Basketball: Breakers against Crocs first up on road trip

Consigned to being Australian NBL party poopers, the New Zealand Breakers can help condemn the Townsville Crocodiles to the ranks of competition also-rans tonight.

Out of contention for the play-offs, the Breakers can seriously dent the Crocodiles' chances at the Swamp in the first leg of a potentially horror four-game road trip.

The Crocodiles have been buoyed by a last-start win over the eighth-placed Perth Wildcats but need to maintain their momentum during this weekend's doubleheader to supplant the West Australians as the last qualifier.

Sitting ninth with an eight-win, 15-loss record, back-to-back victories could put them right back in the frame if Perth (12-15), Brisbane (12-13) and Hunter (12-13) falter.

However, losses to the Breakers and Cairns Taipans - tomorrow night - could all but end the Crocodiles' season.

They have not strung together back-to-back wins since September and coach Ian Stacker said a repeat effort was long overdue.

"I think for us right now, to string a couple of wins together would be a huge step," he said.

"It may not seem like much, but I know from past teams when we have had the opportunity to get a couple of wins, it has a snowball effect.

"Day-to-day practice becomes more enjoyable, the general feel amongst the fans is better, so it is crucial for us to get two."

Although the Breakers are coming off a 23-point loss to the Hunter Pirates which ended their own two-match winning streak, Stacker said his side did not expect an easy outing.

"They got beaten convincingly last week, but one thing that seems to have become a trend this season is that when a team gets beaten convincingly, they win their next game."


The Breakers face the Wildcats on Sunday and also the Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets before ending a 15,000km journey tomorrow week.

- NZPA