The Keys to the Series: The Experts Have Their Say

As we approach the commencement of the NBL23 Championship Series the local hoops landscape is buzzing with discussion surrounding the key points of the impending matchup between the reigning champion Sydney Kings and their unlikely challengers, the New Zealand Breakers.

We approached some of the greatest hoops experts at our disposal to discuss their thoughts ahead of the big dance.

Here's what they had to say.

(L-R) Jenna O'Hea, Brett Maher, Derek Rucker, Lanard Copeland and Brook Ruscoe are all legends of the local basketball scene, and they have all been involved in NBL23 in a commentary/analytical capacity.

Which player do you think holds the key to unlocking this series?

"I’m going to go with Barry Brown Jr. I think he’s the most dangerous guy, I think he has the most ability to take over a game and win it off his own bat, and he’s just been so electric in the past two or three games for New Zealand. I think overall the rest of the guys will be really solid but he’s the guy who will really have to elevate if they want to win the championship." - Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker

"I don’t think you can go past Xavier Cooks at the moment. I think everyone is tipping him to win back-to-back Finals MVP awards if the Kings do get over the line because he’s got such great value for them on both ends of the floor. I like the depth of both teams and that’s what’s got them this far and helped them be the two best teams all year, but Cooks would be my answer." - 3x NBL Champion, 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher

"Barry Brown Jr. I think New Zealand have the three best imports in the league and he’s been amazing as the sixth man off the bench. He’s been the catalyst for them offensively and when he wasn’t there through injury that really hurt them. He’s the spark and they’ve been successful with him." - 3x WNBL Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Jenna O'Hea

"That’s a good question. I think it’s Will McDowell-White. If he can get going, control his side, be the head of the snake they need and win that matchup with Derrick Walton Jr – which is easier said than done – which he did when the Breakers had that huge win over there. There’s guys like Barry Brown Jr and Xavier Cooks in this series, but Mody Maor looks at Will a lot. We saw at the back end of the season what he can do even if he was a bit quiet in the series against Tasmania, and I think he’s the key to the Breakers winning this thing." - Media Personality and Former NZNBL Player Brook Ruscoe

"Generally I would say the reigning MVP in Xavier Cooks, but because of what I see from New Zealand I’m going to go with Will McDowell-White. I’m going to go with him because he controls that ball for New Zealand – if he comes out and plays his best game which means points, rebounds, assists, then he’ll give Sydney big, big trouble." - 2x NBL Champion, Former NBL Grand Final MVP Lanard Copeland.

Barry Brown Jr finished third in the NBL's regular season scoring charts across NBL23 with an average of almost 20 points per game.

Which area of the game do you think the series will be decided?

"I think it will come down to whether New Zealand can defend. They went through a bad patch where they weren’t defending well just after the New Year, when the team was struggling with Covid and all of that, but in the past few weeks we saw what they did to Tassie and I think they’re back on top of their game. With Sydney I think it’s the opposite – it’s can they put up the points? I think their style of play will force New Zealand to be a little bit erratic offensively anyway but it’s going to be the matter of if they can score points." - Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker

"Both teams have shown they can score pretty well all year, so that means that defensively the team that can set and control the pace of the game will inevitably win." -  3x NBL Champion, 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher

"Defensive transition, and the includes rebounding. The Kings are so fast in transition, so I think if New Zealand can slow them down they have a good shot at winning, but if they can’t I think Sydney will take the title." - 3x WNBL Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Jenna O'Hea

"Sydney are so tough in the open court. If Xavier Cooks can get stops and rebounds and he goes, or even if he just finds a way to get out in the open court he’s deadly. If Sydney start running that means they’re getting multiple stops and they start to look really good in transition. They find their shooters, Cooks gets downhill, gets all the attention and then he finds the shooters on the wing which gives guys like Shaun Bruce and DJ Vasiljevic a chance to get hot. If Sydney gets that run game going it’s going to be a long five games – if it gets to that point – for the Breakers. The easiest way to slow that down is to score points and by making them take it out the net. If the Breakers can score that’s the best way of stopping that." - Media Personality and Former NZNBL Player Brook Ruscoe

"That’s a difficult question because Sydney are very good offensively when they’re going, when they pull the ball off the rim and they get running – like when Cooks is grabbing it off the glass and taking it all the way to the hole they’re the toughest team to play in the league and the record shows that. New Zealand have the best thee imports, I think, in the league, and when those guys are going they’re trouble. Although New Zealand probably play better defence this one’s a toss-up." - 2x NBL Champion, Former NBL Grand Final MVP Lanard Copeland.

Xavier Cooks' ability to get out in transition and run the floor will be key to the Kings' hopes of winning back-to-back titles.

What do you think a series win would mean for the Breakers as an organisation?

"This is two years in a row where we’ve had a feel-good team in there. I think everyone’s familiar with what New Zealand as a team has been through in the last two years, so it’s really good to see them rise up again and get this opportunity. They’ve done a great job in re-assembling the team, getting who they wanted and changing the coaching position. They deserve a lot of credit and they’ve certainly got my admiration." - Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker

"I think it would be phenomenal for them to come from their results last year to potentially a championship this year – it would have to be one of the best turnarounds in the history of the NBL. I think their coach has done an amazing job this year with bringing this group of players together and getting them to perform in the way they have been all year. They’ve been phenomenal. - 3x NBL Champion, 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher

"It would just be an absolute fairy tale for them all. We all know the challenges they’ve had over the last two years with being based in Australia and not getting to play at home. I think it would have just been scripted like a movie if they can get up and win this year after the challenges they’ve had to face. To take it out would just be incredible." - 3x WNBL Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Jenna O'Hea

