Breakers search for 'killer instinct'

After a number of close losses, the New Zealand Breakers' Hungry Jack's NBL26 season is already teetering.

Sitting at 1-5, following Sunday's last-gasp loss to South East Melbourne, the Breakers are in desperate need for additions to the win column.

For that to happen, coach Petteri Koponen has called for his team to find their 'killer instinct', starting during Friday's home fixture against a tough Tasmanian outfit.

“It was mental lapses,” Koponen said on Thursday, in relation to their Phoenix defeat marred by 19 turnovers and too many blown layups.

“When we jumped in a crowd we couldn’t make the right pass, we were sloppy with the ball.

“We didn't have this killer mentality, or the focus to finish plays. Missing an open layup is not about talent, it’s focus. Same with turnovers. Do you have care with the ball or are you sloppy?”

The stats back up Koponen's sentiments, as through their opening six matches, the Breakers sit in second last in turnovers percentage (15.1) and net rating (-10.4), as well as being third last in offensive rating (107.3).

Earlier in the week, former NBL Champion Mark Worthington called for more support around superstar Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

“Where they’ve fallen short is that I don’t think they’ve got the requirements out of their other two imports in (Izaiah) Brockington and (Rob) Baker,” Worthington said on NBL Now.

“I'm not sure what Baker's role was supposed to be at the start of the season, but I got the feeling it was a stretch big man that could shoot but hasn't really been shooting it,” he added.

“Brockington was supposed to be the bucket getter that hasn't been able to get buckets so far.”

Friday's Round 5 clash against the JackJumpers tips off at 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

Read the full story here >> NZ Breakers search for ‘killer instinct’ as Tasmania JackJumpers come to Spark