Basketball: Statistics paint a damning picture for Tall Blacks

By DAVID LEGGAT

Statistics don't always paint an accurate picture of a sports event.

But they told a compelling tale as Australia wrapped up the three-test Jeep international men's basketball series over the Tall Blacks at Stadium Southland yesterday.

For the Tall Blacks, hoping to capitalise on their thrilling five-point win to square the series in Christchurch a day earlier, it was a tough wake-up call as they were taken apart in the opening quarter, the Boomers surging to a 27-9 lead at the break.

And although the Tall Blacks showed heartening resilience to battle back to within four points early in the final quarter, the Boomers made their chances count to ease away in the last two minutes.

In that opening quarter before a rowdy full house of more than 2000, Australia made 10 of 19 field goal attempts, Matthew Nielsen, Jason Smith and Glen Saville spearheading the marksmen; New Zealand just two of 15, and they didn't manage a single three-pointer. Enough said.

Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin admitted he was "pretty dark" on his players' first-quarter effort.

"We talked about it, we knew exactly what Australia would do. We knew they'd try and take the initiative.

"They were a lot more physical, and were allowed to be physical, and we didn't respond well enough."

Knowing what to expect and coping with it were two distinctly different things for the Tall Blacks.

Australia had greater urgency, Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron found himself in early foul trouble and there was the real prospect of the game blowing out of sight for the hosts.

Where the Boomers drilled shot after shot, big forward Nielsen leading the way with a game-high 25 points, the Burger King-sponsored Tall Blacks' confidence with the ball in hand of 18 hours earlier went AWOL.

They marginally shaded Australia in the second quarter, before making their big play in the third.

You would not have known Cameron had been battling a persistent calf muscle injury from the way he rallied his team.

After conceding the first nine points of the quarter to trail 55-29, the Tall Blacks went on a 29-9 burst and the confident swagger from the Australian end of the court disappeared.

Both camps badgered the referees as exchanges became heated. When rookie Craig Bradshaw, elevated for the second straight game to the starting five, nailed a three-pointer on the hooter, it had become a six-point game with 10 minutes left.

But the dazzling run could not continue. The Boomers got their hands on the ball, worked the clock well, and took their opportunities to avenge their 2-1 series loss in New Zealand three years ago.

Cameron scored 19 points, equal top for the Tall Blacks with Phill Jones.

Cameron reckoned he was the better for his court time after pre-series speculation his injury would severely restrict his involvement.

"A week ago I wasn't even going to play. But I pressed on and I'm glad I played. I think it did me the world of good," he said.

"Mentally I'm gone, physically, looking at the videos, at times I seemed drained. At other times I was not too bad. But I need to put the whole lot together. It's good for me to be here but there's a long way to go."

Although dejected at the defeat, Cameron conceded that the third-quarter fightback was encouraging.

Baldwin concurred and labelled the series outcome "a minor failure" as it had not been a whitewash and the Tall Blacks had reinforced to their big brothers that they deserve more transtasman contests.

Wheels are moving in that direction.

AUSTRALIA 90

NEW ZEALAND 79