"Everything. It’s a broad answer but it would mean everything to that club. They’ve spent so much time away from family and there have been so many personal grievances outside of the game of basketball for some of these Breakers boys. So many of them have sacrificed so much – especially guys like Tom Abercrombie and Will McDowell-White. They lost guys like Finn Delaney, Yanni Wetzell, guys they went to war with, and they’ve still somehow prevailed this year. If they win this, for me, this is bigger than any other championship they’ve won. They were expected to win championships with that dynasty team back in the day. I’m going to be honest, there was no way on God’s green earth I thought the Breakers would be here and I’d be having this conversation." - Media Personality and Former NZNBL Player Brook Ruscoe

"I’ve been around long enough to know that when New Zealand used to win it all they already had that tag of being the tough guys. When you play New Zealand you would come home the next day feeling sore – they generally let you know they’re in it for the win. Sydney played this team earlier in the year and Chase mentioned it was like playing the All Blacks. They’re for real about their basketball over there. The NBL is a great league to be in and you’d better believe there are a lot of New Zealand based players who can play in this league. I would say if they can hold onto their players it could be the start of a dynasty." - 2x NBL Champion, Former NBL Grand Final MVP Lanard Copeland.

Tom Abercrombie is competing to win the fifth NBL title of his career with the Breakers.

What do you think a series win would mean for the Kings as an organisation?

"They’ve been pretty vocal with everything that’s been going on with them. I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about how they feel – I don’t even think we need to say anything as experts, all you have to do is go on Twitter and check it out which has been quite entertaining. I think it could be the beginning of a serious run. If you get three you’re dynastic, and if they get this one there’s no reason why they can’t go for next year’s too." - Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker

"I think it just establishes them this decade as one of the absolute powerhouses. They’ve been very, very dominant all season and if they can get over the line it’ll give them a good shout at being the best team of the decade once all is said and done." - 3x NBL Champion, 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher

"It’s hard enough winning a championship as it is – let alone going back-to-back. They lost some great players, but they managed to recruit really well again this season. I was playing for a long time and managed to win a few, but winning again that next year is always really hard with the expectations being so high and having to get back up again after that bit of a come down that comes after winning a championship. They’ve done a terrific job this year and Chase has them playing at a really high level. Going back-to-back is very difficult and it would be pretty cool to see that." - 3x WNBL Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Jenna O'Hea

"It would be the start of a dynasty for me. The word ‘dynasty’ is thrown around a lot in sport, but if they win two it’s knocking on the door of that conversation. It opens up the chance to win three, then four, then really have that conversation. They’ve just been the standard for the last two, potentially even three years. They’ve been there or thereabouts for so much of that time. I just think it solidifies them with some of the best teams that have been around. I’m not going to put them with the Gaze Tigers, the Martin Wildcats or that Breakers team from 10 years ago just yet, but it allows them to open the door." - Media Personality and Former NZNBL Player Brook Ruscoe

"I’ve been in the seat there as an assistant coach, and I know how much Sydney love their championships. A win would simply let the fans and the rest of the NBL know that Sydney is for real. You’ve got Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut who have won championships and know how to do it in the NBA who can bring their knowledge and leadership to the group. If Chase Buford wins a second championship I don’t think he’ll be in the NBL for long, NBA teams will be looking at him to come in as an assistant. If they won the championship again they might have to start over again. In the NBL once you start winning your players and coaches start getting recruited. Last year they had three great imports and lost them all, not in the NBL but around the world. I honestly think if they win it again it lets everyone know they’re going about it all the right way with the ownership group, the leaders, and with Chase.

." - 2x NBL Champion, Former NBL Grand Final MVP Lanard Copeland.

Chase Buford stands to win his second NBL Championship in just his second season coaching in the competition.

What's your prediction?

"This is tough. I think New Zealand’s depth and their current form has them slightly ahead if everything was to remain equal. There are so many things that could happen but right now I’m going slightly towards New Zealand in four games." - Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker

"I just like the look of Sydney. I think they’re well-rounded in every position, their depth is very good and I think having the home court advantage is going to be the tipping point in what will be a very close battle. I think the series is going to be won on home games which is a bit of a far cry from the start of the season when the away teams were winning everything. I’m happy it’s these two teams that have made it this far because they’ve been the two best sides all year and I think we’re in for a good series." - 3x NBL Champion, 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher

"I want it to go to overtime every game and have it go to Game 5 just because I love watching these two teams play. If I’m going with my heart I’d say New Zealand win the series in five games, but if I’m going with my head I think it will be Sydney in four." - 3x WNBL Champion. 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Jenna O'Hea

"I’m going with my heart, but my head might even be saying the same thing. I really want the Breakers to win, and I know I’m supposed to be impartial, but I want them to win because I feel like they’ve had a lot of tough losses. This Sydney team is really, really good from top to bottom, but if the Breakers can defeat the defending champs that’s another tick in the box for the Cinderella story." - Media Personality and Former NZNBL Player Brook Ruscoe

"I dare anybody to say Sydney’s going to win or New Zealand’s going to win the series. It hinges so much on individual players and how they want to play. Yes Sydney have home-court advantage, but New Zealand are coming. They’re tough and I heard someone say last week in an interview that the team struggled the last couple of years because of Covid, well most of these guys are brand new so they feel like they’re the better team, but you can’t count Sydney out because they’re the reigning champs and they’ve led the league all year long. I’ve been around for a long time, but this one is hard to call." - 2x NBL Champion, Former NBL Grand Final MVP Lanard Copeland.

Game 1 of the NBL23 Championship Series tips off on Friday, March 3 at 7:30pm AEDT - live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies.