KEY POINTS:
After starting their NBL campaign with two road wins, including an impressive 72-69 win over the defending champion Bay Hawks, Harbour Heat have sent out a message that they are a force to be reckoned with this season.
The established Big Four of the NBL - Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Hawkes Bay - could be about to have their long-established order challenged.
"They're the four teams that have been the yardstick in this league for god knows how long," said Heat coach John Dorge.
"Our goal is to try and match their standard. Those four teams have managed to make the play-offs year-in and year-out. We need to pace ourselves and get ourselves to that calibre and, if we can do that, it will give us the chance to be knocking there or there abouts at the end of the season."
The Heat were picked by pundits such as former Tall Blacks coach and Auckland Stars owner Tab Baldwin as a potential dark-horse and they certainly seem to be living up to the tag.
Dorge, however, isn't getting carried away.
"What's a dark horse? We are just a basketball team that are trying to achieve something all the rest of the teams are trying to get done.
"We are a new team with new imports and a whole new look. We are just trying to build a culture. The saying is, and I hate to use it, but you have to take it one game at a time. That's exactly where we are coming from."
The Heat have a bye this week followed by their home opener against Canterbury on Thursday week. Dorge's side may be happy their bye has fallen now after a "physical, up-tempo" battle with the Bay Hawkes.
"It was a dog-fight," Dorge said.
"To go down there and get a win in Hawkes Bay is a tough ask for anybody. I was just delighted that our team was able to accomplish that."
Rivals should be a little wary that the Auckland Stars again seem to have got their 2007 campaign back on track with a successful sweep through the upper South Island this weekend.
Victories over Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams (94-79) and especially archrivals Blue Chip Nelson (81-79) should have shaken off any jitters.
"It's been challenging, but it has been fun," said coach Kenny Stone.
"This is a whole new group of guys, many of whom are learning what it takes to play at this level."
