KEY POINTS:
Oscar Forman remembers the response he got from locals when he came to Auckland to play for the Breakers in 2006.
Plenty of Aucklanders he spoke to hadn't even heard of the team. Those that had weren't exactly overwhelmed.
"I'd get a response of 'who are they?' or 'why did you do that, they suck'?" Forman recalls.
Times have certainly changed. The 3-0 Breakers head into tonight's match against Cairns Taipans (2-2) as the only undefeated team in the league and coming off a record 38-point victory over the Adelaide 36ers. The TAB has them $3 second-favourites to take out the NBL title, while even the more sceptical Australian market has them fourth in the betting.
"I can pretty much assure you if I came this year it would be 'good on you'," Forman said.
"The perception out there is that we are becoming a successful team and are exciting to watch."
With the region's rugby teams having all bombed out of the national championship without making the playoffs, the surging Breakers know they have a chance to further boost their stocks. Typically low-key affairs, training sessions this week have been hives of media activity.
The club is enjoying its time in the spotlight, but coach Andrej Lemanis is wary of complacency. His side will start overwhelming favourites against a Taipans club that have lost their last two and will be without veteran forward Martin Cattalini, suspended over a drink-driving charge.
"It is as soon as you assume that something is going to happen that you get yourselves in trouble," Lemanis said. "At the end of the day we have only won three games, and three home games at that. It's what we needed to do and what we expected to do so we need to just keep building.
"One of the things that has helped us be successful is that we have got people here who have been successful elsewhere. That experience helps you whether you are going well or going poorly. Those sort of guys are able to keep a level head."
Forman, too, has no problem with the heightened expectations.
"We are a strong enough team and we expect those things of ourselves. The general public having that belief in us is what we need."
The Breakers' on-court dominance is reflected in the statistics, with the club leading the league in points per game (117), field goal percentage (.510), three-point percentage (.490), assists (27.3) and steals (10.7).
Kirk Penney, Phill Jones and CJ Bruton have all been putting up the expected numbers but Forman's contribution has also been impressive. After dipping below 40 per cent from three-point range for the first time in his career last season, he has bounced back shooting 15 of 25 (60 per cent) so far this season to lead the league among players with more than 10 attempts.
Lemanis said the better numbers were a product of Forman's improved work at the defensive end.
"He's always been able to shoot the ball, that hasn't been a problem. But I think sometimes he felt that because he was hurting us defensively then maybe he shouldn't shoot a shot because he didn't deserve to. He's that kind of a guy.
"But ... now I think [his better defensive contribution] is bringing the confidence at the offensive end."
Said Forman: "The way I look at it now is if I have stuffed up on defence and then I don't take an open shot then I am hurting the team by not taking it. Statistics say that I should take it and that is my role in the team."
With back-up centre Tim Behrendorff likely to be sidelined by an ankle injury, the 2.05m Forman will start in his regular guard spot but will likely spend time in the forward line.
The loss of Behrendorff's low-post presence will place even more emphasis on the team's perimeter shooting but with Bruton, Penney, Jones and Tony Ronaldson all shooting above 40 per cent from beyond the arc, they won't lack for options.
Back-up point guard Paul Henare returns after missing two games for personal reasons.
