Herbert 'cracking the whip' on Breakers' title hopes

The Gordon Herbert era at the New Zealand Breakers started in convincing fashion on Sunday, defeating the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena.

Herbert comes to the Hungry Jack's NBL with arguably the top coaching resume the League has seen, which includes stints in the United States and Europe, and winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Germany.

On Tuesday's NBL Now, presented by CODE Sports, 342-game veteran Cam Gliddon explained the impact Herbert is having on the Auckland-based franchise.

"They've brought in and [that] comes with that pedigree of what he what he's done and that.

"I've been at the practices and he doesn't over talk, but when he does talk, everyone's eyes are locked in there listening.

"One thing I think is great is getting a coach that has no prior or real prior knowledge of his players on the floor, so there's no hierarchy there.

"[I've] seen some of the the main guys at training get absolutely cussed out when they make a mistake.

"He's got no 'I better go easy on this guy or I better make sure this guy feels good about himself'; he's going at everyone and making sure the standards are high.

"Seeing how he kind of navigates things, how he draws things up, how his language is and how the guys respond to him.

"[He] is real calm and collected in the games, but it is a different story at training. He's not scared to crack the whip."

One who looms to take his game to even greater heights in NBL27 under his tutelage is import Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who Gliddon believes is right there with the best guards in the League.

"Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis [are there] and obviously the resume of Cole Anthony [in exceptional]," he said.

"But Parker's been in this League for while now. He's consistent, and he's still to me he's got that kind of freak ability.

"The way he can get up and down the court at pace and the way he can score in the paint as a guy below six foot is amazing.

"You've seen the evolution with Sam Mennenga, I think it's that pick and roll game is going to take another step forward.

"You can also see the shooting of Dejan Vasiljevic and what he brings now. I can only see Parker's assist numbers like going up.

"I just think he's not in that conversation because the pundits don't think the team is going to succeed like those other four point guards teams will, but he's just as good as those guys though, in my opinion."

Jackson-Cartwright and his Breakers will look to make to two straight wins to start the season on Tuesday when they take on Brisbane at Pat Rafter Arena.

The Round 1 clash tips off at 7.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.