AUS - Cyclone CJ blows Sydney away

AUSTRALIA (NBL) - Since his move to the Brisbane Bullets, a team littered with six internationals, basketball fans have not seen the brilliant best of CJ Bruton, who has been content to run the team and score when the opportunity presents.

In game one of the semi final series with the Sydney Kings, Bruton contributed only 10 points and 2 assists. These numbers were far short of last season’s average of 20 points and 5 assists, a year where he was the leagues best guard and the second player voted to the All-NBL First Team.

Any person familiar with the pint sized FIBA World Championship point guard, however, knows he lives for the big occasion, and that game two was sure to be a break out game. During the week Bruton publicly criticised management of the Kings, his former team, and readied himself to end Sydney’s season in game two.
"I was ready to go after Sydney's third championship (in 2005),'' Bruton told The Daily Telegraph.

"Some events that happened between myself and the organisation - not Brian (Goorjian) or my teammates - made me not want to be a part of their organisation."

And when Sydney leveled scores at the start of the last quarter, Bruton showed Kings management exactly what they were missing. The 31 year old guard nailed several tough drives, three heart breaking triples and some coolly made free throws down the stretch, as he tallied 16 points for the quarter.

When Cyclone CJ had passed, Brisbane had qualified for its first grand final series since 1990, defeating the Kings 93-86.

Earlier in the game, this was far from a sure thing. Sydney used the same tactics as in game one, their physical, half court game troubling the Bullets, and allowing them to exploit defensive mismatches. The teams headed to the locker room locked at 41 apiece at half time.

Russell Hinder was again a revelation, shooting with confidence, driving to the basket and using his long arms to pull in tough boards at both ends. He would finish with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mark Worthington’s (14 points) aggression again troubled FIBA World Championship star Sam Mackinnon, but ‘Wortho’s’ horrible 5/24 shooting prevented him from having an impact on the game.

In contrast, the experienced Mackinnon was patient, picking his moments to exert his influence. And while below his best, Sam still contributed 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

Nigerian international Ebi Ere had no problems making his presence felt, scoring 20 points in the second half. Ebi was seemingly oblivious to the defenders clinging to his side as he knocked down 5 three pointers at 63% to repeatedly keep Sydney at arms length.

Much like game one, Sydney fought until the very end, but simply lacked the class to match Ere and Brisbane. The inexperience of the young Kings outfit was apparent several times, as they tried to exchange open court baskets with Brisbane. With arguably the most athletic and best shooting roster in the NBL, the Bullets were happy to oblige.

Credit to the Kings, though, who matched the star studded Bullets for most of the two game series. Sydney has not reached great heights this season, and desperately missed injured FIBA World Championship forward David Barlow.

Yet when Melbourne or Cairns face Brisbane in the grand final, they will undoubtedly take a leaf out of Sydney’s book. Coach Brian Goorjian found numerous ways to expose Brisbane’s height deficiencies, and though the Bullets have now won 20 straight games, they have some serious work to do before the grand final begins next week.

Goorjian was full of praise for his young team’s effort, and just as impressed by his former charges, Bruton and Ere.

"CJ was there as a dagger in our heart, he started it in the fourth quarter with those threes. But Ebi, consistently over the course of the series, just athletically was able to create his own shot.
"I think we played the series with a lot of intensity, and played with a lot of emotion and a lot of effort, but we didn't play particularly smart.''

Despite the negatives, the fact remains that Brisbane, and NBL Coach of the Year Joey Wright, have not tasted defeat since November 2006, and MVP favourite Mackinnon has yet to display his full talents in the playoffs.

189 game international Mark Bradtke (11 points, 6 rebounds) is coming into his best form, and provided an entertaining battle in the middle with former Miami Heat reserve Jerome Beasley (13 points, 7 rebounds). As the only Bullet standing above 201cm, Bradtke’s play is vital for Brisbane’s championship hopes.

CJ Bruton and Ebi Ere were backcourt partners in Sydney’s 2004 championship team, and both are capable of wining a game off their own hand. If they continue their devastating form from Thursday night, the Bullets, despite their lack of size, will break a 20 year title drought.

Paul Kennedy
FIBA Official Correspondent in Australia.