Basketball: Tough assignment facing the Giants

By PETER JESSUP

Nelson come north for a double-header that could reshape the competition ladder in the basketball league. Those games and the mid-week Auckland-Waikato match are important precursors to the playoffs.

The Giants have tough assignments. Tonight they meet a full-strength Waikato side smarting from an overtime loss to Wellington last week, while tomorrow they go to Unitec to face an Auckland side unbeaten there.

But with a big attack - Phill Jones is back after resting a hip injury last weekend - and Tony Rampton cleaning out the rebounds, they are dangerous.

Nelson were easy winners of the last contest against Waikato, but Warriors star forward Daryl Johnson had just stepped off a plane from Argentina for that game. He did not meet his own standards, and is out to reverse that. He, too, sat out last week to rest a medial ligament strain but has been in top shape in training this week.

Nelson have the best defensive record in the league, the third-best attack; Waikato have the best attack, the third-best defence.

So the game at the Hamilton Leisure Centre at 7.30 pm promises much entertainment-wise. Warriors coach Jeff Green hopes for a vocal crowd to carry his team.

"The guys weren't too despondent after going down to the Saints. We did well to get to overtime, we had our chances to win it but it would have been an injustice if we had. The Saints played very, very well ... we played shocking," said Green.

So they know where the improvement has to be made, mostly in their lay-up, only four points coming that way last weekend as opposed to an average 15-20.

Auckland also had a sit-out last weekend. Forward Pero Cameron stayed in the city for the birth of his second son while the team went to Hawkes Bay. He then joined them for the loss to the Jets.

Rebels coach Tab Baldwin believes a year of solid ball has jaded his star but reckons that the upcoming Olympics will start him firing better any day now.

Matt Barnett, Prem Krishna and Daryl Cartwright missed training early in the week with niggling injuries but there are hopes they will be fit for tomorrow night.

The Kings should have no trouble with Hawkes Bay down there tonight and it could be a bad weekend for the Hawks, who go to Wellington tomorrow, while the Canterbury Rams host the Jets, also tomorrow.