In The Post – Breakers get League pass

Catch up on all the latest headlines from around the basketball world in today’s edition of In the Post.

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Breakers to take flight

The New Zealand Breakers will fly to Australia on Monday with an assist from A-League club the Wellington Phoenix.

Both the Breakers and Phoenix need to relocate to Australia for the start of their respective seasons, and both clubs will be on a charter flight together to Sydney on Monday. The Breakers will then come to Melbourne on Tuesday where they’ll be based for the preseason.

“We didn’t have a plan till just a few days ago because there were a lot of moving pieces. Then all of a sudden this solution came about and we jumped at it,” New Zealand coach Dan Shamir told Stuff.

“With the Phoenix being so prepared and organised, they had this plane in place, so we were able to get on there.”

Family ties for NZ

In an added boost to the Breakers’ voyage to Australia, Shamir, assistant coach Mody Maor, Finn Delany, Rob Loe and Peyton Siva are bringing their families or partners with them.

“I feel very good about that,” Shamir said.

However, the coach understands the unique situation the club is in and is trying not to think ahead.

“We are still dealing with the unknown. I don’t even want to think about a situation where we cannot get home in February. We really hope, and I’d almost say pray, that this season becomes functional – meaning we come back and play our home games,” he said.

Big Liu has “plenty of opportunity”

Brisbane Bullets basketball GM Sam Mackinnon says 7’5 giant Chuanxing Liu could play meaningful minutes for the club this season.

“Nothing is guaranteed but with the way our roster is built, I think there is plenty of opportunity for Liu to play,” Mackinnon said.

Liu landed in Brisbane yesterday.

Quarantine boost for Hodgson

Perth Wildcats recruit Matt Hodgson hit the court with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday, after his 14-day quarantine was cut short due to the Western Australia opening the border to Queensland.

“The fact I don’t have to lose two weeks means that re-conditioning stage isn’t going to take anywhere near as long. I’m very happy about that because the season’s not that far away,” Hodgson said via The West Australian.

Roth reveals Blitz plans

Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth says he will use the NBL Blitz to evaluate his roster to try and settle on a starting five before the season begins on December 3.

“The first two or three games I am just going to rotate guys to play roughly 10 to 15 minutes, so everyone has a chance to be on the floor. As we get to the end of the Blitz, I will try to zero in on rotations and things we will end up doing when we start the season,” Roth said.

JJ’s Silverdome dates locked

NBL basketball will return to Launceston’s Silverdome when the Tasmania JackJumpers host the Perth Wildcats on March 5 and the Adelaide 36ers on March 19 next year.

“We’re very excited to bring elite basketball back to Tasmania’s north. We’ve worked with the Silverdome staff to ensure the necessary improvements can be completed to host NBL level basketball,” JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse said.

Hawks nested in Illawarra

The Illawarra Hawks have committed to the region after signing a three-year deal with Venues NSW to secure the Win Entertainment Centre as their home stadium until 2024.

"Something that I've said from the start is we're committed to this region, and we are the Illawarra Hawks. We're here to build this brand and this franchise to be here long term," club owner Dorry Kordahi told Australian Community Media.