Trans-Tasman rivalry has Penney pumped
NBL.com.au
Trans-Tasman rivalry has Penney pumped
Tue, 18 Aug 2009 1:21 PM
By Marc Hinton - Sunday News
Don't try and tell Kirk Penney that it's a "dead series" looming against Australia's Boomers. There's no such thing when it comes to the Tall Blacks taking on the old enemy across the ditch.
Penney and his New Zealand men's side will meet Australia in two trans-Tasman tests, next Sunday in Sydney and then the following Tuesday back in Wellington.
The series is billed as a world championships qualifier, but both teams will head to next year's global tournament in Turkey, with only the Oceania region's seedings at stake.
But if you think that takes the edge off the series, then Penney has a message for you.
"The reward is in a lot of ways already there... But I don't think there's a Kiwi out there who doesn't love to go against Australia, and it's the same for Australia when they play against New Zealand," says the Kiwi sharpshooter who will be No 1 on the Boomers' list of defensive assignments.
"It's always a fun battle and then some years it moves past that and becomes quite an intense battle."
The Tall Blacks have had their successes against the Boomers in recent years, knocking the Australians off once in 2007 and twice in 2006 when they won the Ramsay Shield. Of course back in 2001 they famously beat them in a series for the first time to earn passage to the world championships in Indianapolis.
But right now the Tall Blacks are in rebuilding mode, with only Penney and - injury permitting - Pero Cameron remaining from the "golden" era. The recent tour to Europe - a trip that Cameron and star forward Craig Bradshaw both missed - demonstrated that palpably, with the Kiwis going 2-6 and finding the going tough against largely mid-level opposition.
But Penney is adamant the Tall Blacks have a heartbeat going into the Australian tests, and with the possibility of both Cameron and Bradshaw returning to boost the offensive firepower, he believes it's anyone's series going in.
"Both teams are young, and both are going through a transitional period," says Penney. "The other thing is it's an off-year -- not an Olympics or world championships year -- so Australia don't have all their best players available.
"Of course there's a belief there. The tour helped us come together and understand if we play with effort and come together like every Tall Black team has in the past we give ourselves a chance."
Penney is hoping Cameron, who's looking to shake off a bothersome ankle injury, and Bradshaw, in the process of sorting out his employment for the looming season, will both be on board for the series.
"That would be huge. Pero brings leadership and experience and everyone who's ever played with him knows how much he helps the team. And with Craig it's just having another big who can rebound and contribute inside. He's one of the talents of New Zealand basketball, and if he can come in and help it would be fantastic."
Penney is figuring on having Bradshaw alongside him to battle the Aussies, but with Cameron it's touch and go as the big man looks to get himself fit for the looming NBL season.
Whoever's there, the Boomers will know the key to containing the Tall Blacks will be in keeping Penney under wraps as best they can...
NZ Breakers and Boomers forward Oscar Forman, who's cemented a place in the Australian lineup this season, confirms this: "Everyone knows what sort of player he is, so there's a huge emphasis on trying to shut him down.
"Just the way Kirk's been playing, he's a weapon and you've got to stop him. But it's not just him. If you focus too much on him they've got other guys that can hurt you.
"They're the sort of team that if you don't bring it you're going to be in trouble. We've got to make sure we get on them early and pound it inside because we've got some good big guys and that will be our advantage."
Penney is counting on his young team-mates having soaked up their recent European experience, and being the better for it. On them making a big step up for the Australians.
You know that the world-class shooting guard will be ready. The unknown is whether his team-mates have the ability to go with him.
Penney, meanwhile, says the Breakers are shaping well for the approaching NBL season after they took care of business last week in their three-game series against the touring AIA American college outfit.
"There's a really good feel. I think everyone coming back is so good. Everyone's on the same page already. It was the same last year when we had that great start and led the league. That's what we need again this year and then just follow it through a bit better.
"It's looking good and there still a piece to come in which will be a very important piece. It's exciting."
Tickets to Game One of the FIBA Oceania series are now available through Ticketek.
"No hay poder en el mundo que pueda cambiar el destino"
-El Padrino
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketb...ts-Tall-BlacksLast quarter costs Tall Blacks
By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz
The Tall Blacks had the Boomers in a world of hurt with one quarter remaining of last night's Oceania Championship clash in Sydney. The only problem was they forgot to finish the job off.
