PJC is elite, but Herbert says he needs help

Parker Jackson-Cartwright is a rare talent, but New Zealand Breakers head coach Gordon Herbert insists he can't do it all, as he considers more help for his marquee man.

Jackson-Cartwright's 30 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in Saturday night's 97-93 loss to Perth were another reminder of his value, and of how much the Breakers lean on him.

Asked where the help would come from, Herbert left the door ajar for reinforcements.

"We've worked on stuff where he doesn't have the ball to initiate the offense," Herbert said.

"We're not very good at it right now and, but obviously, you know, we have one import missing [Josiah-Jordan James] so I don't know … we'll have to see what we do there."

Herbert was blunt about the gap in his roster.

"I thought Parker was outstanding, but he has to do everything and we need another ball handler," he said. "I think that's evident."

That load is showing up in his minutes, with Herbert conceding the Breakers can't keep asking so much of their star.

"When you got to play him [Jackson-Cartwright] 35, 38 minutes, it's tough," he said. "But he gave 100 per cent. He gave everything he had."

Herbert crossed paths with the star point guard in Germany and says he sits right alongside Bryce Cotton, Cole Anthony and Kendric Davis in the conversation for the League's best point guard.

"Yeah, 100 per cent," Herbert said. "He's a difference maker. And actually, defensively, he's not bad either."

There were encouraging signs around Jackson-Cartwright.

Mojave King posted 18 points, while Carlin Davison provided a spark with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Charles Bediako turned in his best performance of the season.

"I thought Carlin and Mo and Charles gave us great minutes off the bench today," Herbert said. "I thought our bench was really, really good."

The loss drops the Breakers to 1-2, and they return home to host Cairns on Wednesday night as they open their Ignite Cup defence.