Ten games into the new campaign and the signs are promising that these are the Breakers of old rather than the impostors who replaced them last season.
The 7-3 record and spot inside the Australian NBL top three are impressive enough but it's the manner of the opening month's success that will inspire the most confidence in Dean Vickerman. The shut-down defence is back after a year's vacation, the roster is deeper in previous areas of weakness and in Cedric Jackson the Breakers boast one of the league's best.
Restricting Wollongong to 55 in Friday's win must be taken with a handful of salt, considering the last-placed side were a week removed from scoring a record-low 53 against Sydney. But it was indicative of the progress the Breakers have made at the defensive end. Only twice have the Kiwi club conceded more than 90 points, a number they shipped last year in more than half their games.
The Breakers' championships were built on a hard-nosed defence and that looks to have returned, allowing an average of 77 points through 10 games to sit in a share of second in that category.
With 10 blocks and 10 steals in the win over Wollongong, the Breakers again excelled in the effort areas, and that will only improve as Ekene Ibekwe continues to find form after a year away from basketball. The Nigerian heads the competition with 25 offensive rebounds.
Ibekwe, Alex Pledger, Mika Vukona and Tai Wesley form a formidable quartet. Pledger is playing with a toe injury but the Breakers seem better placed to thrive without him if, as happened last year, the centre misses serious game time.
There are certainly few issues on the offensive end, where the Breakers average a healthy 82 point per game, largely thanks to the presence of Jackson. The former MVP has repeatedly shown he is a serious threat, leading the competition in assists and, as he did on Friday, making big buckets when the Breakers are looking to close out games.
Factor in a much-improved 4-2 away record and this season looks set to culminate in a playoff place.