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Time to stop the blame game: Breakers stuck in a funk
Justin Chadwick, AAP • December 23rd, 2025 8:10 am
Breakers | Photo: Photosport
New Zealand Breakers coach Petteri Koponen has told his players to look in the mirror and stop blaming each other following the club's latest shock NBL loss.
Just three days after losing to last-placed Cairns, NZ were again humbled by an NBL struggler when they suffered a 99-85 loss to the Bullets in Brisbane on Monday night.
The result snapped Brisbane's seven-match losing streak, and marked their first win since parting ways with coach Stu Lash last week.
The Breakers (7-13) have now lost three games in a row, putting in doubt their chances of making the NBL play-in.
Koponen didn't hold back when analysing his team's flop against Brisbane.
"It's not the first time this season when we hit adversity and how we respond - we kind of broke down, especially first half. We let Brisbane score 56 points," Koponen said.
"When the adversity hit, you've always got choices, how you respond.
"What I saw today - we were not staying together, and we were always complaining or blaming somebody else.
"I told the guys, it's time to look in the mirror - us coaches first, and then everybody else, what we can do better to help this team.
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"Everything starts with effort, and especially defensive end - rebounding. It's all about playing hard, playing with the effort."
NZ were powerless against Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison (24 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks), with Brisbane winning the rebound count 48-36.
The Breakers shot 6-of-27 from beyond the perimeter, and they were a woeful 17-of-27 from the free-throw line.
NZ will be back in action on Boxing Day when they take on the JackJumpers in Tasmania, before hosting Perth (January 4) and Sydney (January 9) in what shapes as a crucial set of fixtures.
"We're going to go back home now, and we (will give) the guys Christmas Eve free so they can spend the time with their families," Koponen said.
"Everybody always want to win and compete ... but at the same time, it's Christmas time. You want to spend some time with the loved ones.
"We give the guys the 24th all day to spend time with their families. And on the 25th we practice, and then we travel to Tassie again.
"We have to come out a different unit and support each other and compete."
