"Phenomenal" Breakers Hype is Real

The Sky Sport Breakers and Cairns are competing in a top of the table clash under Friday night lights. After the on-court struggles of both organisations in recent years you’d assume we were talking about a game from a decade ago, however it’s 2022 and both teams are back where they belong - competing at the business end of proceedings.

After watching the Breakers grind out a spectacular win over Tasmania last week, two-time NBL champion Adam Gibson is backing the Breakers to get the job done in what promises to be an exciting contest.

“I don’t think it’s had the hype it deserves,” Gibson said of the upcoming clash on NBL Today. “I watched New Zealand play in Tassie last week – they’re great to watch … obviously Cairns are sitting up the top of the ladder as well.

“I kind of want to go with New Zealand [to win]. They’ve just been road warriors … they’re playing phenomenal basketball, they play great defence, they’ve got imports that can space the floor and make plays … they’ve just been road warriors.”

On the other side of the ledger, Taipans star Keanu Pinder’s exceptional form has been rocking the NBL so far this season. Head coach Adam Forde boldly claimed he thinks his star centre is the best five man in the competition, and looking at the stats and the influence he has on the side, it’s not hard to see why.

At 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, Pinder is just shy of being the only player in the season so far to average a double-double per contest. Not bad for a man who was nearly out of the league just 18 months ago.

With Newscorp reporting the out of contract Pinder has the potential to earn $500,000 per season from next year, Gibson says the Taipans star could well prove he’s worth that kind of investment.

“It’s a big call,” Gibson said. “That’s Bryce Cotton type money.

“Keanu’s had a phenomenal season and is definitely in the running for MVP, and is the reason Cairns is [doing so well]. I think it’s a little early to put that price tag on [though].

“This is what we do – one or two games and we jump the gun, one season and we jump the gun.

“Adelaide didn’t work out for him and I even thought he was on the outer … he’s had a phenomenal year and if he progresses like this again I’d probably pay him.”The Taipans host the Breakers on Friday night, live on Sky Sport at 9.30pm.