Barry Brown: On the Playoffs, the Awards and Mody Maor

He’s the roaring hot favourite to claim the Sixth Man of the Year Award at the NBL Awards dinner next week but flamboyant import Barry Brown Jnr is humbled by just being nominated.

“I think accomplishments come when you win; winning has put me in a position to be a finalist,” says Brown.

The American Guard is a finalist alongside Rashard Kelly from the Jackjumpers and Tyler Johnson of the Bullets. 

“I credit my team Breaker mates and coaching staff for getting me chance to win the award,” he says.

“They put me in that position and I sprinkle my game into this team and show what I can do on both ends of the floor.”

Brown is one of four Breakers finalists; the others being Dererk Pardon for Defensive Player of the Year, Will McDowell-White as the Most Improved Player and Mody Maor for Coach of the Year.

Brown has his fingers crossed for his coach who has transformed the club this season from wooden spooners to a team strongly favoured to go all the way.

“The great coaches like Mody, I think allow players to put their game into the system instead of the other way around,” says Brown.

“Mody has a willingness to listen,  A lot of times when you go overseas, coaches have the attitude ‘it’s my way or the highway’. 

“When Mody gives us criticism, he allows ups to give him feedback and come to a middle ground and try to understand each other.

“Mody really is a ‘player’s coach.’  He allows people to sprinkle in their game here and there within the system.”  

The Breakers need to win their remaining two games to guarantee a top two finish, home court advantage for the playoffs, and a direct route to the semi finals.

It starts against the Hawks at 9.30pm tonight on Sky Sport 1.

“It’s good to know we control our own fate and we’re not waiting on guys to see what’s going to happen, we are confident who we are, what we bring to the table, we will take it one game at a time and control our own destiny starting with Illawarra,” says Brown.

Despite dropping a game against the Hawks two weeks ago, the Breakers are now back at full strength and go into the encounter with four days rest - something not afforded to them the last time the two sides met.

The Breakers also have an incredible 9-3 record on the road this season.

“I think we take on a road dog mentality and we come together.  We bring our own energy, we have no one but ourselves.  We have to bring our own energy, our own effort, everything on the road because nothing is going to go your way as far as the crowd, the calls or whatever the case maybe.”

And there’s extra motivation for the club to go all the way this season after the horrors of the last two years due to COVID.

“No home games, no fans, not being able to return home, hotel to hotel, I feel for those guys,” says Brown.

“It’s tough, being away from your family, being away from your fans, not having a steady place to live, not having a place to call home, it’s tough for sure.

“I’ve heard what the club went through the last two seasons.  Being able to get to the playoffs with a good bunch of guys and a good coaching staff and bounce back from the last two seasons is just great.”