Basketball: Jets keen to find traction

Picking a train analogy over a plane one does come across as an odd choice for Manawatu Jets coach Ryan Wesienberg.
"The train has jumped off the tracks a little and we need to get back on track again," is the underlying message from the American before tonight's tip off against the HBS Bank Hawks in Napier.
The derailment comes in the form of losing former Hawk point guard Jeremy Kench to a broken leg.
"J's our floor captain so it definitely hurts when our squadron leader is down with a broken leg," Wesienberg laments at the loss of their Tall Black.
From a Jets perspective, finding traction in the Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) begins at 7pm today at the Pettigrew-Green Arena.
Who will step up to fill Kench's boots in the scramble for vital minutes?
American import Darryl Hudson assumed that mantle last season as the third highest scorer in the NBL with an average of 23 points.
"It's a bit like the Chicago Bulls where you have to be a point guard and a leading scorer from outside," Wesienberg explains, revealing the Palmerston North franchise has been grooming guards Logan Funnell and Matt Te Huna as back-up floor generals.
Mindful the Hawks juggernaut keeps rolling on, Wesienberg is quick to acknowledge the well-drilled hosts will step on to the court with a swagger, brimming with confidence in a way only coach Paul Henare and assistant Kirstin Taylor can bring out in players.
Conversely Wesienberg is also aware the Jets have a penchant for knocking the Hawks off their perch when they least expect it.
Yes, the Hawks beat Manawatu 99-85 on April 16 in Palmy but that was then and now, well, it's different.
For one thing, they didn't have the services of Jeremiah, because of the Australian National Basketball League obligations, to beef up the front of the court with Nick Horvath and Mike Homik.
"It's definitely a different look," he says.
Wesienberg prefers to see their 74-67 loss last Saturday in Dunedin to this season's whipping boys, the Otago Nuggets, more in the light of hitting an air pocket. "Otago should be thanking us a thank-you card," he says, putting the defeat down to two crossover passes from Kevin Braswell on the foundation of a hometown oversight in starting the clock two seconds late and, not forgetting, the lethargic Jets were coming off a double overtime loss to the Southland Sharks the night before. Making any imports sacrificial lambs - considering the Nuggets held Hudson scoreless from nine attempts - to improve their lot with just three wins would be reactionary. "If we struggle in the Hawks game then we'll certainly have to start looking at personnel changes."