Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 1, NBL27)

By Damon Lowery.‍

Pre-Season Edition

Author’s note: These opinions are mine and mine alone. It’s NEVER personal and always about the basketball.

A Hooyah is given for exemplary play and standout performances so if you get one – bask in the glory.

A Harden Up signifies an underwhelming effort or poor play so if you get one of these - cop it and just move on.

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Nick Rakocevic: Straight out of Chicago, you know a double-double just about guarantees you land here. Cairns was on the receiving end of a 10-point, 13-rebound game.

HOOYAH – Zylan Cheatham: The high-flying cheat-code - you produced a big-time double-double against the Hawks with 16 and 16. That is grown man business.

HARDEN UP – Isaac White: Your scoring ability not only has the League’s respect, but it also mine. That’s why you can’t be going scoreless like you did against the Hawks. 11 minutes is more than enough time to get a bucket for someone like you.

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Tyrell Harrison: I’m telling you now, you’re gonna dominate this season. You completely manhandled a depleted Tasmania with 28 and 10 in just 24 minutes.

HOOYAH – Arnas Velicka: Welcome to the NBL. A Lithuanian playmaker, you are as good as advertised. In just your first game, you went for 10 points, 13 assists and 5 steals. I’m gonna learn how to say “Incredible” in Lithuanian because I feel like I’m gonna be saying it a lot after watching you play.

HARDEN UP – Jaylin Williams: Welcome down under. I know it’s early but I’m kind of shocked to see you copping an early Harden Up. 6'8 and athletic as hell, against the Phoenix you played 20 minutes and grabbed a solitary rebound. But … I’d be super shocked if that happens again.

HOOYAH – Shaun Bruce: The three-time champion is back in Cairns where it all started. You didn’t mess around in your first game, stuffing the stat sheet with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. I can see there’s plenty left in the tank.

HARDEN UP – Jonah Bolden: Last season ended prematurely due to injury so in your first game back, I expected you would be on a slight minutes restriction. But you took it to a new level fouling out at the 5:20 mark of the first half! It's gonna be really hard to break that record.

HOOYAH – Milton Doyle: The silent assassin and NBL champion. You wasted no time showing Hawks’ fans what they can expect from you. Adelaide looked poised to take the ‘W’ but they forgot about your clutch-ness. You just strolled down the floor with the clock running out, and hit 'em with the step-back three-ball for the win.

HARDEN UP – Sam Froling: Your touch was a lil’ off against United with 3/11 from the field - clearly not your usual work. I’m still waiting to see that 15-foot jumper you promised me you’d have in your arsenal this season.

HOOYAH – Tom Wilson: With Cole Anthony chillin’ on the sidelines, you stepped up against the Hawks and produced a rare double-double for a guard with 16 and 10.

HARDEN UP - The Basketball Gods: What on earth did Sam Waardenburg and Shea Ili do to offend you? Sam rolled his ankle and Shea’s hamstring got an attitude problem and didn’t let him finish the game. Please give these dudes a break.

‍HOOYAH – Charles Bediako: Welcome to the NBL. As everyone knows, I’m a fan of double-doubles and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you racked up about 16 of them this season.

HARDEN UP – Josiah-Jordan James: Welcome to the NBL. Just so you know straight up, I hold imports to a high standard. Your resume is impressive so with that being said, 2 points against Tasmania is not “wassup”.

HOOYAH – Danny Mills: Perth’s General Manager of Basketball Operations - you handled yourself beautifully when you joined Derek Rucker and me on the commentary desk. Derek treated you like an accused on trial, bombarding you with questions about the point guard situation. I would’ve had no problem with you “Pleading the Fifth” (can you actually do that in Australia?).

HARDEN UP – Dylan Windler: 3 points in 22 minutes. Okay, let’s make a pact right now … you don’t score less than 4 in another game EVER again. You’re way too good.

HOOYAH – Dash Daniels: I have no idea what it feels like to play in front of NBA scouts, but you do. With at least five NBA teams represented, you had 11 and 7 in your first game against the defending champs Sydney and stuffed the stat sheet against the Bullets with 14 points, 4 boards, 4 assists and 4 steals. My man!

HARDEN UP – Jordi Hunter: I have different rules for different players. My rule for 7 footers is: You can’t have more fouls than rebounds. In 15 minutes you managed 2 boards but collected 4 fouls.

HOOYAH – Jayden Stone: I apologise, sir … I was not familiar with your insane HOPPS and had no idea you could fall out of the sky. You threw down two crazy dunks: the first was when you jumped off your right leg and punched it with the right hand, then you rocked the cradle with a two-handed reverse that Lanard Copeland would be proud of. Keep it up my man!

HARDEN UP – The US Immigration Department: For delaying Kendric Davis’ visa causing him to miss the Blitz. KD is here now but I still feel ripped off.

HOOYAH – Taran Armstrong: One of the biggest off-season signings has come home. The boy from Burnie, you got after it immediately against the Bullets with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 7 dimes. I bet those in the Ant Army can’t wipe the smiles off their faces.

HARDEN UP – Whole team: Not winning a game at the Blitz is not a big concern, but 18 turnovers against Brisbane is.

HOOYAH – Channel 9: Outside of ESPN, I have never seen so much promotion of our League on another channel. During the NRL, nightly news and Today show, the NBL has been promoted heavily and it’s about time more people heard about what we’ve got goin’ on over here!

HARDEN UP – New rules: A four-point shot would have been a great addition to the Blitz. I wasn’t as much of a fan of the three-point dunk though. To all the nuffies who said a four-pointer would be a blight on the game – it's the pre-season so lighten up! But regardless, for all the talk we heard - we got nothing. Even the WNBL is changing things up for their pre-season.