Sam Garriock

Basketball watcher | Addicted to growing the number in cell B9

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Julius Halaifonua = what we hoped Tai Wynyard would be. Plus some touch. Loved his size defensively in this tournament. Skillset incredibly tantalising but will have to get better in pick and roll on both ends to maximise his potential as a pro.

Xanda Marsters = Everard Bartlett

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

JTB player comps:

Oscar Goodman = Rich Man’s Jordan Ngatai. Smidge short to truly play the four. Clearly came up as a big so mashes in the post.

Lachy Crate = Finn Delany. So many similarities. Back scratching dunks. Two footed leaper. Hopefully can develop his skills like Finn

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Jackson Ball = Kirk Penney. Gorgeous shooting pocket. Leverages his shooting to punish top-locking.

Hayden Jones = Reuben Te Rangi. Weird to say for the son of Phill but speeding up his release is the key to unlocking his greatness. Super underrated defensively.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Outstanding Hayden Jones on both ends. Deputised in ball handling duties with Tama Isaac in foul trouble. Very calm getting to his spots and his counters. Elite secondary rim protection on the defensive end with four blocks.

JTBs had 17 OREB on 17 missed 2PAs through 3QT.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@trillybball Has been a pretty dominant start for NZ to my eyes. The 3s are all great shots. Only a matter of time until they fall and they begin to make their size advantage pay

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

JTBs G1 notes:

- JTB size immense. Never seen a NZ basketball team at any level dominate via size and athleticism.

- Scoreline flattered the Argentinians. NZ shot quality was significantly better. Ball, Hopoi, Jones missed great 3s.

- Ball is the best player on the team at 17.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@GMJustinNelson @skysportnz @Kseefrank @nznbl @NBL Have had our differences Justin but you have been a giant net positive for our league. Best wishes heading back home

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Zico Coronel

🥉HC Bay Hawks ‘18 14-4 (4-14 prior)
🥈HC Bay Hawks ‘19 14-4
🥇HC Wellington Saints ‘21 16-2
💹AC Shimane Magic ‘22 40-15 (team record, 28-32 prior)
💹AC Shimane Magic ‘23 48-12
📈 HC Wellington Saints ‘24 14-6 (9-9 prior)
🥇HC Utsunomiya Brex ‘25 48-12

The goat

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@ButchNick Doesn't go til '26! Unless he has reclassified and I had missed it.

I suppose we will find out more about how he stacks up at the u19 World Cup but seems unlikely he's not going to be ready to step in and play right away given he is giving grown men buckets already.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

What Jackson Ball has done this year has been very underplayed. Sure, he got plenty of press for the preseason MVP and the 40-piece in a glorified scrimmage, but there hasn't been that much coverage of THE 17 YEAR OLD KID being the most efficient high-volume scorer in the league.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@NBLPleb Lost to kiwi coach Zico Coronel's team with Isaac Fotu a member of the Brex roster.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@trillybball https://t.co/iYb91P9g2m

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@ButchNick 💸

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

The Indian Panthers had to take a player from the opposing team to make up the numbers #ClassicNBL

[Sal’s NBL @nznbl]

@manawatujets @PanthersNZNBL UPDATE:

@manawatujets
C. Webster - Hip Injury

@PanthersNZNBL
L. Kelemete - Personal
L. Henry - Personal
Z. Te Puni - Personal
J. Gerrand - Personal
D. Matakatea - Personal

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Taylor Britt vs Owen Foxwell tonight is the Spiderman Meme but if the Spidermen only had left hands

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Judd Flavell such a great get for the Sky commentary team this season, brings an unmatched knowledge and understanding to of league to the viewer. As one would expect, a few first match jitters in round one but his combination with Nick Bewley this past week was elite.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Chasing Wellingtonian athletes all around the world

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

The goat

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Another Wellingtonian King

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@LucasAllen15 White and Cooks are primarily bigs imo. Lewis is a space cadet. Swaka and to a lesser extent Kuol are Lock His Ass Up type of guards/wings who don't really make as big of an impact on the scoreboard as the eye test would lead you to believe.

Regardless, he is in great company.

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

Hot Take: Alex Toohey is a significantly better prospect than Rocco Zikarsky. Not sure that people have grasped how great Toohey is right now. Best wing defender in the NBL already and -- intra-racial comparisons I know -- very Franz Wagner-y w the long strides getting to the rim

[Sam Garriock @Sam_Garriock]

@LucasAllen15 It is the positional size that sways it for him on D. There aren't really true wings that play in NBL -- the combo of length and fluidity typically lends itself to higher levels.

His ability to protect the rim on the back line elevates him over the lock down smaller guys.