The NBL rolls into Week 3 and there are seven games on the slate, beginning on Friday night.
The New Zealand Breakers are yet to contest a game in season 2019/20, but we don’t have to wait long to see them in action. They face a potential baptism of fire in the form of the Kings in Sydney first-up.
Friday October 18
Week 3 launches in Sydney on Friday night and finally, the New Zealand Breakers’ season will be underway.
It will be no mean feat for the New Zealand franchise to begin the new campaign in the best way possible, with the Kings so far 2-0 and topping the ladder. A smart win over the Taipans on the road first-up was franked when they returned home for a dominant win over the Adelaide 36ers, and their best form does appear to be ahead of them still.
It’s hard to make a case for the Breakers first-up and I’m happy to be with the Kings to cover.
Betting suggests that the most one-sided game in Week 3 of the NFL will materialise in Perth on Friday night, and it’s tough imagining a situation unfolding other than a comfortable Wildcats win.
The reigning champions have started the new season well; recording two wins from as many starts. It was a typically tight affair with Melbourne United, but they put the Hawks to the sword last weekend and will be full of confidence ahead of this game with the winless Taipans.
Unfortunately for their long-suffering fans, the Taipans have all but picked up where they left off, and this will likely prove too great a task for them.
Saturday October 19
The first real contest of the week looks likely to come on Saturday afternoon, when a very credible Bullets side travel to Adelaide to take on the 36ers.
The Bullets have so far recorded two wins and one loss, for a win percentage of 66.67. That leaves them fourth overall, behind the three teams who are yet to register a loss; all of whom have only contested two games each. They really do look the real deal in 2019 and they will be confident of returning to winning form.
The 36ers have contested just one game so far, but they were easily accounted for by the Sydney Kings and will need to improve noticeably to win this. I think they do harbour plenty of improvement, but I think they’ll be outclassed once more.
South East Melbourne are back in action on Saturday night and their first ever game against the Illawarra Hawks awaits.
The league’s new boys remain undefeated, and they are deserving favourites in returning home to play a Hawks side that has so-far underachieved. A shock win over Melbourne United first-up was obviously massive, but they systematically dismantled the Bullets in Round 2 and a repeat of that effort here would see them winning easily.
The Hawks finally got on the board in Round 2, but the single-point win over Cairns was hardly convincing, and they face a far-better opponent here, and away from home.
Sunday October 20
The return leg of Friday night’s game begins the Sunday slate and regardless of the change in venue, I still think that the Breakers are going to have their hands full with this red-hot Kings outfit.
Obviously, we’ll get a far better gauge on what to expect after their first meeting, but I am anticipating quite a large disparity in scores and it will take a big effort for the Breakers to reverse the predicted result in only a couple of days.
Perth are in action for a second time in Round 3 but face a far more difficult task in the form of Melbourne United, away from home.
This certainly has not been the start that United would have expected, but they’ll enter this fresh from a week off and did push this opponent to a single point at their last appearance, in Perth. A return home will obviously suit, and I think they can sneak away with the result.
Monday October 21
Monday will see both the Illawarra Hawks and Adelaide 36ers in action for a second time in Round 3, at the home of the former.
Both clubs face tough first-up tasks but given their ability to break through at home last week, I’m happy to be with the improving Hawks at this stage.