Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 4, 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 Tasmania and defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – Flynn Cameron: You have officially arrived after showing very promising signs last season. In 31 minutes, you gave the Kings 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

HARDEN UP – Isaac Humphries: Coming off a ‘HOOYAH’ worthy performance against Tasmania, you didn’t quite back it up against the Kings. You found yourself in early foul trouble and although you managed 13 points, it was the 1 rebound in 18 minutes that got you here. You’re too big, too athletic, and way too talented - please don’t let that happen again.

Defeated by Illawarra

HOOYAH – Lamar Patterson: Signed as a injury replacement and stepping in for Javon Freeman-Liberty, I had serious flashbacks to your 1^st Team All NBL days. In 23 minutes, you went for 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Welcome back to the League, my man.

HARDEN UP – Tyrell Harrison: I couldn’t wait to see you match-up on Javale McGee and was calling it the “Battle of the Pterodactyls” but you didn’t show up, finishing with 5 points and 4 rebounds in 20 minutes. I feel ripped off. Regroup, my man.

Defeated by Perth and Melbourne

HOOYAH – Marcus Lee: You know I’m a double-double fan, and you were solid as a rock with another one. 12 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks - it didn’t result in a win but keep up that level of play and it will.

HARDEN THE HELL UP! (HHU) –Taipans' team: What happened to the team that went on the road and beat the Kings? You were so putrid against Melbourne, that I had to come up with something stronger than the standard “Harden Up” – hence the “Harden the Hell Up”. You showed a total disregard for the basketball with a staggering 25 turnovers. Scoring just 60 for the game, you embarrassed yourselves.

Defeated by New Zealand and defeated Brisbane

HOOYAH – Tyler Harvey: A ‘Pathological’ scorer, you were not about to let the Hawks go 0-4. You did everything in your power to help your team annihilate the Bullets. You went close to a triple double with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists - and we can’t forget 4 steals. Way to “ball out”!

HARDEN UP – Hawks' defence: I understand the offensive issues you’re going through, but what does that have to do with your defence? Allowing the Breakers to knock down 18 threes on their way to 117 points is a major issue. I think it’s time for one of those “players only” meetings.

Defeated Sydney and Cairns

HOOYAH – Jesse Edwards: From Amsterdam, you are longer than an elephant’s memory and you blocks shots for fun. But you did more than that against the Kings, helping yourself to 22 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in just 22 minutes. Then you notched another double-double against Cairns with 16 points and 12 rebounds.  Loving your work, my man.

HARDEN UP – Pass: 5-0 to start the season, with the New Orleans Pelicans the only team to beat you - I’ve got nothing for y’all but praise.

Defeated Illawarra and defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Parker Jackson-Cartwright: This was an eye-popping performance that had me Googling the all-time assist records. You ran amok with 20 points, 6 rebounds and a club record 17 dimes. #lilbigman

HARDEN UP – Breakers' carelessness: 20 team turnovers is the reason why y’all blew a double-digit lead and lost to the Pheonix. Carelessness is preventing you from reaching your potential

Defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – Jo Lual-Acuil Jr: You treated the Cairns defence with all the disrespect and contempt you could muster, recording a monster double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds. Now, we need a Royal Commission to find out why you only played 24 minutes.

HARDEN UP – Ben Henshall: You’re being challenged right now. You’ve fallen out of the rotation and only got 7 minutes of court time and went 0/3 with no rebounds, and no assists. You have NBA talent, so it’s time to regroup and show it.

Defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – Owen Foxwell: A walking advertisement for hard work and persistence. You worked your way into a starting spot and stood tall when you were down 8 at the half to finish with a game-high 19 points and 7 assists. You also led the charge in restricting Parker Jackson-Cartwright to 9 points.

HARDEN UP – Team depth: Without some depth on your bench, it’s gonna be hard to get enough wins to make the finals. There’s too much reliance on Nathan Sobey right now and if he has a bad game, I can’t see it clicking.

Defeated by Melbourne and defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – Kings defence: Led masterfully by Matthew Dellavedova and the Bul “the Pit Bull” Kuol, the Kings put Bryce Cotton in a straitjacket. At quarter-time the man averaging 35 points this season had ZERO, at halftime 2 and at the final buzzer, he had just 5 points.

HARDEN UP – Xavier Cooks: The foul line is only 15 feet away from the basket, so why it’s causing so much grief for you is a mystery. Against Melbourne you had no problem getting to the line, but making shots was a big problem. 1 from 10 – OUCH!

Defeated by Adelaide

HOOYAH – Bryce Hamilton: If you name your kid Bryce and he decides to play basketball, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he’s gonna be really good. We’re witnessing a special player in you. Only 24, you showed off your scoring ways and passing prowess with 22 and 9 assists. I hope you fall in love with this League and stay for a long time.

‍HARDEN UP – Josh Bannan: You came in averaging a double-double but in 28 minutes, you only had 2 rebounds. Now I’m not saying you have to get 10 every game, but I’m saying that you gotta get more than 2. I’m confident that was an anomaly.

HOOYAH – Ignite Cup: The Ignite Cup tipped off with $400,000 on the line. Played on ‘hump day’, Wednesdays just got extremely exciting.

HARDEN UP – Blowouts: We’re getting way too many games that are all but over at halftime. The strength of the NBL in recent years has been that you don’t know who is gonna win, any given day. This round we had four games with a margin 20 points or more out of 8 games.