Basketball: Calf strain means Cameron could struggle for the Czech series

By PETER JESSUP

Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron continues to struggle with a calf strain that looks likely to trouble him through the series against the Czech Republic - if he can play at all.

Cameron and shooting guard Phill Jones took little part in training at the Unitec Akoranga gym yesterday. Jones, bothered by a toe infection, is expected to be okay for the first game in Christchurch next week.

Gone for sure is forward Tony Rampton, who has suffered a repeat of a knee injury. He is back in Cairns where doctors for his Taipans team have ruled him out of contention for the three-test tour.

Nelson forward Ed Book has been training after taking time out of the NBL because of a calf strain, but was declared rusty by Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin.

But Baldwin is generally pleased with the 14-man squad's progress in the short time he has had them together. "You won't often hear me say I'm happy, but I am right now. The players are very committed, they've been maximising the time we do have together."

The addition of newcomers Aaron Olson, Brendon Polyblank, Lindsay Tait, Mike Homik and Miles Pearce had injected enthusiasm and competition for spots.

"Depth has always been one of our weaknesses and we need to get even more players pushing for selection, whether they become long-term prospects or not," Baldwin said.

Physically, the non-injured were fine. It was mental work they needed to concentrate on.

"We run a lot of systems, they're reasonably complex and to develop cohesion we have to grow mentally."

On the sideline yesterday was Breakers and Waikato Titans coach Jeff Green, who runs a vastly different, looser system than Baldwin. The Tall Blacks said they were having no trouble moving between the two styles or adjusting to the other national league coaches' systems as they move from squad to squad.

The Tall Blacks will use their games against the Czechs to build depth, maintain momentum and keep the opposition under pressure for an entire match, remain aggressive and to communicate well and thus limit the opponents' chances.

Before playing the Czechs in Christchurch next Monday, then Invercargill and, on July 10, in Hamilton, the players have league games this weekend.