Sky Sport Breakers Step Up A Gear Ahead of Friday's Season Opener

After 15 days of preparation in Hobart, the Sky Sport Breakers board a flight to Adelaide tonight ahead of their opening NBL21 game against the 36ers on Friday.
 
The team has been in Australia since mid-December and scheduling changes meant they had a first-round bye.
 
The quirks of the draw mean that by the time they take to the court against Adelaide at the end of the week, the 36ers will have played three home games.
 
The 36ers were blown out 65-89 in the season opener against favourites Melbourne United, before bouncing back against SEM Phoenix 116-108.
 
The 36ers play the Phoenix again on Wednesday.
 
"The 36ers obviously struggled in their first game; it looked like a bit of a shock to the system getting out there again," says Breakers Captain Tom Abercrombie.
 
"They adjusted second game around; we can learn from that; you've got to come out ready that first game, there's no more practice, no more second chances, its win or lose."
 
Abercrombie is full of praise for the hospitality the Breakers have received in Hobart after fleeing to Tasmania from Melbourne in the New Year following several COVID scares on the Australian mainland.
 
"I've enjoyed our time in Hobart, it's been really good, they've been very good to us and it's been a mini sort of training camp down here," he says.
 
"We've enjoyed it, but obviously it's exciting to get a bit closer to the start of that first game against Adelaide and enter the next phase of our preparations."

By the time the Breakers play the 36ers on Friday, it will be 343 days since their last league game – the February 14 nail-biting win against the Phoenix in Christchurch last year.
 
"It's not ideal to have that much break time," says Abercrombie.
 
"We're all basketball players, we all want to play and we're excited to play again, the excitement and adrenaline from getting to play some basketball in front of some fans again will get us through the hump (of a long break) and it will all come back to us like second nature."
 
Abercrombie admits it is not ideal to play a team that will have three games under their belt like the 36ers.  Still, it may work to the Breakers' advantage – because the Breakers game will be their fourth in a week, and there is no doubt they will be tired.
 
"It's an advantage for them.  They will have learned a lot in these three games; we've only had the four pre-season games, we learned a heck of a lot from those games, but regular-season games are a different kettle of fish."
 
"No excuses, we will try and go out there and get the win."
 
Centre Rob Loe and Shooting Guard Corey Webster remain the only two players under injury clouds ahead of the 36ers game.
 
Webster's hand injury will not have healed in time for Friday but Loe is yet to be ruled out for the opening game.
 
He will need to pass a fitness test later in the week.