New Breakers owners have moved justify the drastic changes they've made to the Auckland-based Australian NBL franchise, after their new season got off to an ominous start last weekend.
They face Sydney Kings in their second home game at Auckland's Spark Arena on Sunday, hoping to improve on their on-court and off-court performances in their opener against Brisbane Bullets.
The Bullets, who finished last in the league last season, shocked the home side with an 86-73 win, fuelled by the return of spurned Breakers veteran Mika Vukona with his new team.
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The team's on-court performance was far from the thrilling, up-tempo style promised by the new owners and coach Kevin Braswell. Off the court, the organisation had promised spectators an NBA-class game-time experience, but delivered an uninspiring atmosphere that left fans disgruntled.
New chief executive Matt Walsh insists many of the off-season player and coaching changes were beyond the owners' control, but some changes had to be made to a franchise that was struggling from a business perspective.
Earlier this year, Walsh and his US-based consortium replaced previous majority owners Paul and Liz Blackwell, who had guided the franchise to four ANBL titles and a playoff finish last season.
Walsh said new ownership had invested heavily in the organisation, doubling administrative staff since their arrival.
"Obviously, the Breakers have been an amazing franchise," he told RadioLive's Brendon Telfer. "What they have done to compete in the Australian national league has been amazing.
"But from a business perspective, things weren't as rosy as they were on the basketball court and that's why the Blackwells were interesting in bring in our group as a partner.
"We felt, if we came in and made some positive changes, we could take the Breakers to the next level, both from a business perspective and on the basketball court."
One of the changes was a shift away from their traditional home court at the North Shore Events Centre, which apparently no longer meets league standards, to the downtown Spark Arena, a move that alienated many of the club's most loyal followers.
"I'm very conscious of the history of the club, the history of the North Shore Events Centre and the history of all the fans we have over here," Walsh told Telfer. "But if we're going to grow along with the league, we have to take that next step in professionalism.
"If the North Shore Events Centre makes those changes, we'd love to play games there every season, so we remain attached to our heritage and our past, but the way it stands now, it's just not possible."
Walsh has also had to defend the team's sponsorship relationship with Barstool Sports, a US-based satirical website that seems to go against the Breakers' traditional family values.
"It's a website that produces comedy 24/7, 365 days," he told Telfer. "When you do that, you're going to say and do things that people aren't going to agree with sometimes.
"You're going to miss the mark on certain jokes and will go down certain paths that I certainly don't agree with, but I have no problem being associated with Barstool Sports."
After their opening loss to Brisbane, the Breakers steadied the ship with a much-needed 88-81 road win over defending ANBL champions Melbourne United in their second game.
"We wanted to get out of the first weekend 2-0, but it was 1-1 with a really good chance to play against Sydney on Sunday," said Walsh.
The Sydney Kings, coached by Aussie basketball legend Andrew Gaze, have started the new season with two losses, despite the presence of former NBA champion centre Andrew Bogut.
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