Former, Current NBL Stars on Championship Series

With the Championship Series all tied up at 1-1, the equation is simple ... either team needs two wins from here to claim the trophy. 

It’s been far from the usual first two games of a post-season series, with both teams failing to win on their own home floor. However, that leads us to Friday night at Qudos Bank Arena and at the final buzzer, one team potentially being 80 minutes away from being crowned NBL23 Champions.

Arguably, there there are no better experts to weigh in on their thoughts of the series so far, than the players themselves. The guys that have come up against and alongside the stars of the Kings and Breakers. 

So ahead of Game 3, Pete Hooley spoke to a few old NBL favourites who have been enjoying watching the Championship Series from abroad. 

"That first game was fun to watch. To see what Will McDowell-White did in the pick and roll was impressive. You could see Sydney tried to switch things up a little and realise how they could neutralize his impact in that ball-screen.

"If they want to switch on those pick n rolls, then New Zealand needs to punish the smaller guard inside. But man, Sydney are so deep as a team, which we saw in Game 2. New Zealand have to be aware that even if you can limit a couple of players, you can’t let multiple guys play with more energy and get hot like they did in Game 2. Then it becomes really tough." – Casper Ware (former Melbourne and Sydney player)

"I'm really enjoying the competitiveness on display in this series - in particular the game by game adjustments by each tem. The five game series really does allow the best team to show that they’re a level above. What’s really impressed me so far is the depth and contribution from the Kings bench." – Nick Kay (former Townsville, Illawarra and Perth player) 

"I think the most impressive thing so far to me in this series is what Will McDowell-White did in that first game. I think he’s going to be the key for the Breakers in getting them over the line. He sets the table for others to succeed and get going.

"As a basketball fan I’m just enjoying watching these two great teams go back and forth. Obviously I would have loved to see United playing, but without that I was just hoping for a good series, and we got that." – Jack White (former Cairns and Melbourne player) 

"Sydney’s depth was on full display in Game 2. The fact they got the job done without Cooks and Walton Jr on the road is very impressive. That being said, I felt like the Breakers weren’t themselves.

"If I look back at the first game, Will McDowell-White was seriously impressive. He controlled absolutely everything on the offensive end and if you combine that ‘deep drops’ coverage from Sydney with Pardon’s long hard screens, he can just pick them apart.

"I trust that Mody will make the necessary adjustments and those boys will be fired up after losing the chance to go up 2-0. That being said, big credit to (Kouat) Noi, (Justin) Simon and DJ (Vasiljevic). Those three really came to play and will have to continue to do that for the Kings." - Yanni Wetzell (former South East Melbourne and New Zealand player)

"It’s been a great series so far. It’s interesting that both home games were dropped by the home side. It seemingly felt as if the away team played with more of a sense of urgency in each game and hence came away with a big win.

"It’s been said a lot already, but Justin Simon has really been huge. He just makes plays all over the floor, which we saw in Game 2." – Anthony Drmic (current Adelaide player) 

"This series has been electric so far, between the best two teams in the league all year. They are really putting on a show.

"What has really impressed me has to be Will McDowell-White and Kouat Noi. Both of those guys had monster road games this series which led to victories." – Alan Williams (current South East Melbourne player)

"I’d say so far it hasn’t been what people expected in terms of New Zealand winning Game 1 and then dropping Game 2. At the start of the second quarter of Game 2, I think most people thought it was going to be New Zealand 2-0, but the Kings effort to win that game was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in a while.

"Both teams are in for the fight and that’s going to make the rest of this series very entertaining." – Jason Cadee (current Brisbane player) 

"At the end of the day, I have to go with Sydney. Their team is just so deep and they have every piece. They have a defensive stopper, they have scorers, elite rebounders and playmakers. It’s a very complete team if they are all healthy.

"If New Zealand want to get it done, I really think their key is Barry Brown Jr. The way Sydney are going to defend him, if they put Simon on McDowell-White, Brown Jr can really control things for himself and set up his teammates. If he does that, New Zealand can get it done." – Casper Ware

"I think whoever wins game three will go on to win it all. I see New Zealand bouncing back after their dissapointing game two at home, and then they will win the series." – Nick Kay

"I think the Breakers will get it done. From what I have seen, I just think they’re playing the better brand of basketball right now. They also match up really well with the Kings. It’s going to be a battle and I think it will go the distance but New Zealand will win Game 5." – Jack White

"Obviously a little biased, but I think the Breakers take this in five games. Both teams have phenomenal depth but the old ‘defence win championships’ holds true more often than not.

"Especially in the NBL. Brantley, Pardon, Le'Afa, Brown Jr and Will (McDowell-White). If there’s consistency within this unit, it’ll be tough to beat. Hopefully we see a parade in the motherland." – Yanni Wetzell

"If Cooks and Walton Jr are back for Game 3, plus the Kings keep up that defensive identity we saw in Game 2, I think they take it. However, we all know Mody is going to have his team ready to bounce back after they missed a huge opportunity at home on Sunday." - Anthony Drmic

"I think the Kings win this still in five games, purely on the fact that they have home court. That will play a big part if it gets to a fifth game." – Alan Williams

"I said before the start of this series that Sydney would depend a lot on the health of Cooks and Walton Jr. With them both getting hurt in Game 2, it had me worried for the Kings. What they did was unreal in that game, but can they do that two more times if both of those guys are out?

"It’s a tough ask for me, but if they’re healthy and can go then that’s the key for Sydney going back-to-back." – Jason Cadee