NZ Breakers coach Petteri Koponen exudes a confidence that he has his team absolutely humming right now, despite a much-maligned travel schedule that has bounced them from one hemisphere to another, backwards and forwards across the Tasman, and up and down New Zealand.
Now 5-2 and sitting atop the Aussie NBL table, after their biggest win of the season over Adelaide 36ers, the former Finnish international seems to have his first professional coaching assignment exactly where he wants them, but that excitement is tempered by the knowledge it could all change in an instant.
"We were really solid, all 40 minutes," he reflected on the 109-82 home win. "We talk about rebounding, one-one-one responsibility before the game and the guys did an amazing job.
"Already in Sydney, we took huge steps there, winning those closeouts, one-on-one... those 50-50 situations. Everybody who stepped on the floor tonight contributed, everybody were doing the things we practised during the week.
"Solid 40 minutes, but like I said, after losses, there's no time to cry and now is no time to celebrate. Next game comes fast and we start to already focus on recovery."
Within 48 hours, the Auckland outfit must cross the ditch for a top-of-the-table showdown with Melbourne United (7-3), currently second in the standings. Under former Breakers coach Dean Vickerman, they have reached the final four times in the last seven years, taking regular season honours five times and winning two championships along the way.
Last year, they finished runners-up to Tasmania JackJumpers.
"For me, we play the best team in the league," insists Koponen. "They are a really good basketball team. They play really well right now, but we go there and do our things... we go there to compete."
The Melbourne roster is stacked with Kiwis, including former Breakers Shea Ili and Rob Loe, and Tall Blacks guard Flynn Cameron, along with former NBA champions Matthew Dellavadova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jack White (Denver Nuggets) and Ian Clark (Golden State Warriors).
"They have some of the best onball defenders in Delly and Ili," said Koponen. "They set the tone and everybody else follows.
"Jack White is playing great right now, and they have offensive specialists in [Chris] Goulding and Clark, great scorers. They are a really dangerous team, well coached and playing well together.
"They play excellent defence and you can see how they share the ball on offence."
Koponen's admiration suggests that's a brand of basketball he hopes to achieve with the Breakers and their form shows they are close to that, with guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright the undoubted star, but his teammates doing their part in support.
After Jackson-Cartwright scored 20 first-half points to propel the Breakers to a 13-point halftime lead, reserve forward Grant Anticevich landed three three-pointers in less than two minutes at the end of the third quarter, as the margin swelled to 29 points.
"Thta's what Grant can do," said Koponen. "He's one of the best shooters in the team, he's got that weapon and today was his day."
American Matt Mooney filled his 'three and D' role (17 points, two three-pointers and two steals), teenager Karim Lopez continued to turn heads on his way to the NBA, while eight players logged more than 14 minutes.
Centre Freddie Gillespie — who seemed to be on his way out the door, when he missed the opening round on headbutt suspension — battled former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
Jackson-Cartwright leads the league in assists (7.6 per game), Mooney (2.6) and Jackson-Cartwright (2.3) top steals rankings, while Gillespite (2.3) is the top shot blocker. What's not for a coach to love.
All of this has occurred with three important rotation players — starters Mojave King and Max Darling and veteran bench guard Mitch McCarron — sidelined by injury.
"You never want your teammates to get injured, but that is a big opportunity for me," confirmed forward Sean Bairstow. "I'm just trying to find a way to help the team win at this point in time... let Parker and Mooney do their thing, and find ways to take the load off them, trying to guard the best player and stuff like that.
"Just try to contribute to winning."
Watch all of the New Zealand Breakers games in the 2024/2025 season live and free on TVNZ+
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