sets of guard rotations looms as the most interesting though, with Barry Brown Jr’s impact off the bench for the Breakers potentially causing a number of matchup headaches for Chase Buford and his charges.

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It’s a certainty that Brown Jr and All-NBL First Team member Derrick Walton Jr will match up throughout this series, and former NBL Defensive Player of the Year Adam Gibson believes it could be the one that holds the key.

“Barry Brown Jr has been exceptional coming off the bench,” Gibson said on NBL Today. “They were down I think 10-2 and he came in and had an instant impact.

“Derrick Walton Jr can pick and choose his times a little bit more because he’s not necessarily a focal point.

“The luxury for the Breakers is all their guards play great defence … [but] I think for the Kings that Derrick Walton Jr will come out and be more aggressive.

“He’s shown during the season he’s happy to pick and choose, set his teammates up and play a more passive type of point guard role. I see him going off in one of these games.

“I think that, along with Cooks vs Brantley, will be the two matchups that decide the whole series.”

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For Breakers stalwarts Rob Loe and Tom Abercrombie this series will represent far more than just another chance to win a championship.

Abercrombie was a crucial part of the golden era of Breakers basketball in the early 2010’s, while Loe began his NBL career just one season after the side’s most recent Championship Series appearance.

Now 31, Loe experienced firsthand the difficulties and trials the entire Breakers organisation went through over the two Covid impacted seasons, and recently spoke on how tough it was over the course of the seasons.

RELATED: Happier Loe Reflects on Rough Past

Gibson – who was playing for the South East Melbourne Phoenix at the time – says it’s impossible to realise just how tough the Breakers had it.

“Covid was hell for them,” Gibson said. “We went through it for about a month, we were away from home for about a month and it felt like six months. I can only imagine what they’ve been through for two years.

“To be able to play again in the final after everything they’ve been through, they’ll be over the moon.

“No doubt they’ll be excited to come out and get a win in Game 1, but I can only imagine what it’s been like to go through all that for them – especially Rob Loe, Tom Abercrombie.

“A lot of the Breakers are new to the team so they didn’t go through what a lot of these other guys have, but you can only imagine the stress and what it’s been like for them.”

Game 1 of the NBL23 Championship Series tips off on Friday, March 3 at 7:30pm AEDT – live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies.