Sport Preview: Rams vs Sharks – Sal’s NBL: New Zealand Nationwide Basketball League

Sport Preview: The Wheeler Motor Firm Canterbury Rams (5-1) v SBS Financial institution Southland Sharks (6-2)

The Wheeler Motor Firm Canterbury Rams return to Parakiore on Sunday afternoon for one of many largest video games of the season thus far, with the SBS Financial institution Southland Sharks arriving in Christchurch because the league’s type workforce and the highest spot on the ladder on the road. 

The Rams are available in at 5-1 after a commanding 99-79 win over The Northern Group Tauranga Whai, a outcome constructed on steadiness and a dominant third quarter. Taylor Britt, Walter Brown and Tamenang Choh all completed with 19 factors, whereas Jack Andrew gave Canterbury the inside platform to drag away after the halftime interval. However a late change to the lineup will see a key member down and a blast from the previous able to contribute

The Sharks arrive at 6-2 and carrying critical momentum after a press release 111-94 win over Jadcup Auckland Tuatara gave them a fifth consecutive win. Southland has confirmed over and over how harmful they are often when Sam Timmins, Caleb Asberry, Rylan Jones and Keylan Boone are all firing. The Rams are second in scoring and second in scoring defence, whereas the Sharks are fifth in scoring and third in scoring defence, so this shapes as a real top-of-the-table take a look at.

When: Sunday 17 Might, Fast League 2.00pm, Sal’s NBL 3.00pm

The place: Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, Christchurch

Watch: Reside on Sky Sport 2 and Sky Open in New Zealand, ESPN+ in america and FIBA YouTube in all places else

Commentary: Andrew Mulligan, Casey Frank & Nick Bewley sideline

Box Score Here

Purchase Tickets Here

Final Time Out

The Sharks produced one in every of their greatest wins of the early season, defeating Jadcup Auckland Tuatara 111-94 within the Shark Tank. It was a story of two halves, with the Tuatara beginning strongly behind two quarter-time buzzer beaters by Josh Dilling and KC Ioane, however Southland held agency and nonetheless took a 45-43 lead into the break.

From there, the Sharks broke the sport open. Rylan Jones, Caleb Asberry and Keylan Boone all discovered rhythm from the perimeter, whereas Timmins was dominant inside. Tuatara had manufacturing from Chris Johnson, Dilling and Rob Loe, however they didn’t have sufficient solutions for Southland’s steadiness and shot-making throughout the second half.

SBS Financial institution Southland Sharks: Sam Timmins (26p, 15r, 5a, 1s), Caleb Asberry (28p, 4r, 3a), Rylan Jones (27p, 4r, 5a)

Jadcup Auckland Tuatara: Chris Johnson (18p, 7r, 2a), Josh Dilling (17p, 1r, 8a), Rob Loe (16p, 11r, 2a)

The Rams had been too robust for the Whai, profitable 99-79 at QEYC. Canterbury began nicely via Britt’s management and Brown’s scoring, however Tauranga fought again within the first half behind Reuben Te Rangi and Nicholas Stoddart to trim the margin to 1 on the break.

The third quarter modified the sport. Brown hit a deep three to regular Canterbury, Choh continued to make an influence, and the Rams’ defence tightened as they pushed the lead out to fifteen by three-quarter time. From there, Canterbury managed the ultimate time period and completed with a 20-point win.

The Northern Group Tauranga Whai: Reuben Te Rangi (31p, 3r, 2a, 2s, 2b), Nicholas Stoddart (22p, 3r, 6a)

The Wheeler Motor Firm Canterbury Rams: Walter Brown (19p, 8r, 6a, 2s), Taylor Britt (19p, 4r, 8a, 2s), Tamenang Choh (19p, 4r, 4a)

What to Anticipate

Projected Starters

The Wheeler Motor Firm Canterbury Rams

PG: Taylor Britt

F:    René Rougeau

F:    Walter Brown

F:    Ihaka Cate

C:    Jack Andrew

SBS Financial institution Southland Sharks

PG: Rylan Jones

G:    Tukaha Cooper

G:    Caleb Asberry

F:    Brayden Inger

C:    Sam Timmins

Canterbury’s look modifications considerably with Todd Withers out injured. Withers has been one of many Rams’ most vital two-way items, giving them elite defensive versatility, measurement on the wing and a real floor-spacing risk from deep. His absence removes one in every of Canterbury’s greatest matchup defenders for Keylan Boone and a wanted perimeter gravity round Taylor Britt, Walter Brown and Jack Andrew.

However the Rams have added a significant piece in René Rougeau, who brings an intensive worldwide resume and a direct hyperlink to this fixture. Rougeau started his skilled profession in New Zealand with the Southland Sharks in 2010, incomes All-Star 5 honours that season after averaging 16.2 factors, 9.2 rebounds and three.7 steals. He has since constructed a embellished profession throughout Finland, Mexico, France, Israel, Venezuela and New Zealand, together with 5 Finnish Korisliiga championships and two Mexican LNBP titles.

