Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 19, 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 by Brisbane, defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Zylan Cheatham: You’re holding it down in the front court and continue to rebound like a madman. A 13-point, 14-rebound double-double is good work and more will be needed to hang onto top spot.

HARDEN UP – Offensive rebounds: Giving up 23 offensive rebounds doesn’t surprise me given your propensity to play four guards the majority of the time, but only scoring 77 at home against the Phoenix and getting blown out by 20 does surprise me.

Defeated by Adelaide

HOOYAH – Jacob Holt: Still only 22 and you gave the top team the “business”. You scored a career-high 24. Despite all the losing in Brisbane, you’re worth watching.

HARDEN UP – Alex Ducas and Sam McDaniel: You guys aren’t even playing and still managed to get yourselves ejected. That’s like getting sacked on a day off.

Defeated Tasmania, defeated by Sydney

TRIPLE HOOYAH ALERT (might be a first)

HOOYAH – Kody Stattmann: With point guard Andrew Andrews out with injury, you had to step up and shoulder the load. You did just that making crucial, crunch-time plays and finishing with a career-high 18 points

HOOYAH – Jack McVeigh: Haven’t seen a ‘Jack’ this dominant since Jack Reacher. You strapped the team to your back AGAIN and played the full game plus overtime. You almost scored a point a minute, finishing with 40 points and 8 boards.

HOOYAH – Lachie Barker: Nobody saw this coming and I couldn’t let it slide just because you guys lost. You came off the bench and led the team in scoring with a career-high 18 points.

HARDEN UP – Choking: Being up 24 in the first half against Sydney was unbelievable. Blowing that lead to lose by 14 was also unbelievable.

Defeated by Sydney and Perth

HOOYAH – JaVale McGee: Any other player would be celebrated with the numbers you’re putting up, and you’re getting these numbers in a half. You gave Sydney 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in 20 minutes, that’s ridiculous.

HARDEN UP – Zero D: The realest rivalry in the League but you guys went to Sydney and got the taste slapped out of your mouths. Giving up 122 points should keep you all up at night.

Defeated by New Zealand

HOOYAH – Jesse Edwards: You’re getting more dominant as the season draws to a close and it’s great to see. 23 points on 10/13 FG, and 14 boards - that’s wassup!

HARDEN UP - Milton Doyle: I’m gonna respectfully ask you to take better care of the basketball. 6 turnovers for a man of your talents is not wassup!

Defeated Melbourne, defeated by Tasmania

HOOYAH – Karim Lopez: You put the smack-down on Melbourne with your best game. With Sam Mennenga and Rob Baker II out, you had to do some heavy lifting and you produced 32 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. El Magnifico! NBA scouts - I hope you’re all watching.

HARDEN UP – Bad execution: There’s a level of offensive and defensive execution that’s been letting you down all season in tight games. Your 2 point loss to the JackJumpers was another example, and it was your tenth loss of the season by single digits.

Defeated South East Melbourne and Illawarra

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Dylan Windler: Against the high-octane Phoenix, you stepped up with a big-time double-double, 23 points and 11 boards which led to an all-important win.

HOOYAH – Ben Henshall: Point guard isn’t your true position but I think there’s a metamorphosis taking place. 14 points is average for you but the 9 assists against the Phoenix was above average. Keep it going, my man.

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated by Perth, defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – John Brown III: You were a menace against Perth. Your normal defence was its usual elite self, and so was your scoring and rebounding. 20 points, 15 rebounds and 4 steals was a monster effort.

HARDEN UP – Jordi Hunter: 3 points and 2 boards in 16 minutes against Perth came as a bit of a shock because of the way you’ve been playing lately. Playoffs are around the corner, no more of these games, please.

Defeated Illawarra and Cairns

HOOYAH – Makuach Maluach: You’ve been toiling away in the League for four years and now you’re a starter averaging career-high numbers. Your 21 points against the Hawks was just a sign of things to come.

HARDEN UP – Tyler Robertson: You’re having a great season my man … but you violated the ‘Starters Must Score’ Rule. Zero points against the Hawks was an aberration. And those flexes on Kody Stattmann after a lil’ bit of bully-ball was … questionable. I love the passion but two flexes was two too many.

Defeated by Cairns, defeated New Zealand

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Josh Bannan: On a team ravaged by injury you continue to produce. A monster double-double against Cairns was your 12th of the season, 18 points and 15 boards.Then you got your 13th double-double against the Breakers, with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

HOOYAH – David Johnson: With your team looking like the waiting room in a hospital, you stepped up against New Zealand with the game winning three, finishing with a season-high 33 points and seven made triples.

HARDEN UP – Injury Bug: You just won’t quit. Now you’ve hit my man, Ben Ayre, with a groin issue ruling him out for the rest of the season. Damn!

HOOYAH – Show them the money: The finalists for the inaugural Ignite Cup have been decided with Adelaide and New Zealand locked in to fight over $400k. I love the discussion about the share of the spoils and whether the players should take it all, or whether it should be kept as a split between club and players 60/40 per cent. For me, I say give the players all the flowers.

HARDEN UP – Fight night: A two-game suspension (reduced to one) for a rear naked choke was soft. Terry Taylor is lucky he ain’t packing his bags and heading home early.