Tall Blacks going global

MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - While some people like to talk about who won’t be playing in the first FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers window in less than three weeks, that's not even worth discussing in New Zealand.

Ten of the 12 players who represented the Kiwis at last year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, plus emerging FIBA Asia Cup stars Reuben Te Rangi and Finn Delany, were named in their extended squad for the opening qualifier against Korea on Thursday, 23 November.

On a side note, you can bet Korea's Lee Jonghyun was not all that pleased to see the name Delany in the squad.

That includes six of the eight leading scorers from the Spain 2014 team that defeated Finland and Ukraine, while going within a whisker of downing powerhouses Lithuania and Turkey. The only two missing are the internationally-retired Kirk Penney and 3x3 convert Everard Bartlett.

Coming home
While the conventional wisdom Downunder was players competing in Europe would not be available for the in-season windows in Asia - and indeed Australia has chosen an all-NBL team - overseas stars Tai Webster, Isaac Fotu and Corey Webster have all been named.

It's not just window dressing either, so to speak. Coach Paul Henare is serious about having as close to his best team available to take on the dangerous Koreans.

"Isaac, Tai and Corey have never wavered in their commitment to the black singlet and all indicated their keenness to be a part of this," he said. "Importantly with the FIBA windows, they also have the blessing from their clubs and the onus is on us to look after them, and deliver them back to their clubs in good condition."

Given some of the high-profile talk about conflict between clubs and national federation, I think this example is a better reflection of what's happening in most parts of the world, and is a great reflection of the improved relationship-building capabilities of Basketball New Zealand.

Just as importantly, it means the Tall Blacks have the best chance possible to secure a crucial home win. They don't want to have to rely on road wins in China and Korea to carry a decent record into the second stage.

Corey Webster has fallen off a cliff in recent years, but has hinted at a resurgence early in his Israeli stint, Fotu is a high-IQ, skilful rebounding machine who grows an extra leg for his country, while Tai Webster's all-court game will be crucial to Henare's game style.

Henare fully understands the challenge Korea can present if they make a fast start and get their perimeter game going. This is a team that beat the Kiwis twice at the FIBA Asia Cup in August, including the 3rd-Place Game.

Of course, there is potentially Shea Ili, Tom Abercrombie, Rob Loe, Alex Pledger, Mika Vukona, Jarrod Kenny, Fotu and the Websters to come back into that team, which is a formidable crew.

Pledger hasn't played internationally since 2013, and that year he was hampered by injury, so all New Zealand basketball fans will breathe a sigh of relief if the Chief steps out in Wellington in three weeks' time.

Big and versatile
All of sudden, the perennially undersized Tall Blacks, who for the most part have made that a successful brand, will suddenly have the flexibility of using Pledger, Loe or Fotu in the middle.

At power forward they can go with Vukona, Fotu, Delany or even Abercrombie against smaller opponents so this is a team with a lot of different levers to pull.

Having a genuine shotblocker protecting the paint will change the way they are able to defend, and allow their athletic perimeter players to be a bit more aggressive at times.

It also makes their ball-screen game far more dangerous when you don't just have poppers, but a genuine 2.15m (7ft 1in) lump who can catch up high and finish. It forces much more respectful defensive rotations and opens up more shooters.

That ball-screen execution is becoming a huge part of New Zealand's game under Henare, something I'll write more about next week, because the Tall Blacks we’ve come to know are not the TBs of the future.

The other huge factor is that as many as eight of the team to face Korea could be from the Breakers program, who are currently 5-1 and sitting in equal-first place on the NBL ladder.

So New Zealand will head into the qualifying window as well prepared as any national team in the world - how many other countries have eight players under their national team coach week in, week out?

With a likely packed house in Wellington and some stars back from abroad to complement their Breakers crew, the Tall Blacks will go in odds-on favourites against Korea and then again in Hong Kong three nights later.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA

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