Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 2, 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 Brisbane

HOOYAH – What does GREATNESS do when it plays its first game at a new club in front of a sell-out home crowd? GREATNESS gives the people what they came to see! Bryce Cotton, you delivered another masterpiece hitting 39 points, including 6/9 from three and 6 assists. The 36ers’ fans don’t know how lucky they are.

HARDEN UP – DJ Vasiljevic, while you only had 5 points (2/9 FG), you’re still a certified flamethrower and I know you will burn many houses down this season. This isn’t for the low points, it’s for being on the floor for 33 minutes and having just 1 rebound, 0 assists and 0 steals. If it ain’t going down, you gotta find other ways to contribute.

Defeated by Cairns and Adelaide

HOOYAH – Tyrell Harrison, you’re off to a great start and is playing more minutes this season because you got yourself in great shape. In 30-minutes you did as you pleased with 22 points and 7 rebounds on 9/11 shooting against Cairns. Then you followed that up with a 17 point, 12 rebound double-double against Adelaide.

HARDEN UP – There’s bad shooting, then there’s the shooting you guys did against Cairns. 2/19 from 3-point land? That’s actually hard to do. Did you go Ten-pin bowling in the morning? Good thing is, it’s only up from here. I hope.

Defeated Brisbane and Sydney

HOOYAH – I wonder if the DJ was playing Prince during the warm-ups … I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray. But when I woke up this morning, it was all about Jack McVeigh. You balled-out and partied with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Get It?! - I’ll see myself out. Then you went to Sydney and kept the party going with 24, 9 & 4.

HARDEN UP – 2-0 for the weekend, I’ve got nothing but praise for ya’ll.

Defeated by Tasmania

HOOYAH –  It was like I was in a parallel universe watching this game and thought it was 1967. Was that Wilt Chamberlain lout on the floor? No, it was JaVale McGee, owner of three NBA championships and an Olympic gold medal. I will say in all seriousness, is the closest thing to Wilt the NBL has ever seen. In 31 minutes, you had an eye-popping 32 points, 13 rebounds and 3 volleyball spikes (AKA blocks). More of all that, please!

HARDEN UP – JaQuori McLaughlin, you struggled in your first official game with 5 points (1/8 FG) in 26 minutes. Bounce back, my man! I’m still a believer in you.

Defeated South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – The Throwdown win was so balanced, I have to give this one to the entire team. With six guys scoring double figures and a suffocating defence that restricted the Phoenix to 83 points, it was a highly impressive effort.

HARDEN UP – My first three-way “Harden Up”. 18 turnovers is bad, but when 13 are committed by the three starting guards, then it’s extra bad: Shea Ili (5), Milton Doyle (5), and Tyson Walker (3). Tighten that up fellas!

Defeated by Perth

HOOYAH – Mi Amigo Joven (translation: My young friend). Karim Lopez, the Mexican teenager, you showed why ESPN has you in the top 10 of next year’s mock draft. You were tough with 16 points, 7 boards, and 1 block.

‍HARDEN UP – Izaiah Brockington, you had a game you’d rather forget with 5 points – and we’ve all had those. I was perplexed though that a proven “bucket-getter” would only take 5 shots, finishing 2/5 FG. Coach Koponen had no choice but to stifle your playing time, giving you just 18 minutes. Regroup my man and bounce back like I know you will.

Defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – Dylan Windler, you had an abnormal 3 points in the first game of the season, but more than made up for it with an impressive double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.

HARDEN UP – I think the New Zealand customs officials confiscated Mason Jones’ jump-shot at the airport. You laid an egg on Saturday night, missing all eight shots. But I refuse to lose belief in you - your resume is too strong.

Defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – Nathan Sobey, you were getting busy and only needed 23 minutes to score 26. Until a third import shows up, you’re gonna have to maintain that output - I would be playing you more minutes.

HARDEN UP – I acknowledge, John Brown III, you might be the best defensive player, but I also acknowledge 1 rebound in 24 minutes is not even close to good enough. I highly doubt that will EVER happen again.

Defeated by Cairns

HOOYAH – Matthew Dellavedova, you did a little bit of everything in a futile attempt to get your team over the line. 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Your leadership doesn’t show up on a stats’ sheet, but I see it.

HARDEN UP – You guys have more shooters than a John Wick movie, but you missed 24 out of 28 threes! Just one of those days, I hope.

Defeated Illawarra

HOOYAH – Tyger Campbell, you are one helluva an orchestrator. Missing fellow import David Johnson due to injury, you went on the road and led the team beautifully and gave the Hawks 17 points and 4 assists. You’ve played a total of 87 minutes in 3 games with one solitary turnover. The basketball has never been in safer hands. Welcome to the “Lil Big Man’s Society” – your membership has now been approved.

HARDEN UP – Majok Deng’s hamstring. After 14 points and being such a key player for the “Jackies”, the hammy pinged late in the game. DAMN! Speedy recovery my man.

HOOYAH – I’m old enough to remember when Scott Butler was a NBL referee. Scott actually officiated in the 2001 NBL Grand Final (I was there). Now the head of referees in a thankless job, you not only have to manage the entire officiating crew, but on game days you also have to explain the rules and adjudicate on all the coach’s challenges, and explain the outcomes to the TV audience - LIVE. That’s not an easy task and you’re doing an outstanding job! Massive HOOYAH to you my man!

HARDEN UP – With 10 seconds left and the Taipans leading by 1, there was a loose ball. Jack McVeigh hit the floor trying to get it, and like a bull charging a matador, Jaylen Adams came in and treated Jack’s head like a punching bag. I don’t blame Jaylen anywhere near as much as I blame the referees, who thought it was perfectly fine for him to impersonate a torpedo. It was a foul every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Be wayyyy better, refs!