IT WAS a packed Round 18 in the NBL over the weekend and we recap the key players from each game, and what the coaches had to say, with the most recent games first.

KEY PLAYERS:

Adelaide 36ers: Kendric Davis (23 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, two steals), Montrezl Harrell (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks)
New Zealand Breakers: Jonah Bolden (10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists), Mojave King (20 points, 2 assists, 2 steals)

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Mike Wells (Adelaide 36ers)

“This team’s in a completely different space. “Our attention to detail … is night and day different. “Offence comes and goes … we were tired but we were connected and we dug in defensively.”

Petteri Koponen (New Zealand Breakers)

“It’s been an up and down season for us; some changes, we had to adjust … but we are always there competing. “Everyone wants to win in this league, but are we ready to do those little things? “A challenging first year; a lot of good and bad moments.”

KEY PLAYERS:

Brisbane Bullets: Jaylen Adams (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), Tohi Smith-Milner (16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists)
Melbourne United: Jack White (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists), Matthew Dellavedova (14 points, 6 assists, 3 steals), Ian Clark (24 points)

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Dean Vickerman (Melbourne United)

“We can’t win a championship or even consider doing well in a finals series unless we get everyone playing well. “Everyone has these little dips. “You get through it, it makes you stronger.”

Justin Schueller (Brisbane Bullets)

“There’s been black cats, ladders, broken windows at our facility. “If I spend my time on that I’d go insane. When we’ve got people out our margin for error is so small and that second quarter is so frustrating for us. “But we haven’t allowed an excuse all year … we’ve got two games now we have to win.”

KEY PLAYERS:

Perth Wildcats: Bryce Cotton (38 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists), Keanu Pinder (29 points, 11 rebounds), Kristian Doolittle (14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists)
Cairns Taipans: Sam Waardenburg (24 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks), Rob Edwards (30 points, 6 rebounds), Tanner Groves (22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Adam Forde (Cairns Taipans)

“I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve led at half-time, especially during that 15-game losing streak, and lost. “The third quarter we went away from the game plan. We weathered the storm, stayed composed and focused.”

John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)

“We showed great fighting qualities. “It wasn’t a great performance by us, but we hung around and found ways – we just couldn’t get over the hump with an emotional breaking play. “They found the moment in that game, when we just couldn’t.”

KEY PLAYERS:

South East Melbourne Phoenix: Matt Hurt (29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals), Joe Wieskamp (20 points, 9 rebounds), Nathan Sobey (9 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals)
Tasmania JackJumpers: Jordan Crawford (18 points, 5 assist), Clint Steindl (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

“Until 2:28 left in the second quarter we were playing lethargic and going through the motions, waiting for them to give us the game. “We made a couple of substitutions, in particular Matt Kenyon, and he picked up the level and everybody followed him. From that point on, we dominated the game and wore them down.”

Scott Roth (Tasmania JackJumpers)

“We played two and a half quarters of halfway decent basketball,” “But ultimately we can’t score at any kind of rate. We have three more games ahead of us … our margin of error is zero.”