'Them's the Breaks': How NZ is defying odds

It’s fair to say just about no one picked the New Zealand Breakers to be on top of the ladder after seven rounds. 

The Breakers had one of the most significant roster transformations in the league, a change of coach and a gruelling road schedule, with a whirlwind tour of the US just two games into the NBL season.

They could have made excuses, but they didn't. 

“Coach Petteri Koponen ... he has the Breakers on top of the ladder,” former champion Damon Lowery said on NBL Now. 

“We thought when they came back (from the NBLxNBA tour), they’d get found out ... well guess what? They have not been found out. We’ve been the ones who’ve been found out.”

Lowery said Koponen was the clear leader for the league’s Coach of the Year. 

“I like everything he’s doing. You can see that Euro flavour he brings to the league is great,” he continued. 

“His former point guard pedigree, his background, I can just see in the way they’re playing. 

“I just love the way he interacts with his team, and right now he is the frontrunner by a couple of lengths for the Coach of the Year.”

The Breakers now have a 6-2 record after a hugely impressive display against Melbourne United, where they won by 34 points in enemy territory. 

“It’s just an amazing group of guys,” Koponen said. 

“We played Saturday. We had one day to prepare ... it was just beautiful to watch, how they were playing together, executing, getting on the same page, no rush ... total control.

“Just a great game from us. 

“It’s still early ... guys know this, but we keep working, improving ... but a great win from us and an unbelievable performance.

“The last two months have been crazy ... we’ve been all over the place, but tonight before the game, I told the guys, ‘it’s all mental’. 

“Even when you’re a little bit tired, nobody really cares. Media don’t care, fans don’t care, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. 

“You have to go out there, perform and do the little things even more better.”

Parker Jackson-Cartwright was again the star for the Breakers, as he continues to put himself in the MVP conversation. 

“What he did last year and he’s continuing to do that ... he’s a special type of player,” Koponen continued. 

“(He’s) one of the best players in the league.” 

New Zealand is getting strong contributions from its new faces too; Sam Mennenga had 25 points in just 18 minutes, Next Star Karim Lopez put up another double-double, and Sean Bairstow chimed in with 12 points of his own. 

For Mennenga, representing his home country is all the motivation he needs to perform.

“I have more pride in winning with this club and with this city and country,” he said, comparing playing for the Breakers to his time in Cairns. 

“We were underdogs coming into this game, and we’ll probably be underdogs going into the next game.

“It’s a small country and it’s a ton of people who just want to fight. 

“We’re carrying the energy of the country. We’re carrying the energy of the city and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”