Head Coach Quinn Clinton has highlighted Rougeau’s versatility, defensive ceiling, rebounding and skill to attach actions offensively, all traits that ought to assist Canterbury instantly. Rougeau has additionally described himself as an lively team-first participant who prides himself on defence, vocal management and bringing vitality to the group. In opposition to a Sharks workforce he as soon as represented, his first look in Rams colors provides one other layer to an already loaded matchup.

For Southland, Timmins is the anchor, Asberry is in excellent scoring type, Jones continues to drive the tempo, and Boone provides the Sharks and elite scoring possibility off the bench. The Sharks have been profitable with steadiness, confidence and depth, and their 111-point efficiency towards Tuatara confirmed how rapidly they’ll overwhelm groups once they get rolling.

Can Canterbury’s new-look group can soak up the lack of Withers with out dropping its defensive edge? The Rams nonetheless have Britt’s management, Brown’s all-round influence, Andrew’s rim safety and Choh’s physicality, however Rougeau’s capacity to fit in rapidly could possibly be the distinction between the Rams merely masking an absence and really including a brand new dimension.

Matchups to Watch:

Taylor Britt v Rylan Jones

Britt has been excellent as Canterbury’s flooring basic, averaging 23.0 factors and eight.3 assists whereas preserving the Rams offense linked and environment friendly. He has been in a position to rating when wanted, however he has immense worth in the way in which he will get Brown, Andrew, Choh and the remainder of the Rams into the appropriate spots. Canterbury’s league-best assist-to-turnover ratio begins together with his management.

Jones is coming off one in every of his greatest performances of the season, scoring 27 factors with 5 assists towards Tuatara. Throughout the season, he has been filling the stat sheet with 16.9 factors, 7.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and a couple of.1 steals per sport. His rebounding from the guard spot and skill to push after stops have turn into central to Southland’s present run.

If Britt controls the half court docket and retains the Rams clear with the ball, Canterbury can play the sport on its phrases. If Jones turns rebounds and turnovers into tempo, the Sharks could make this a monitor meet and put strain on Canterbury’s transition defence.

Walter Brown v Caleb Asberry

Brown has been a significant motive Canterbury has appeared so balanced, averaging 21.7 factors, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks. His capacity to attain inside, stretch the ground, rebound and defend throughout matchups makes him probably the most full gamers within the league.

Asberry provides Southland a special sort of downside. He’s averaging 19.2 factors and 5.0 assists whereas taking pictures 50 p.c from the sphere, 43 p.c from three and 90 p.c on the line. In opposition to Tuatara, his 28 factors helped break the sport open, and his capacity to attain or create off the bounce makes Southland tougher to load up towards.

If Brown controls the glass and punishes mismatches, Canterbury can tilt the sport bodily. If Asberry will get downhill and forces rotations, the Sharks’ shooters and Timmins will get the sort of clear appears which have powered their latest run.

 Jack Andrew v Sam Timmins

Andrew has turn into one in every of Canterbury’s most vital items, giving the Rams effectivity, measurement, rim safety and a significant presence on the offensive glass. He’s averaging 15.7 factors, 9.3 rebounds and a couple of.0 blocks, whereas taking pictures 67 p.c from the sphere. His capacity to complete across the rim, defend the paint and generate further possessions provides Canterbury a powerful inside basis.

Timmins has been excellent for Southland, averaging 20.8 factors, 11.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and a couple of.0 blocks. He is not only the Sharks’ anchor, he has been the perfect all-round huge within the league, with the flexibility to attain inside, cross out of strain and management the defensive glass.

There may be additionally a pleasant subplot right here, with Andrew previously serving as Timmins’ backup earlier than rising right into a starting-level power in his personal proper. Now they meet as two of the best frontcourt gamers within the competitors, with each groups relying closely on their measurement and inside influence.

If Andrew can keep bodily with out fouling, problem Timmins on the rim and maintain Canterbury alive on the offensive glass, the Rams can tilt the possession battle. If Timmins controls the paint, forces assist and retains discovering shooters and cutters, Southland’s offence turns into a lot tougher to include.

Particular person Leaders

Stats that Matter

Canterbury loses a significant piece in Withers, whose defence, measurement and taking pictures have been central to the Rams’ steadiness. In opposition to a Sharks facet with Asberry, Jones, Inger, Boone and Timmins all able to hurting groups in numerous methods, that isn’t a small absence. The Rams might want to exchange his defensive versatility and spacing by committee.

Rougeau’s arrival provides them a captivating resolution. He brings championship expertise, defensive satisfaction, rebounding, management and a high-level really feel for the sport. His return to New Zealand is a full-circle second after beginning his skilled profession with the Sharks, and now his first task with Canterbury comes towards that very same Southland membership.

For the Rams, that is about defending the paddock, integrating Rougeau rapidly and making Southland play via Canterbury’s physicality. If Britt controls tempo, Brown impacts each section, Andrew protects the paint and Rougeau provides them rapid influence and vitality, the Rams have the instruments to make a significant assertion.

For the Sharks, that is one other probability to show their present run is cementing them within the title-contender dialog. If Timmins anchors the center, Jones and Asberry maintain attacking downhill, and Boone or Inger offers one other scoring raise, Southland has the shape and firepower to win a heavyweight street sport.