Basketball: Intensity key for Breakers

By PETER JESSUP

There was an extra edge to the Breakers' training session in Auckland yesterday as players and coach Frank Arsego sought to correct the one-quarter malaise that has cost the team too many games.

Arsego kept the decibels up, frequently calling the team to centre court to remonstrate with them about maintaining performance despite pressure and fatigue, about making the right decisions and reacting smartly.

The Breakers are due to fly to Christchurch today for the first of two games against the Townsville Crocs. The second will be in Auckland on Saturday, with four more home games to follow.

The Crocs sit one place above them on the table and wins now are critical, both to push them down and to make ground on the top-eight, if the Breakers are to make the playoffs.

With 10 games left, they probably need seven wins.

Captain Pero Cameron, not used to losing, said he was also unused to turning in ordinary performances. There were no excuses and the players needed to pick themselves up and break a mental block about playing out the whole game.

"We can't keep playing in patches - it's all about momentum and it's great when you've got it and hard to stop when they have it."

He said the team, when under pressure, had to drop back to plays that were successful for them. Sometimes they had just tried too hard.

Arsego admitted he thought the team ought to be further down the track in terms of coping with the travel, back-up games, intensity and physical demands of the 33-match season.

Mental hardness was missing. He could feel that some players were flagging as he delivered instructions at time-outs and breaks in the late stages of games.

"I don't think it's physical fitness, I think it's a mental thing. Some players have pushed over that barrier and some still have to do it."

It was becoming apparent that the interrupted pre-season, when the starting five were away with the Tall Blacks, had cost them.

"Other teams are stepping up in anticipation of the finals. When we drop intensity, the decision-making process falls off, we make mistakes and those teams who are better prepared are punishing us."

He was encouraged, as Cameron was, that they could compete for three quarters.

"The talent is here all right," Arsego said, "and if nothing else comes out of this season we will have gained experience and knowledge."

Ben Melmeth is out of tonight's game with an impact injury in his right heel.

The 2.08m centre has carried the problem for some time and aggravated it in the game against his old team, Sydney Kings.

Melmeth said the injury required rest, but he would be playing on Saturday night regardless.

"If I have to play out the rest of the season at 60 per cent, well, I won't be running the court, but there's still things I can do under the basket," he said.

Melmeth leads the rebounding for the Breakers with a game average verging on nine and scores an average 15 points, so will be sorely missed.


Power forward Mike Homik, the replacement, is no slouch. But if Iona Enosa gets in foul trouble early, so will the Breakers.

The Crocs flew to Christchurch on Monday, a measure of how seriously they're taking the game.

With them is new point guard Ruben Nembhard, although he can't play until the Auckland game because of import rules.

The Crocs sacked Carlos Daniel a week ago and the NBL requires an import replacement to sit out two games.

Nembhard, 31, has played brief stints for the LA Lakers, Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers and Orlando Magic, and has experience in Europe, South America and Lebanon.

The Crocs won the first of their three encounters 112-103 in Townsville, applying a tight zone defence.

The Breakers have worked on methods to get through that.

With those two and the Perth Wildcats set to fight for spot eight in the finals, wins over Townsville and Perth next week become vital. If teams are tied on points, the "series winner" who gets the best of the three games goes through.NZ Breakers: Lindsay Tait (4), Paora Winitana (8), Pero Cameron (11), Mike Chappell (20), Phil Jones (21), Aaron Olson (22), Dillon Boucher (24), Paul Henare (33), Mike Homik (40), Blake Truslove (41), Iona Enosa (55).

Townsville Crocs: Kelvin Robertson (4), Jeremy Veal (6), Peter Crawford (8), Cameron Tragardh (10), Greg Vanderjagt (13), Robert Rose (21), Pat Reidy (22), Andrew Goodwin (35), Mike Kelly (44).