Basketball: Breakers anticipate Perth playoffs danger

Tom Abercrombie. Photo / Phil Walter / Getty Images

Past history will warn the Breakers of the danger posed by Perth if the sides meet in next month's semifinals.

Friday night's comprehensive win over the Wildcats left the Breakers guaranteed a top-two spot and left their rivals scrapping for their playoff lives.

Perth now face a three-way battle to reach the postseason but, given they have made the playoffs for an incredible 28 consecutive years, the defending champions will be firm favourites to seal one of the final two spots on offer.

Which means the Breakers' title hopes could once again depend on a trip to West Australia, just like during their title-winning campaigns. But, based on their three impressive victories over Perth this season, would the Kiwi club be concerned by such a clash?

The answer can be found as recently as two years ago, when Perth dished out three crushing defeats in the regular season only to become unstuck in a finals series swept by the Breakers.

"You take confidence that you've beaten a team but we all know in the playoffs that the record starts back at zero," said Tom Abercrombie.

"You start all over again, and we showed that in the past.

"We'll take confidence from how we've played against them but the playoffs are a different story - it's a new level you've got to get to. I think both us and Perth know what it takes, we've been there and done that, so they'll be a tough team come playoff time."

Between now and that potential match-up, the Breakers will be focused on two things - improving and clinching top spot above Cairns. Both will aid in their quest to regain the Australian NBL crown but the team's attention will be turned only on the former.

"The next four weeks are important in terms of getting better - focus on that and records will take care of themselves," Abercrombie said.

"It's nice to know we are in the playoffs but it's about getting up to that playoff level.

"We've seen in the past - and the results speak for themselves - how important home court advantage is, but you don't get that without going out and playing well in these last four weeks, so that's what we're focusing on."