To their credit the Australians were good enough to stare down a three-point deficit (61-64) at the end of the third quarter and hold their nerve when it counted to put the gritty Kiwis away 84-77, winning the final period 23-13.
Expected to be cannon-fodder, the undermanned and inexperienced Tall Blacks went close to firing a shot heard round the basketball world as they pushed the Australians to the limit in game one of this series that will round out in Wellington on Tuesday night.
Heading in for the final quarter, the New Zealanders had their chance. But with tiring legs and cooling shooting hands stalling the Kiwi challenge over the run home, the Australians stepped up to seal the deal. They still needed a fabulous offensive showing from NBA hopeful Joe Ingles to get them home.
Ingles had been well contained by the New Zealanders after a hot opening period, but he poured in 10 straight points in the final quarter as he caught fire right when his team needed it most. On the back of that the Boomers turned a three-point deficit into a nine-point advantage and coasted to victory.
Ingles finished with a game-high 26 points (9/14 FG, 4/7 3pt) and Dallas Maverick Nathan Jawai also showed his class for the Boomers with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
But the Tall Blacks showed plenty in this match, and got big games out of young centre Alex Pledger (16 points, six boards) and point guard Linsday Tait (12 points, four assists) as well as the usual quality offensive display from Kirk Penney who had 23 points (8/19FG, 3/6 3pt) despite some extremely close defensive attention from the Aussies.
The undersized New Zealanders actually outrebounded the Boomers 45-31, but were held to just 39 per cent from the floor (28/72 FG) and also had 16 turnovers overall, some of which cost them dearly down the stretch. Mika Vukona (seven points, 10 rebounds) and BJ Anthony (six points, seven boards) also contributed handily for the Tall Blacks.
At three up, and with the Aussies struggling early in the final quarter the New Zealanders had their chance. But they went cold just at the wrong time as the Boomers went on an Ingles-fuelled 14-2 run to open the last stanza. And with that the chance of the upset was gone.
The New Zealanders played a fabulous first half to trail the Boomers by just a single point, 42-43, at the major break.
The Kiwis scrapped and scraped and basically did what they had to in order to stay in the game.
It looked ominous in the latter stages of the second quarter when the Boomers stretched the lead to double-figures, but Vucinics men stuck to their task and made the big shots down the stretch to whittle the lead all the way down to just a single point.
In the end, though, the game Tall Blacks paid the price for not closing out this match. As they will realise, three strong quarters is one too few at this level of the game.
Australia 84 (Joe Ingles 26, Nathan Jawai 17, Brad Newley 13), New Zealand 77 (Kirk Penney 23, Alex Pledger 16, Lindsay Tait 12). 1q: 25-21; ht: 43-42; 3q: 61-64.
Go boomers!!!
It's great to see the Boomers win at home. It would have been immensely embarrasing if they had lost.
Hopefully, the Boomers can make a sweep of the series and win in the land of the long white cloud however, I believe that the Kiwis will equal things up.
After watching the highlights it looked like a really great game and not like one of those lopsided thrashings of the past.
"No hay poder en el mundo que pueda cambiar el destino"
-El Padrino
any link to watch the 2nd game pls?10x
Anyone with a link?Originally Posted by kerdito
The Tallblacks came out to play on the second game that has just finished and they won by 22 pts. the final score is 100-78 NZ Tallblacks.Mika Vokuna came up with the big plays and scored 25 pts and had 9 rebounds.The TB's I think have only won 5 times in their rivalry and New Zealand is going to the world championship in Turkey as no. 1 seed for Oceania.Go Tallblacks!!!!
@ Sabz and kerdito: sorry guys, I don't know any live stream available for those games since we get to watch it here on TV...
@basketcase: Yeah what a win.. 22 points margin, I think the Tall Blacks deserve it especially after leading the whole the game in the first test and loss it at the end...
A merger of the Asian and Oceanic region would be te only logical move. Not that Asia wouldn't already be big enough of a qualifying zone, but two spots for basically two countries is a little unfair to te rest of the world isn't it?
Australia an the Tall Blacks would probably qualify anyway, but at least they would have to fight for it for a change just like the rest of the world does - unlike now that it's practically automatically granted.
We will see if FIBA will evershow som common sense here. Actually Asia could be even more attractive, if every country would play where it geographically belongs and the Asian Champs would see another serious contender with Israel.
That would put the currenly dominatin countries like China and Iran in a completely new situation, possibly all of a sudden only figting for what's left.
