SHAMIR: Everyone Can Be Optimistic About Next Season

The Sky Sport Breakers remain stoic about the rough season they’ve encountered, playing all 28 games on the road, but the coach of the high flying Sydney Kings believes the kiwis need rewarding after two years on the road.

Chase Buford, who’s at the helm of the hottest team in the NBL, with 12 straight wins, has offered heartfelt praise after the Kings’ streak almost came to an end against the Breakers in Bendigo – before prevailing 76-70.

“I can’t give them enough credit for what they’ve been doing,” said Buford in the post-game press conference.

“I feel for Dan and their group so much, what they’ve been through.  We’ve got to find a way to get them...  I don’t know if it’s 19 home games in the next couple of years.

“What they’ve done for the league to keep the competition level up and be as competitive as they have been, they deserve a reward.”

Speaking after Buford, Sky Sport Breakers Head Coach Dan Shamir was again reluctant to buy into pity – despite 29 games on the road last season and 28 games this campaign.

“I don’t know what the solution is now in the big picture; let’s not feel sorry for us,” said Shamir.

However, the Israeli does think the Breakers have paid a significant toll on and off the court over the last two seasons - particularly considering the team only missed the playoffs by points differential in his first season.

“I’m here for three years, and year one was the beginning of COVID.  We felt we had huge momentum.  We had a lot of things going in the right direction and a lot of good people believing in the good chemistry and good core, and we had good direction,” he said.

“Nobody planned those two years.  Obviously, there’s not one person, organisation, or anything you can blame... but no team in the world spent two years in a hotel relocating and no home.”

With the New Zealand Government announcing an end to limits for gatherings, Shamir hopes a sense of normality can now return to the Breakers club.

“Anybody who likes this league and likes the Breakers will sit down at the end of the season and think how (do) we build something from it.

“I think this is now a point that everybody can be optimistic that the Breakers can play a normal season next year, but who knows.

“There’s a lot of thinking to do for everybody who’s involved.  The Breakers are a huge part of this league, a championship calibre organisation representing an amazing country.  They are a big part of this league.”

As an Israeli,  Shamir says he still looks at the Breakers organisation with fresh eyes.

 

“From someone from the outside, this league without the Breakers is a totally different thing.  Right now, I’m sure we will need some help from everybody to start the process again.

 

“(The Breakers) is a good place with a lot of history and good people.”