NBL: Franklin Bulls on the charge with four straight wins
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| Franklin Bulls on the charge with four straight wins |
The form guide from the first week of the National Basketball League Showdown has been tossed out the window.
After round one, the Canterbury Rams looked like early title favourites, winning their opening three games.
They have crashed back to the pack, losing three straight games to the Manawatu Jets, Nelson Giants, and Otago Nuggets on Saturday night.
If one thing is clear from the first two weeks of the Showdown, it’s that the competition is wide open. On any given day, any side can beat another a product of the Showdown’s inaugural draft which dispersed the leading talent among the seven sides.
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| The Bulls, who have got into their rhythm, grown in confidence, and surged to the top of the ladder |
The Rams have been in free-fall, but it has been the opposite effect for the Franklin Bulls, who have won four on the bounce after beginning 0-2.
After winning Auckland’s ‘Battle of the North’ last Sunday against the Huskies, the Bulls have backed up with victories over the Giants, Nuggets, and Jets to improve to a competition-best 4-2.
In Saturday’s 83-72 win over the Jets, Franklin were paced by 17 points and nine rebounds from centre Sam Timmins with four others scoring in double digits.
It has been quite the turnaround from first year entity, the Bulls, who have got into their rhythm, grown in confidence, and surged to the top of the ladder.
The Nuggets sat 2-0 after round one, but have also tasted defeat for the first time in 2020, losing back-to-back games against the Taranaki Mountain Airs and Bulls.
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| Mauriohooho-Le'afa was a key figure in their victory, netting 20 points |
In Saturday’s South Island showdown, Otago gained bragging rights over Canterbury, earning an 87-77 victory to jump to a 3-2 record.
Otago were outrebounded 51-35, but still managed to get the job done with No.1 draft pick, Tall Blacks and Breakers forward Jordan Ngatai again leading the way with 19 points, five boards, and four assists.
The Nuggets received a strong outing from forward Kane Keil, who poured in 16 points and five rebounds. Otago gained plenty of spark from the bench, outscoring the Rams 36-24 with Richie Rodger, Matt Bardsley, and Josh Aitcheson combining for 27 points.
Canterbury hummed along in the first week, even without first round pick, Tall Blacks centre Jack Salt, and guard Joe Cook-Green, who were both ruled out of the tournament on the eve of the Showdown.
The Rams have missed the presence of Toby Gillooly, who didn’t suit up this week after injuring his ankle last Saturday against Taranaki. Gillooly was superb in the Rams’ opening two wins, and they have lacked his offensive ability.
The Auckland Huskies earned their first Showdown win in round two, overpowering the Mountain Airs 109-95 on Tuesday.
After a forgettable debut, where he shot one of 15 for two points, first round draft pick Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa bounced back in style for the Huskies.
Mauriohooho-Le'afa was a key figure in their victory, netting 20 points, to go along with nine assists and five rebounds. NBL stalwart Leon Henry, a six-time New Zealand NBL champion, added a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.
In Sunday’s games, the Huskies will look to follow up the Taranaki win against Nelson at 5.30pm. Sunday’s late game (7.30pm) sees the Jets facing the Airs.