KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Stars will finish the NBL season with just one United States import after shooting guard Brandon Cole was released yesterday.
Cole, who managed just 27 points in four appearances, became the third American player to leave the club after Tashaan Forehan-Kelly and Daniel Lambert earlier in the season.
"It was a tough decision but the chemistry wasn't there," coach Kenny Stone said.
Cole wasn't the only Auckland player to suffer the shooting yips in Thursday's comprehensive 102-79 defeat by Hawkes Bay but, with a field goal success rate of just 22 per cent, he hardly looked like the solution, either.
"There is no blame, it just didn't work. I think some of the guys lost faith in him," Stone said.
The Stars' other import, 1.98m forward Corey Hallett, has also failed to impress, managing just three points in his last two outings but will remain at the club, probably due more to his stature than his ability.
"We aren't a big squad and if I let him go we'd be even smaller still."
But it's not all bad news for the Stars (10-5) who at least welcome guard Josh Clark back from injury for tonight's crucial showdown with league leaders Harbour Heat (12-3).
The Stars slipped out of the top four after Thursday's defeat. Should they fail to reverse the 86-76 round-six defeat by the Heat, the Stars could well find themselves edged out of the play-offs for the first time since 2002.
"We really only have one option and that is to win," Stone said. "We've got to start playing with some urgency, we'll see if the boys are prepared to put that in."
Stone admitted his team, so often the dominant force in Auckland basketball, was in the unusual position of hoping to emulate table-topping Heat.
"They play well for each other. The type of teamwork they exhibit is where we'd like to get to. They've got a big guy in the middle and shooters on the outside and they work well together."
With Aussie points-machine Oscar Forman, on Boomers duty, set to miss their final two matches against Wellington Saints and Waikato Pistons, the Heat will be hoping to secure their play-off spot with a win tonight.
Fourth-placed Waikato (10-5) are also still well and truly in the play-off hunt after defeating Otago 89-80 on Saturday. Nelson (11-5) pushed their claims with a regulation 79-65 home win over Manawatu Jets.
Nelson share second with Hawkes Bay but have lost an extra game. They face off this afternoon followed by the Stars versus the Heat at ASB Stadium (7.30pm).
