The New Zealand Breakers have sought outside help to keep their heads in the game during a long season on the road.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Breakers owner Matt Walsh wasn't too worried if his players vented on social media about the situation they find themselves in, but he said support was in place to help them deal with their struggles less publicly.
The players and staff left Auckland in mid-December for the Australian National Basketball League season and have not settled since.
They landed in Melbourne before a change in Covid-19 restrictions sent them to Tasmania, the group moved around playing games in Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney and are now in the middle of a run of games in Melbourne.
Next month the team will be based in Tasmania for up to six weeks.
The shift to Launceston was initially not met with unanimous support from the playing group, with a couple posting their less than favourable reactions to the news on social media on Wednesday.
"This is an emotional thing and these guys are human and I put myself in their shoes when you've bounced around so much and you finally get back to Melbourne, you're playing some Cup games and you feel like you're 'home' and then you find out that you're going to have to move again, that's not an easy thing to deal with," Walsh said.
The club encouraged the players to use their platform in a constructive way, Walsh said, but he did not blame them for reacting as they did.
"The league's doing the best they can, we're doing the best we can, I think the player's are doing a great job and if every now and then that means they need to get some emotion out on social media, I'm certainly not going to be somebody who judges them and once they get the full picture they totally understand."
Jarrad Weeks, Tai Webster, Rob Loe, Breakers owner Matt Walsh, Finn Delany and Tom Abercrombie. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Walsh said for the players constantly living out of a suitcase and away from home comforts it started to take a toll.
"We've done our best to be proactive to put our players in the best position possible from a physical stand point, but obviously from a mental stand point, we've got guys who are away who've got three kids at home and wives and partners and we knew that was going to be the biggest challenge."
Last week captain Tom Abercrombie asked Walsh for some support to help the team deal with their mental health.
It was arranged that the team would do some activities with a practitioner who has worked with the All Blacks
"We're doing our best to help them and for certain guys that means they'd like someone to speak to and they'd like to do certain activities, but for other guys it's just 'no I appreciate it and if there's anything we need we'll let you know'," Walsh said.
"It really is a very individual thing and I think what we've seen is it's harder on guys who have families and the guys who have been through it a number of times and played overseas and played in Europe it is a little bit easier for them."
Walsh said if the players needed further support as the season moved on they just needed to ask.
"From a club perspective that's something we're completely willing to spend on, we're happy to do it and we want our players to be happy and not just get through the season but to be in a good place mentally as well as physically.
"They know if they need something we're going to be willing to invest in whatever it is."
The winning feeling might help the mood around the group too.
After a run of losses, the Breakers have now won back-to-back NBL Cup games.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir, right, addresses the team. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
Coach Dan Shamir put the close wins down to a change in attitude.
"The mental part is a big part of basketball being a player and being tough, and it's a group thing, it's a collective thing.
"A week ago basketball wise, x's and o's wise, we started well we build a nice lead and the moment we faced resistance, the moment the team we played against fought back, we broke."
On Wednesday the mentality and the result changed. After having a 20-point lead early against the Brisbane Bullets the lead dropped to three points late in the game but the Breakers held on for victory.
"It tells you something about what we've got, I'm sure we have it, but you always need to redefine yourself and your mental toughness and it is a thing that is building."
The Breakers have a short turnaround and are back in action in the NBL Cup against Melbourne United on Friday night.
