KEY POINTS:
MATCH
Breakers v Adelaide.
North Shore Events Centre, 7.30pm.
It may be early days but Dillon Boucher believes the New Zealand Breakers have the capability to win the Australian National Basketball League.
The former Tall Blacks forward realises the Breakers are only 2 and 0 but an unusually impressive start to a season has produced a positive vibe before tonight's match against the Adelaide 36ers at the North Shore Events Centre.
Boucher, who joined the Auckland-based club for a second stint this season, should know. He was part of the Brisbane Bullets championship-winning roster in 2006-07 and senses the Breakers are equipped with the same ingredients.
"I believe this team has all the crucial factors covered for championships. It's a good organisation run by a good coach and it flows down to the players.
"The thing is you need unselfish players to win championships, you need players like that on the team, guys that aren't just there for themselves. This team has got that. There's no personality clashes, we all get along well - it's almost a little bit sickly sometimes."
The Breakers are the only unbeaten team in the league having recorded home court wins against Wollongong and the defending champion Melbourne Tigers - a 120-111 win that reinforced the self-belief evident during pre-season training.
"It was a psychological win I think. We're able to say to ourselves 'yeah, we can beat these top teams'."
Boucher credited a smooth pre-season programme generally unaffected by international commitments for the Breakers being able to mould a new-look squad. Australian Boomer CJ Bruton was delayed by the Olympics while American import Rick Rickert was also a late arrival.
However, in past years up to eight Tall Blacks could be in camps competing for the national side.
"Apart from CJ and Rick everyone else has been available. We think we've got a good group of players and a good team, we expect to do well.
"The first two games have been rewarding after a good pre-season," he said. "We haven't played the best basketball and anywhere near how we can play. We can't take Adelaide lightly."
The 36ers are second with a 2 and 1 record and although they have a 9-win 5-loss all-time record against the Breakers, they have won only one of the last five.
The 36ers arrived yesterday without injured former Breakers guard Paora Winitana but still have a seasoned line-up spearheaded by 500-game veteran Brett Maher.
Forward Luke Schenscher, at 2.1m, provides plenty of presence under both baskets.
Tall Blacks guard Winitana had been hoping to play before friends and family but was ruled out at practice when a teammate landed on his right foot.
Meanwhile, Breakers and New Zealand guard Paul Henare was expected to rejoin the team later this week after being given time out to deal with a family accident.
- NZPA
