We can break through, says under-fire Maor
Far from discouraged as he deals with a league probe into his post-game comments in Christchurch, as well as a team that can't put together back-to-back victories, Breakers coach Mody Maor is adamant there is light at the end of the NBL tunnel.
Maor’s undermanned Breakers still have not posted consecutive victories this season after running out of gas in Melbourne on Saturday night to drop a disappointing one 90-79 to the SEM Phoenix – falling to 4-8, with all sorts still to do to even squeeze into the playoff picture.
On top of that Basketball Australia and the NBL want to speak to the Breakers coach about his comments post-game in Christchurch on Thursday night, after he had been ejected at halftime for arguing with the referees from what would become a 96-83 victory over the Adelaide 36ers.
The travel toll and short turnaround told badly on the Breakers at John Cain Arena as they slumped to their 14th defeat in their last 15 games at the Melbourne venue. After leading for most of the first three quarters, the fatigued Kiwi club – down three key players, including two starters – hit the wall and could muster just 14 points in a disappointing final term. They shot just 26% from beyond the arc, had 13 turnovers and coughed up 13 O-boards.
Notably, imports Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Anthony Lamb barely moved the needle over the run home as their heavy workload finally took a toll. Jackson-Cartwright had just three final-quarter points and Lamb was kept to just a single bucket over the entire second half. Finn Delany was also quiet, with just 6 points on 2-of-8 shooting, and plus/minus of -20.
So, despite another strong showing from sharpshooter Izayah le’afa off the bench (17 points on 6-of-12 shooting) and a nice cameo from Lithuanian youngster Mantas Rubštavičius who chipped in 11 points on six shots, including two of three from beyond the arc, the Breakers unravelled at the end as they had no answer to the inside game of Phoenix star Mitch Creek (26 points on 10-of-15 shooting).
“It was really clear one team came off back-to-backs, and one team came off two weeks of rest,” said the coach. “We ran out of gas. There have been losses this year I’ve been very angry about ... this isn’t one of them. I felt we played hard, our guys competed, and they did things the right way.
“There was a stretch at the end of the third, beginning of the fourth [quarter] where we played great basketball. The ball just didn’t drop.
“We missed open 3s and layups, and the
“There have been losses this year I’ve been very angry about ... this isn’t one of them.’’ Breakers coach Mody Maor
game got away on us. It happens.
”We paid a price for our cover on Creek in the paint ... but in the big picture I’m proud of the way we competed. We’ll win a lot of games if we play like this.”
It's why Maor told Stuff post-game, he felt his team was still well and truly in the playoff mix, despite the unpromising record.
“We’re making steps in the right direction,” he added. “This is usually not stuff I say after a loss, but we’re playing better, more connected, the ball is moving better, and we’re creating more shots and competing at a higher level on defence. These will lead to wins.
“We’ll have enough wins, I hope, to make the playoffs, and I don’t think anyone wants to see us when we’re healthy.”
And the BA “please explain” around his comments in Christchurch?
“I’m happy to explain everything I said because I think I conducted myself perfectly in the situation,” he said. “I’m happy that this is something that people want to look at and hopefully this is something that everybody learns from.”
Notably, the coach steered well clear of any comment on whether he was “happy” with the officiating on Saturday night, even though the foul-count again went against his side.
“Next question,” he barked. “I’m happy with my money in my wallet.”