The Matchup Question Answered Tonight

The NBL23 Championship Series officially kicks off tonight. After what has seemed like an eternity to the excited hoops fans awaiting the culmination of the season, Game 1 is less than 12 hours away.

For the entire lead-up to this series, from the second the Kings locked their place in the final two with the series win over Cairns, all through the FIBA break, and likely all the way until tipoff, the biggest matchup question has been who goes to Xavier Cooks.

The league MVP has once again come on in leaps and bounds this season. After being a dangerous secondary threat behind Jaylen Adams in NBL22 he’s taken the pressure of being the Kings’ main man this season – and he’s absolutely thrived.

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Speaking on NBL Today, former NBL Defensive Player of the Year Adam Gibson believes it will be the Breakers’ club MVP who gets the first crack at Cooks.

“Jarrell Brantley will no doubt get the start on him,” Gibson said. “He’s New Zealand’s four man, he’s so strong and he moves his feet really well.

“He’ll get first crack, but everyone will guard Xavier Cooks. If New Zealand don’t get back in defensive transition or plug the paint and leave it as a one-on-one battle then Xavier Cooks is going to eat all day.

“Brantley will start on him, but they’ll switch a lot of their actions in case there’s a bit of a mismatch with a guard on Cooks.

“Brantley, for me, is a great matchup. They’ll go head-to-head throughout the whole series but New Zealand will have multiple guys they’ll throw at Xav.”

With the Kings leaning into their villain arc heading into the Championship Series, and the Breakers cementing their status as the competition’s Cinderella story this season, plenty of neutral fans and pundits alike have been jumping on the Breakers bandwagon.

After finishing NBL22 at the bottom of the ladder with just five wins for the season, the Breakers could become the second team in NBL history to win a championship the campaign after finishing bottom of the pack.

The only side to have achieved that in the history of the competition is the South Dragons in 2009.

Gibson says while the Breakers’ story is great, Sydney’s home fans could play a decisive factor in Game 1.

“The Kings are the reigning champs. They’re at their home court. They’re tough,” he said.

“It’s going to be a great battle, but a lot of people have jumped on the New Zealand bandwagon and got behind them.

“If New Zealand can get going and steal Game 1 that will be massive for the series, but I’ve got the Kings winning at home.

“They’ve had time to rest Xavier Cooks, Qudos Bank Arena should be packed and it will be a great atmosphere there.

“That home court advantage is going to play a massive factor for me in the series.”

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