Basketball: Words flying in hot countdown to final

By PETER JESSUP

Waikato coach Jeff Green is clear that he is the trash-talking champion of the national league, so rivals had better watch out when he lets his mouth run as his Titans clean up Wellington to secure the national title.

Wellington look to have little chance in today's final showdown at Mystery Creek in Hamilton, with their ageing legs sure to tell in the run home against a side who have played hard and fast all season.

Green will welcome the visitors on to court with a loud replay of a sledge from Wellington Saints coach Mike Ogilvie-Lee which Green said was delivered to his voice-mail at 3.15 am.

The telephone message, with Ogilvie-Lee speaking over a background of voices and with drawl that suggested he was at a party, told Green the Saints were coming to get him.

"We can smell you, Jeff. I'm going to give you some of my Scotty bro. We're coming to get you in the glens, we're coming to get you in the hills ... we're gonna have you, Jeff" was what was recorded.

Asked what was behind message, Ogilvie-Lee said: "Not a lot." He would be surprised if it was played to the crowd.

Green said he had been asked by the NZ Basketball League and the Saints not to put the message across the public address system but would.

"I don't know what it's all about or what his Scotty is, but I can assure you I won't be bending over for anyone," he said.

"It's silly. They're talking to the master when it comes to the war of words."

Green, twice fined by the league this season for mouthing off, agreed that trash-talking and psyching of the opponents as well as building intensity were part of the game.

But they are aspects he instructs his team to ignore.

"I always tell them to ignore what they read or hear and never to believe our own advertising. It's hype."

Wellington's old strikeforce of Kenny Perkins (39) and Peter Pokai (36) working off guards Tony Brown (38) and Terrence Lewis (31) do not concern Waikato.

Waikato will attempt to run their whole-court game, scoring quick and early.

Wellington have to slow the game with big defence, which will doubtless put them in foul trouble.

Green said: "There's nothing they can do to us that we're not prepared for."

Waikato Titans: Forwards - Clifton Bush, Riki Strother, David Hopoi, Earl Smith, Ben Hill; centre - Pero Cameron; guards - Chris Tupu, Nat Connell, George Le'afa, Prem Krishna, Raymond Cameron, Paoro Te Paki, Andrew MacKay.

Wellington Saints: Forwards - Chris Webber, Peter Pokai, Callum Brock; forward/centre - Kenny Perkins; forward/guards James Nicholas, Harry Harvey; guards - Tony Brown, Aidan Daly, Terrence Lewis, Troy McLean, Julian Virtue, Fotie Liolis.

Referees: Ken Coulson and Stan Battock.

Tip-off: 3.30pm today.