Basketball: Breakers unveil master plan

The Breakers are laying down a more disciplined approach to their third season, with winning more often the very clear focus.

All players will be given a manual that outlines both the game plan and the commitment and behaviour expected off-court, with practical information including medical and team contacts.

There will be more video analysis of the players and their opposition. Training routines will change and vary more, with boxing and other aerobic work for the players affected by injury so they remain match-fit.

The team owners have rearranged the management structure and responsibilities and will be more hands-on. One of the founding shareholders, Michael Redman, has sold his stake to the other three owners, Paul Blackwell, Dallas Fisher and Keith Ward, to concentrate on his duties as Hamilton mayor. There won't be a replacement for general manager Peter Chapman, with the money from his salary put into a budget for extra training, equipment and support for the players.

Included in that is the hiring of Cairns assistant coach John Dorge, who is expected to impart his expertise on scoring under the post.

Coach Andrej Lemanis wants to play an upbeat game. "They'll be encouraged to push the ball up the floor and if they are open to shoot ... if they are open they should shoot it, there is no such thing as a bad time to shoot it."

He wants to instil secondary offence plays. There will be a team approach to defence rather than man-on-man.

The Breakers are looking to improve their relationship with Kiwi NBL teams and their knowledge of promising locals, as well as up-and-coming Aussies. A recruitment committee is to be formed, to examine where the Breakers are weak and to throw around ideas about players who could improve things. Data will be kept with promising rookies and contact maintained.

The Breakers have agreed terms with Ben Pepper and A. J. Majstrovich and their contracts are being registered with the ANBL, announcements on the signings expected this week.

Lindsay Tait is in talks after impressing on the tour of China.

The two Americans taken away did not impress. "They weren't good enough for the import standard in the Australian NBL," said Lemanis. He is still looking for a forward who can score.

The good results in China had to be kept in perspective, he said. It was not the Breakers team that will run out when the season opens in October and the opposition was not of the standard of the ANBL.

But there was value in his getting to know shooting guard Aaron Olson, who impressed him, and Tait.

Of the other triallists, Clifton Bush from the Rams, Brent Charleton from Canada and Blake Truslove from last season, Lemanis said they were "all in the mix" as he continued to settle the roster of 10, five spots to go.

Next week, Lemanis goes to Wellington to talk to Troy McLean and Brendon Polyblank.

The team will again compete in the shortened form of the game, "The Blitz", in Cairns in August, and moves are being made to arrange pre-season games around that with Brisbane and Townsville. The build-up will be more intensive than in the past two years.

In laying out the changes, Breakers board chairman Keith Ward said they were "crestfallen" at finishing last in 2004-05. "We have to place more emphasis on winning and everything else will flow out of that - team harmony, sponsor and fan support, media coverage, sales, the works."

Heat lose Allen

The Harbour Heat have lost Breakers development player Hayden Allen with an as-yet undiagnosed leg problem. He'll know today whether he requires surgery for an old quadriceps injury that he aggravated early this season and which has since deteriorated.

So this weekend is a big ask for the Heat, who host Nelson on Saturday night and then travel to New Plymouth to play the Airs at 2pm the next day. Up to yesterday, coach Steve Done was uncertain whether it was better to get straight on the bus after the Giants game at the North Shore Events Centre or to drive down on Sunday then play.

"I think it's important for us to get on the road. It builds character. It's these times you find out what mental toughness you have. You have to compete under these circumstances."

But the prospect of playing two teams that will significantly out-size the Heat had him worried.

The Giants play Auckland at the Trusts Stadium tomorrow night, the Stars looking to hone the game plan that has them in front of the pack. They dominated the Jets away last Saturday then out-muscled a committed Hawkes Bay team.

Now, with the disruption of losing Aaron Olson and Lindsay Tait to the Breakers tour over, Stars coach Kenny Stone is looking to settle the game plan, improve the efficiency and build on combinations.