Breakers coach could do

Nothing has come easy for New Zealand Breakers coach Dan Shamir through his first two seasons in the Australian NBL. Year three hasn’t exactly started promisingly either, with a bout of Covid-19 laying him, and some of his players, low heading into the opening round of the new season.

Shamir is unlikely to be on the sideline on Saturday night at John Cain Arena when the Breakers open the 2021-22 season against the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He’s still recovering from the virus and yet to tick off the various health protocols required to return to full activity.

But what is not in doubt is the mindset of the 46-year-old Israeli as he seeks to disprove the notion he may not be quite the coach he was touted to be when he arrived in New Zealand three years ago.

Since then events, and results, have conspired against Shamir, with the Breakers whiffing on the playoffs in both seasons under his watch, extending their era of mediocrity to three years. They have not made the post-season since Matt Walsh’s ownership change, following a burst of four championships and five grand final appearances between 2010-16, and a semifinal run in 2018.

Shamir could point to the shocking run of injuries and offcourt dramas he had to negotiate in his first year (including the Glen Rice Jnr circus), when a brilliant 11-3 finish saw the Kiwi club miss the playoffs on countback, and the impossible hand he was dealt last season when Covid forced the Breakers to spend 154 straight days in Australia and play their first 29 games on the road.

But no one is more aware of