Mody's Dislike for MyState Arena

Breakers coach Mody Maor has declared the Breakers are confident in getting the job done against the Tasmania JackJumpers tonight in a venue he doesn’t like, MyState Bank Arena.

MyState Bank Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for the Breakers, with a 1-10 record and a losing margin of 13.5 points there. New Zealand played several home games there behind closed doors last season as they were relocated due to COVID.

The Breakers coach said the JackJumpers’ home arena was not liked by the team but a win there tonight will see New Zealand advance to the Championship Series.

“It’s a place I don’t like...it’s a place I don’t like to be in” Maor said.

Maor mentioned he had PTSD from MyState Bank Arena back in round 12 after their Boxing Day clash where they lost 93-82. Now, Maor proclaimed the PTSD is done, and they’re ready to move on in this year’s fight for the title.

“This has been a nice circle to close back,” he said.

“We had a week at the Quest hotel in Melbourne last week, and now we get to be in Tasmania. These are probably the two signs of PTSD if you want to mark some of them for the last two years.

“All the guys have been through it, coaching staff and players. We’ve all said it, this is the happiest I’ve been in this place.

“I’ll take that as a good sign.”

The Breakers have claims to be one of the toughest teams in the league, with Cyclone Gabrielle stopping them from an easy and simple sail to the Championship Series.

New Zealand won 88-68 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three Playoff Series. Having to rush out of New Zealand and into Hobart during the early hours of Monday morning to escape the cyclone, Maor said it was just another barrier that didn’t faze them.

Maor explained how their tough stint over the last two seasons has made the Breakers who they are today and how they’re possibly built different from rival clubs.

“The way the game will play out, I’m fairly confident that we’ve been through most scenarios this year,” Maor said.

“We’ve come back from games; we’ve won a lot by a lot and needed to perform. We’ve come back from losses, and we’ve been down and up.

“We have a feeling where we’ve seen most scenarios and we know how to respond to them.

“This is the nature of being a New Zealand team in the NBL, we relish in those challenges, and we overcome. We keep focused on the things we can control, and the guys did incredible work in the two practices building up.”

Maor applauded the JackJumpers’ efforts and showed his appreciation for why both teams are in this position.

“I come to every game with the appropriate level of fear, this is Playoffs and we’re playing against a very good team,” Maor said.

“There’s a reason that they’re here and there’s a reason we’re also here.

“The same challenges we needed to meet in Game 1 are the ones we need to meet in Game 2.”

The Breakers have the chance to end the three-game series tonight if they win in Tasmania.