Superstar simply ‘yuck’ as side stumbles; historic ejection stuns great: Hooyah or Harden Up

NBL champion Damon Lowery will be writing for Fox Sports Australia during this season — here’s his recap of Round 3!

It was another wild weekend of NBL action, with upsets, big wins, and several twists and turns.

Here is how I saw it all and who I think deserves a Hooyah and who needs to Harden UP!

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South East Melbourne (lost to 36ers)

HOOYAH – The Phoenix are hurting right now, but big Matt is hurting the opposition averaging 21.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. In his last outing he had 32 points and 6 rebounds.

HARDEN UP! – The coaching staff and entire playing group gotta wear this one. You’re not only at war with the other nine teams, you’re also at war with history because no team in the 40-minute era has made finals after being 0-4.

Cairns (defeated JackJumpers, defeated United)

HOOYAH – If you were injured in the pre-season and come out in your first game and score 20 points at 90% shooting, with five assists and four rebounds at only 22 years of age and play like a fully-grown man, then you deserve a Hooyah. This one is for you Taran Armstrong.

HARDEN UP! – To Taran Armstrong’s ankles: harden up – he needs you and you keep letting him down!

Tasmania (lost to Taipans, defeated Wildcats)

HOOYAH – Majok Deng, you got off to a slow start, but came off the bench with 16 points and six rebounds, including the go-ahead clutch three-pointer against Perth in OT. The Jackies are gonna need this level of productivity from you regularly if they’re any chance of repeating.

HARDEN UP! – The Jackies are offensively compromised this season, which makes Jordon Crawford even more important. You’re still The President of the Lil Big Man Society but we need more from you because you’re way better than the six points and four assists in 30 minutes you posted on Friday night. Credit to you for stepping up on Sunday, though.

Melbourne (defeated Wildcats, lost to Taipans)

HOOYAH – Stand up Memphis, your man Ian Clark is still a bucket. Ian, you got the whole scoring package including runners, floaters, mid rangers, and threes. I should’ve saw it coming with Delly being out. (Congrats to the Dellavedovas for welcoming your baby girl).

HARDEN UP! – If you’re a 6’11 starting center and have more fouls (three) than points (two) and rebounds (two), make your way to the Harden Up line please. No doubting Rob Loe’s talent, it’s the consistency that’s the issue.

Perth (lost to United, lost to JackJumpers)

HOOYAH – Kristian Doolittle had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 100 grown-man plays. He flies below the radar but I absolutely want this man in my foxhole.

HARDEN UP! – Five points on 2/10 FG in 29 minutes? YUCK! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing from Bryce Cotton. I’d have to take all the mirrors out of my house if I didn’t give this one to #11. That was Bryce’s 3rd lowest output but I do confess my standards for Bryce are higher than 90% of everybody else in the league.

Illawarra (lost to 36ers)

HOOYAH – Trey Kell III hit another 29 points at 62% shooting, and is the league’s leading scorer. An early MVP leader.

HARDEN UP! – I completely understand that Sam Froling is one of the best big men in the league, and I completely understand he doesn’t need to average 20 points a game for the Hawks to be successful, but I will never understand how a man of that talent can have eight points and six rebounds and sleep well at night.

Adelaide (defeated Phoenix, defeated Hawks)

HOOYAH – He was questioned, and he answered emphatically. The newest member of the Lil Big Man’s Society, Kendric Davis piled on 32 points at 61% in 38 minutes. I’m resisting the urge to drop some Kendrick Lamar lyrics. Our Kendric is starting to vibe and please don’t kill his vibe. (Sorry I couldn’t resist any longer).

HARDEN UP! – The 36ers’ head of high performance, got ejected! Yes, you read that right. I’ve never ever seen that happen before and I bet you haven’t either. Nik Popovic, you got a little too carried away and stepped onto the floor for some unknown reason during a very minor kerfuffle, and probably made history. Calm down, Nik.

Sydney (defeated Bullets)

HOOYAH – The former MVP, Xavier Cooks, for his 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes. ‘X’ took the P155 and did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He also went 2/2 from deep. If his three-ball gets consistent, good luck to everyone.

HARDEN UP! – Izayah Le’afa is in a funk with 1/17 FG on the season. Zay is a shooter, but at the moment, couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a frozen chicken. Let’s go, Zay!

Brisbane (lost to Kings)

HOOYAH – Rocco Zikarsky hit 11 points at 67% including 1/1 from three, five rebounds and a block in 16 minutes. I told you. #FreeRocco.

HARDEN UP! – Deng Adel and I scored the same amount of points, ZERO. Deng went 0/5 FG with three turnovers in 15 minutes (correction – I actually scored style points in my fresh mustard sports jacket from MenzClub). Deng had a brilliant pre-season and I was convinced he’d win the Most Improved Player this season.

NBL

HOOYAH – To the referees for not blowing a violation on Clint Steindl. When I saw Clint moonwalking on the sideline, I didn’t freak out, because of Rule 17.3.1. We all know that Rule 17.3.1 states a player inbounding the ball can move up to a metre laterally, or backwards as far as he wants, before passing the ball into play. I freaked out because Perth didn’t foul Milton Doyle straight away and let him make a game tying triple. Bonus HOOYAH if the JackJumpers come out in their next game wearing warm up shirts with 17.3.1 on the back.

HARDEN UP! – What’s a player gotta do to get ejected these days? When a player grabs another player by the oesophagus, he’s gotta be tossed. I cannot comprehend how the refs missed it, then the review centre missed it, and allowed Will Magnay to continue after grabbing Rob Edwards’ neck. Respect the oesophagus!