Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 5, 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 South East Melbourne and Cairns

HOOYAH – Bryce Cotton: The entire state of South Australia and the League itself are absolutely blessed to have this breathtakingly, bold-hearted beast, who has boundless, unbelievable talent. You treated the Cairns’ defence with all the disrespect and disdain you could muster, single-handedly destroying with a jaw-dropping 53 points.

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated Perth, defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – Tristan Devers: Casey Prather had 34 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrell Harrison notched 27 and 15 -both were utterly magnificent. But this Hooyah goes to 20-year-old point guard Tristan Devers, who started ahead of Jaylen Adams and played like a veteran.You guided your team to an upset road victory over Perth with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. You earned a lot of respect, my man.

HARDEN UP – Jaylen Adams: For this Harden Up, I had to look up the definition of “enigma”. So, here it is: Something mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. It’s the perfect way to describe your last two games, and perhaps your season so far. You came off the bench against Perth, for reported “disciplinary reasons” and played 17 minutes and managed just 1 point, 6 assists and 3 steals - but you didn’t take a single shot? You talent has never been under question and you reminded everyone of what you’re capable of the very next game, scaring the bejesus out of Melbourne, knocking down 29 points with 5 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in 31 minutes. This Harden Up is for being benched in the first place. C’mon man - you’re an NBL champion and former league MVP – you’re way better than this.

Defeated by Adelaide

HOOYAH – Andrew Andrews: You had you best game of the season and finally overcame those cramps that hampered you in the first few round, producing 23 points and 7 assists.

HARDEN UP – All the Taipans: When you allow one man, albeit a super-human man in Bryce Cotton, to score 53 points- every player that hit the floor has to wear this one.

Defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – JaVale McGee: The walking, talking, cheat-code does it so easy. In just 23 minutes you managed 22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. I hope everyone else understands how outrageous this is.

HARDEN UP – Wani Swaka Lo Buluk: In a 40-point loss, I had plenty of options for this but settled on 4 x NBL champion because he broke my newest rule; starters can’t go scoreless. 0/2 from the field for 0 points - it’s time to step up Wani – respectfully.

Defeated Brisbane and New Zealand

HOOYAH – Tyson Walker: Shhhh… you’re quietly going about your business, leading an undefeated team to a 7-0 record. The Breakers copped 16 points, 9 assists and 4 steals from you, the slick playmaker.

HARDEN UP – Dash Daniels: When you’re 7-0, Harden Ups are hard to find, and I dish this one out with my tongue firmly in my cheek. To the future NBA lottery pick - it hurts me to do this cause I absolutely love and respect your game. Now, I don’t mind the occasional air-ball from deep because we’ve all done that, but you know damn well you can’t air-ball from the free throw line. Carry on young soldier, I’m just messin’.

Defeated Tasmania, defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – Parker Jackson-Cartwright: Faster than a rumour in a small town, you damn-near had a triple-double against Melbourne with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

HARDEN UP – All the Breakers: Your 3-point shooting completely betrayed you against Tasmania. Going 0/13 from downtown at the half and finishing 2/26. After you finish shooting practice, practice more.

Defeated by Brisbane and Sydney

HOOYAH – Kristian Doolittle: Battled hard all night against Sydney and finished with a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double - and everyone knows how much I love double-doubles and triple-doubles. Until a third import shows up, you’re gonna need a hell of a lot more of them.

HARDEN UP – All the Wildcats: You got dressed and looked like you were ready to play against Brisbane, but must have taken one look at the Bullets’ depleted lineup that got massacred last week, and thought all you had to do was show up. You disrespected the basketball Gods and paid the cost. Getting blown out at home by 17 points was unbecoming of a Perth team.

Defeated by Adelaide, defeated Illawarra

HOOYAH – Angus Glover: You gave your hometown team, Illawarra the absolute business. You were shooting like you were playing Call of Duty, hitting 8/12 triples on your way to a career-high 26.

HARDEN UP – All the Phoenix: Against Adelaide, y’all couldn’t hit water if you fell out of a boat. Y’all couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a frozen chicken. Y’all couldn’t hit the floor if you were aiming straight down … You get the point. You put on one of the worst first-half shooting performances in history, going 1/13 from downtown and scoring only 27 against the 36ers. God damn.

Defeated by Tasmania, defeated Perth

HOOYAH – Kendric Davis: The pocket rocket from Houston Texas - damaging and kept the scoreboard ticking over all night against Perth with 25 points in 28 minutes. That’s some serious work.

HARDEN UP – All the Kings: With all that fire power, all you could muster up was 70 against the JackJumpers? Last week you were a high-octane team scoring 103, nek minute - no octane. Now you’ve got me confused but I know you’re “still figuring it all out”.

Defeated Sydney, defeated by New Zealand

HOOYAH – Josh Bannan: You immediately recovered from your last game where you had just 2 rebounds, and quickly reminded the Ant Army what you’re all all about. You posted a near-triple-double against Sydney with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Way to bounce back strong.

‍HARDEN UP – Will Magnay: Forgetting too lippy with the refs and getting ejected late in the 3^rd quarter against Sydney. You put your team in a vulnerable position and you’re lucky your teammates still got the W. You’re the captain of the team and far too valuable.

HOOYAH – Big spenders: To all those who opened up their wallets and spent big to secure the best of the best – thank you. Especially Grant Kelley in Adelaide who made sure Bryce Cotton returned to the NBL.

HARDEN UP – Goorjian ejected: Goorj copped two technical fouls in the blink of an eye and got tossed in the game against Perth. We saw he jumped up and down after disagreeing with a call and got “teed up”. Flabbergasted, he asked, “What was that for?” and was warned to control his emotions. Seconds later, he allegedly mumbled something, turned his back and got “teed up” again. Was that really how it went? We need an explanation, and I’m sure there is one - otherwise it’s the officials who needed to control their emotions.

HARDEN UP – Blowouts: This was supposed to be the most competitive season on record. Every team’s roster was stacked with talent but not only are we seeing multiple blowouts each round, some teams are struggling to score. Four teams scored in the 70s and one was in the 60s … What the hell?