Billed as ‘Rivalry Round’, round two of the NBL season delivered all that and more, with tempers flaring in both of the key rivalry games. Tensions were tight across the board, with the gap between first and last closer than you might think, resulting in some of the most electric play the league has ever seen.
Missed the action in round 1? Catch up with our wrap of all the major talking points.
Duop Reath dominates as Illawarra take first Freeway series game
The Illawarra Hawks were one of the most surprising teams last season, making it all the way to the semifinals following a number of years lurking at the bottom of the ladder.
Despite this success, the league-wide consensus was that the squad was still missing a piece. This was resolved rather quickly however when head coach Brian Goorjian - who just became the first individual to be involved in 800 NBL games - returned from the Tokyo Olympics with big man Duop Reath in tow, and over the first few weeks of the season that signing has paid itself off in spades.
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Reath's benefit was clear in this week's game against Sydney, as he scored 27 points and grabbed seven boards en route to an emphatic victory. Tensions were high, with Hawk-turned-King Angus Glover and Sam Froling sharing a few choice words. The Kings were not at full strength, missing imports RJ Hunter and Jaylen Adams as well as local Jordan Hunter, but the game still acted as an entree to what could be a highly entertaining finals series. The beef between the two owners may have been questionable, but there is no denying the feelings of the players.
ALL THE SPICE.
— The NBL (@NBL) December 11, 2021
It's all happening in the Freeway Series.#NBL22 live on @ESPNAusNZ + @kayosports pic.twitter.com/umk4thH3NC
Madness in Melbourne after Creek dunks on Dellavedova
If you were watching this game, were anywhere near social media, have heard of the NBL, or even know what basketball is, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this dunk from Mitch Creek:
Things got heated in Australia's NBL after this dunk on Matthew Dellavedova 😳
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 12, 2021
(via @NBL)pic.twitter.com/P3MbF38pKj
Arguably one of the best plays in NBL history, Creek’s dunk on Delly could be heard around the world. But so too could the reaction from Mason Peatling, flattening Creek in the midst of his post-dunk celebration. From there, both teams were off to the races, the second scuffle of the second round taking players, coaches, referees, fans and media people all with it.
Peatling ended up ejected, whilst Creek was lucky to escape one. Following the action, South-East Melbourne were able to eke out an eight point victory, but it was that one play that was all anybody was talking about.
A standout from this game was Zhou Qi, the much-anticipated Chinese big man finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and a colossal seven blocked shots. Shockingly, Melbourne’s Jo Lual-Acuil also finished with seven rejections, the first instance of this happening in NBL history.
Jo Lual-Acuil 7 blocks
— NBLfacts (@nblfacts) December 12, 2021
Zhou Qi 7 blocks
First time in NBL history two players have recorded 7 blocks each in the same game.
(6586 games played since blocks first recorded in 1983.)#NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Y5Ff2EbXYb
Youngsters shine but New Zealand stay winless
It was always going to be a tough start to the season for the New Zealand Breakers, a team once again playing away from home that was also ravaged by COVID. This has unfortunately reflected in the teams play, still yet to secure their maiden victory of the new season.
However, the team's young core has still shown they are a solid group, putting in impressive performances in both of this round’s games. Will McDowell-White has continued to be a solid presence, including this play from Friday’s match that gave him dunk of the year... for about 48 hours.
WILL MCDOWELL-WHITE POSTER
— Sky Sport Breakers (@NZBreakers) December 10, 2021
DUNK OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/SY1kFUMpqn
He then led all scorers with 27 in Sunday’s clash with Adelaide, a red-hot shooting night seeing him net 71.4% of his shots, 60% from three.
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Hugo Besson has also been spectacular in his admittedly small sample size, scoring 26 and 25 across both New Zealand games in round two. Coming into the season, most of the focus was on the Breakers' Next Star Ousmane Dieng, but over the course of two rounds Besson has shown that currently he is the team's best prospect for the upcoming NBA Draft.
26 points on 16 shots for Hugo Besson in just his second Australian NBL game. The 6'5, 20-year old, projected first rounder scored 14 straight points down the stretch. Josh Giddey and R.J Hampton never exceeded 19 points, while LaMelo Ball didn't score 25+ until his 11th NBL game pic.twitter.com/F270F72A3X
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 10, 2021
