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

Note: Adelaide, Illawarra and Sydney begin their Hungry Jack's NBL26 Season this week.

Defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – Tyrell Harrison was this close to making the Denver Nuggets after playing with them in the NBA Summer League. Tyrell is looking in the best shape of his life. He manhandled the Breakers to the tune of 24 points & 15 boards. Big ‘Ty’ has put the league on notice.

HARDEN UP – This is for Mitch Norton’s knee. You know “Norto” is the heart and soul of this team and one of best dudes in the League. Please get healthy and stronger as fast possible, he’s one of the good guys.

Defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Frequent readers of this article know I’m a fan of a double-double. Marcus Lee, in his first game as a Tapian, notched up his first and most certainly not his last double-double of the season: 10 points & 12 rebounds.

HARDEN UP – I understand you didn’t have your import point guard playing - but you need to understand I don’t care. Coughing up the ball 19 times and losing by 37 is totally unacceptable for a professional basketball team. An immediate response is needed.

Defeated Tasmania, defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH - Imagine spending the last three seasons with a team that you helped guide to its first Championship. Then in the off-season, you join the team that you beat for that Championship. And the first game of the season you go back to your old home and not only leave there with the W, but you knock down 22 points and the game winning shot. HOOYAH Milton Doyle #clutch

HARDEN UP – To Chris Goulding’s quadricep that’s playing up and kept him from playing, you’re robbing the public of watching one of the greatest shooters the League has ever seen.

Defeated by Brisbane, defeated by Melbourne United

HOOYAH – Carlin Davidson. Who is that you ask? Let me tell you … Carlin is a 6'6" high-energy pogo stick, who just might be the bounciest dude in New Zealand. Carlin was a development player with the Breakers and last season and appeared in just 10 games. He introduced himself to Brisbane with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The future is bright, my man!

HARDEN UP – I refuse to overreact after one game,but DAMN! Y’all had three-times as many turnovers (16) against Brisbane as you had made threes (5/29), that ain’t ever good. I’m confident it won’t happen again this season.

Defeated by Tasmania

HOOYAH – Welcome back to the NBL Jo Lual-Acuil.Jr. ‘JLA’ showed and proved to everyone that he is a genuine MVP contender producing a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double, and it won’t be his last.

HARDEN UP – We know Bryce Cotton is no longer a Wildcat, but I’m disappointed in the Red Army’s performance. I was in the house for this game and couldn’t wait to experience the army in full-flight. But you guys were flat. You’ve been spoiled rotten for the last eight years. Y’all need to give this new team the exact same energy you gave the team that had the old #11 playing

Defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – John Brown III has an international defensive reputation that has been well earned. He single handily dismantled the Cairns’ offence and finished with an outrageous 6 steals - and I’m not even counting the multiple turnovers he forced. This level of thievery is special.

HARDEN UP – Sacking your import before you even play a game is a ballsy move. You’d better hope you find someone quick, because you need depth in this League or you’ll battle to make it.

Defeated by Melbourne United, defeated Perth

HOOYAH – David Johnson, welcome to the NBL. What a debut! I knew you could score the ball, but was totally unaware that you could rebound as well. 22 points & 10 rebounds for a shooting guard is wild.

HARDEN UP – The JackJumpers are famous for playing the “Jackie Way”, which includes outhustling teams and racking up a ton of offensive rebounds. But you allowed Melbourne to grab 22 offensive rebounds. They “out Jackied” you. Kudos to you guys for traveling to Perth and making amends.

HOOYAH – The PGT games were an absolute master stroke! Bringing out European basketball powerhouses, Partizan and Panathinaikos to play down under and having a mini-tournament against the Kings and 36ers is historical. With John Cain and Qudos Bank Arena as the venues, Melbourne and Sydney basketball were treated to some of the best basketball in the world.

HARDEN UP – When the very thing that got you a HOOYAH gives you a HARDEN UP. Why on earth would you schedule the Panathinaikos/Partizan game on the Thursday night Round 1 of the NBL?

And while I’m at it, what possessed you to schedule the SEM Phoenix game on the same day that a gazillion people were across the tracks at the MCG for the AFL Prelim Final?

I might as well make it a hat-trick – there were too many messages in the market at the same time. It made my brain hurt. You’ve put out “buy tickets” for NBL games, PGT games, and the upcoming NBA New Orleans Pelicans games – it’s too much.