Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 14, NBL26)

By Damon Lowery.

Author’s note – “HOOYAH” is the battle cry of the Navy Seals and is given out to celebrate great efforts & achievements.

A “HARDEN UP” is given out when a performance has not been at the expected level.

This is STRICTLY about basketball – it is NEVER personal.

Defeated Cairns and Perth

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Nick Rakocevic: “Mr. Productivity” with intense activity. 23 minutes was all the time you needed to rack up 19 points, 13 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks and one “helluva” poster against the Taipans. Now that’s wassup!

HOOYAH – Bryce Cotton: If anybody out there thought Bryce was done torturing his former club, you were mistaken. This will be going on for the remainder of his career. Bryce, you were at your dominant best with 36 points, 7 dimes, and NO turnovers.

HARDEN UP – Troy Brown Jr: I don’t like to harp on the obvious, especially since you’re on the best team, but you had just 2 points against both Cairns and Perth. I absolutely refuse to believe this who you are.

Defeated New Zealand, defeated by Melbourne

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Javon Freeman-Liberty: That was a great “welcome back to the League” game. Against New Zealand, you were a constant threat when the ball was in your hands. You flirted with a triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists). Keep that up.

HOOYAH – Darryl McDonald (yeah coaches are eligible too): You stepped in as interim coach with a roster that looked like a hospital’s emergency department waiting room, coming off an embarrassing 29 points loss 48 hours earlier - and you managed to galvanise, energise, and strategise to pull off the biggest upset win of the season over New Zealand.

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated by Adelaide

HOOYAH – Sam Waardenburg: The way you’re playing, it doesn’t look like you’ve missed the first 16 games of the season. 19 points at 50% FG, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Some people just make basketball look easy.

HARDEN UP – All of you: There’s about a 1 per cent chance you’re going to win a game scoring 73 points. Shooting 30 per cent from the field and missing eight free throws is a recipe for an ‘L’. Do better.

Defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – Sam Froling: First game back after rupturing your Achilles and you hit the floor with NO minute restrictions, and got a double-double 13 points and 12 boards. Great to have you back.

HARDEN UP – Missed free throws: You lost to a better team and got held to 84 points … but were they defending you at the foul line too? 11 missed free throws is not wassup!

Defeated by Tasmania, defeated Brisbane

HOOYAH – Kyle Bowen: I see you flying under the radar on a star-studded team. Stepping in for Finn Delany, you get down with 14 points, a team-high 8 rebounds, a couple of dimes and a block. That’s a great day at the office.

DOUBLE HARDEN UP ALERT

HARDEN UP - Rebounding: What the hell happened against Tasmania? I can’t remember the last time you got the brakes beat off you at home. Losing the rebounding by 20 tells me all I need to know. At least the fireworks display was cool to watch.

HARDEN UP – Tanner Krebs: You’re having a really good season but as a starter, you know I can’t let you slide with that “goose egg”. No points in 23 minutes does not represent you. I know you’ll make amends.

Defeated by Brisbane, defeated Tasmania

HOOYAH – Parker Jackson-Cartwright: Once again you stepped up and made sure your team got the W. You damn near got a triple-double too with 17 points, 7 boards, 10 assists and 4 steals just for fun. I can’t wait for you to get a New Zealand passport.

HARDEN UP – All four 6'10 dudes: Why? Against the Bullets y’all combined for 71 total minutes and grabbed 6 rebounds. Sam Mennenga had 2 rebounds, Rob Loe 2, Rob Baker II 1, and Karim Lopez 1. How on God’s green earth does that happen?

Defeated by Adelaide

HARDEN UP– David Duke Jr.: Elbows are not meant to bend like a pretzel. Speedy recovery my man.

HOOYAH – Ball security: After losing Dukes Jr in the first 3 minutes, you guys did a great job of taking care of the basketball. Only 5 turnovers for the game is impressive.

No games

HOOYAH – Pass.

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated Illawarra

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Kendric Davis. Your overall point guard play has been superb, and you turned in another sublime point guard performance, giving the Hawks the absolute business with 27 points 9 assists and NO turnovers.

HARDEN UP – Offensive rebounds: It was a solid Christmas Day performance but allowing the Hawks to get 17 offensive rebounds is the only thing I took offence to.

Defeated Melbourne, defeated by New Zealand

HOOYAH – Tyger Campbell: The Lil Big Man’s Society never lost belief in you. You made sure United took an ‘L’ with 20 points, 6 boards, 3 dimes, 2 steals, and 2 blocks! Nothing more Tiger-ish than a Tyger.

HARDEN UP – Home court losses: Obviously home court advantage doesn’t mean much to you guys anymore. Another home loss to the Breakers - the Ant Army has only seen two wins in the great state of Tasmania. What’s the problem?

HOOYAH – NBL everywhere: There is no better time of the year than summer hoops. Games on almost every night through December and January is absolute gold. Turn on the TV, there’s always basketball waiting for you. That’s how it should be.

HARDEN UP – Time-slot shuffle: Let me be clear, the Christmas Day game is a brilliant innovation and one of the best things this league has done. It sets us apart from every other code in the country. BUT… an 8.30pm tip is too late. Everyone’s been up early, survived 15 lunches, hit a serious food coma, and by the time 8.30pm rolls around, they’re ready to crash. Half the audience is fighting sleep instead of enjoying hoops. Bring it forward.