Maor: "It's Essential We Play Well in Front of Our Fans"

His ability to bring out incredible performances from all his players is the talk of the NBL. 

Now Sky Sport Breakers Head Coach Mody Maor has had a chance to reflect on a hectic weekend where his team again secured back-to-back wins against all odds.

“It took everything we had,” he said.

“We got home from Launceston the day of the 36ers game at 3 am.  We were in the gym watching film at 1.30 pm.  This is not how you come in and perform."

However, there is a crucial reason why the Breakers could perform and beat the 36ers.

“It’s essential for us to play well in front of our fans.   We want to buy back the confidence in what the Breakers are.”

Maor, who has spent the previous two seasons living in Australia with the team because of the COVID restrictions, knows the Breakers need to earn back the trust and support of a kiwi public devoid of NBL basketball since 2020.

“We need to come in and play great basketball games in New Zealand,” he said.

“Early on, I told the guys there will be moments when you need your B game, or your C game, to beat somebody else’s A game.  Adelaide was in New Zealand 48 hours before we were.  So we needed our C game to beat their A game, and I’m very proud we did.”

The Breakers are now 8-3 for the season and sitting second with the best points differential and defence in the ten-team league.

Another challenging week confronts them – a trip to Cairns, which is 11 hours door to door as they have to take two flights.  That game is Friday before another 11 hours back, and a date with the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm.

“We get to compete against great teams in tough circumstances.  This is how we grow and get better.  We’ve been through a stretch of three back-to-backs in a row with travel.  So the guys know what to expect.  Cairns and Brisbane are excellent teams, and it’s a challenge we relish.”

Fans can be left in no doubt following the last weekend that Maor’s team will turn up and be tough to beat on Sunday – it is now their calling card.

“Rarely do I have to coach caring or effort; these guys bring it,” says Maor.

“You’re never going to see this group flat because there’s going to be two or three guys I can count on who will pick up the guys around then.  So sometimes its players, sometimes its staff, it’s who we are.”

Maor will not admit it, but who the Breakers are is actually a credit to himself, as this is the team he hand-picked to compete in NBL23.