Basketball: Roster reshuffle looming for the Breakers

By PETER JESSUP

The Breakers are planning major roster changes, including the signing of another class American as they seek to turn their fortunes around.

There is an acceptance within the club that the New Zealanders who had not played before as full-time professionals have found the going tough and, while they have improved, management is aiming for a quicker route to the top than they might offer.

"I think a lot of the New Zealand players have been shocked at the standard of play in the NBL," said general manager Peter Chapman, an Australian. The travel, back-up games and relentless training had ground some down mentally.

"We can't allow our players to accept losing," he said. "When we won four from five [last month] we were playing with real passion, and I don't believe that has been delivered since."

Chapman's comment was made before Wednesday night's 93-79 win in Christchurch, where the passion returned.

But again, the Breakers allowed the opposition a good lead and only played well in patches. This time, they did enough to get back in front of the Townsville visitors, with Crocodiles' coach Ian Stacker conceding that the home side showed more enthusiasm than his team.

That must happen in seven or eight of the Breakers' remaining nine games if they are to make the top-eight playoffs.

But planning has already started for next season.

Chapman said the owners recently told him that they wanted to be a top-four contender in 2004/05 and that he and coach Frank Arsego were to start building a squad capable of that.

Part-owner and executive director Michael Redman has confirmed his financial commitment to the club and that of his two fellow owners. He said there was nothing scary in the books despite flagging attendances that had fallen with the team's performance.

"We were always in it for the long haul. When we started everything was based on assumptions - every new road trip, every loss brings experience that we will apply in future," Redman said.

Part of the team's problem this season has been injuries, and that has continued with tallest player Ben Melmeth playing with a heel tear that has bothered him for some time.

He missed a substantial part of the early season and showed how much his 2.08m frame and skill on the inside had been missed when he returned, half-fit.

The injury to his right heel will not repair fully without rest so Melmeth is managing the injury, showing good commitment to the team.

Pero Cameron also missed the early run and the captain admitted this week that he was disappointed with his performance since.

Chapman said the club management were disappointed with the shape in which Cameron turned up after the Tall Blacks' campaign - overweight and carrying long-term injuries that he had played with in England at the Chester Jets.

"It's fair to say he has not lived up to his reputation," Chapman said. "He played very well for us against the Kings last week but he couldn't back that up against West Sydney and I think that's indicative of where he's at with his fitness.

"When he came to us he was like a car needing a complete overhaul - he had chest, knee and ankle injuries. He's working hard. He's now just starting to get where he needs to be in terms of weight and conditioning," Chapman said.

"We've done New Zealand a favour for Athens, I believe."

Phill Jones has also not played up to his ability after coming in direct from back-to-back seasons in Europe and New Zealand, followed by the Tall Blacks' campaign last year.

Jones is the Breakers' star shooter but has averaged just 40 per cent accuracy. The team's accuracy rate hovers around 43 per cent.

Casey Frank tops the NBL averages with 58 per cent but does not get a lot of game-time. Dillon Boucher is next-best in the team on 54 per cent - fourth in the league - but he is not one of the side's big scorers.

The Breakers hurt themselves by making just 52 per cent of their free-throws and they need Jones to find his range beyond the arc to improve the team's 36 per cent success rate at three-point attempts.

Other sides often steamroll the Breakers with three-pointers.

The statistics also highlight the Breakers' mid-game malaise. In the 24 games so far they have amassed points as follows: first quarter 586, average 24.4; second quarter 488, average 20.3; third quarter 517, average 21.5; last quarter 577, average 24.

They play better at home regardless of whether they win or lose. That's something the management knew would happen, as it did with the Warriors for several seasons.

Next year they will ask the NBL to review the draw so the players have a break between home games and road trips. This season the Breakers started against the Adelaide 36ers at home and flew to Cairns at 6am the next day.

Tests before Christmas showed several of the team lacked strength and stamina. To counter this, a change in routine and workload has been introduced as they head into the last quarter of the season.

Cameron and Jones have been put on a programme that will assess their strength, conditioning and medical state regularly.

But Chapman and Arsego agree the main problem appears to be a mental block. "They have to learn to cross that line to professionalism," the coach said mid-week.

Meanwhile, a roster review will continue. Chapman said the priority was to extend the deal with Mike Chappell, who easily leads the team's scoring stats. The Breakers want him for two more seasons.

"We'd like to bring in another class American player, too," Chapman said. "We need some pure shooters; people who can deliver 20 points a game."

Only Cameron, Jones and this season's most-improved player, Boucher, are signed for next season.

"There will without doubt be major roster changes," Chapman said. With the rest of the players on notice, extra effort might be expected against the Crocodiles at the North Shore Events Centre tomorrow night.