Congratulations to my neighbours!!!
Congratulations to donmar and his boiz from across the Tasman!!!
A very well deserved win and an incredible showcase for the basketball world to see!
It looked like one hell of a lopsided game. That alley oop in the third quarter was pretty much the cherry on the top.
And of course, how could it not be a real Trans-Tasman rivalry game without some push and shove with some insults included between the players.
This is a great sign to show to the basketball world that New Zealand basketball still exists and even though they may not have players playing in the NBA or Europe like their Australian brothers they are able to put up one hell of a fight.
Congratulations to all my Kiwi brothers and to the Tall Blacks!!!
You guys proved me ... and even your fellow countryman wrong and I personally hope that this level of basketball in the Oceania region continues for many years to come!
"No hay poder en el mundo que pueda cambiar el destino"
-El Padrino
Boomers in the World Championships
How will the Boomers go in the World Championships?
They had a solid tour of South America but they lost to their neighbours.
This is only the beginning of Coach Brett Brown as head of the national team however, much is expected of him once he has a full strength squad.
Fair enough, Coach Brown did not have the likes of NBA players: Andrew Bogut, David Andersen and European based Matty Nielsen to lead the squad especially upfront however, it is ALWAYS expected for the Boomers to beat the Tall Blacks.
The main concern I have as a Aussie basketball fan is whether or not Coach Brown will be able to maximise the talent that he has. This is associated with the frontcourt of the Boomers. By far, the strength of the team (once in full strength) is their frontcourt with three blokes in the NBA and one in CB Valencia. Will they all be able to be utilised to their full potential. Of course, not all four can be on the court in one time. However, there is the prospect of putting Nielsen at the 3 spot, a position he initially played in his first 5 years as a pro (though he was only 6'7 200 lbs compared to now at approx. 6'10 235 lbs).
In addition, the lack of talent the Aussies have in the 2 and 3 spots. Of course, the European teams and South American squads have plenty of depth there but will the Aussies who play that position will be able to step up to the occassion to take off the pressure from the Big 4 boyz and Patty Mills?
Only time will tell on whether or not the Aussies will be able to reach their goal of winning a medal in a major basketball tournament - World Championships or Olympics.
"No hay poder en el mundo que pueda cambiar el destino"
-El Padrino
I can't really answer that... as you mention, the Boomers have a new coach and it depends on the draw on what teams they're playing against in the World Champs... but I think once the NBA and other overseas-based players return for next year's big tourney, I'm sure Australia will improve a lot...
By the way, we got a lot of players in New Zealand playing in Europe and Sean Marks in the NBA... though most of them choose not to play for the national team anymore...
I think its too early to predict how the two teams will perform in the World Championship, and definitely, the current line-ups for both teams are not the final line-up to be sent to the WC...
Lets not talk about the merger here... we got a thread about that and a lot of people pretty much agreed to that... even me.... so there's nothing to argue about... the only problem is FIBA... would they listen to us... the current FIBA President is an Australian and one of his advocacy when he run for the FIBA Presidency is a merger of Asia and Oceania... and anytime soon that will happen... we'll just have to be patient...
Congrats New Zealand...
http://www.interbasket.net/news/3773...-championship/With the win, New Zealand not only gains a higher seeding in the 2010 World Championships, but takes home the Al Ramsay Shield, the all-important symbol of trans-Tasman mens basketball supremacy.
Supremacy indeed, the Tall Blacks were dominant; the 22-point margin was NZ’s largest win ever over Australia.
Stuart
@basketcase: Yeah what a win.. 22 points margin, I think the Tall Blacks deserve it especially after leading the whole the game in the first test and loss it at the end...[/QUOTE]
It's a big morale boasting win for the Tallblacks bro
"bad news"
Thousand Greeks have been immigrated to Australia,mostly,the previous century so I have 3 aunts donw under...so I am not so happy for the defeat of Australia.On the other hand is useful for basketball New Zealand be more competitive.
I have to figure out that the 2 teams had the classic problem this periodo,NBA /Euroleague players decided to get rest.So,how is it going to be next years?
They will be available for next year's World Championship... if the NBA teams have the balls to release American players for Team USA... then why not release the international players... I dunno much about the Euroleague, since European clubs are quite independent from the ULEB compare to the NBA teams... so I guess, Europe-based players will not be able to participate but we'll never know...
The Opals wasted the Tall Ferns by 50 points... 98-48 is the final score...
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