KEY POINTS:
How the Breakers deal with the next week could define their season. Sore and facing their first road `stretch' of the NBL season, the Breakers' championship credentials will be questioned if they come home from this three-game roadtrip without a victory.
Last night the Breakers faced championship favourites Melbourne Tigers, a side stacked with talent such as Ebi Ere, Chris Anstey, Sam Mackinnon and Ron Grizzard.
While the result was too late for this edition, it seemed likely that they were going to have to do it with limited input from star point guard CJ Bruton.
"He was a bit ginger after the morning shoot around," coach Andrej Lemanis told the Herald on Sunday yesterday.
Bruton was subject to a late fitness test but Lemanis will no doubt have an eye to the week ahead with two winnable games at Cairns (5-5), who have been the Breakers' bogey team this year, and Townsville (4-5).
With Bruton's ongoing status in doubt _ the back spasm had seemingly improved before yesterday's setback _ Paul Henare will have to play a lot of minutes.
Although he is a solid point guard and ultra-reliable team man, he is not a genuine scoring threat like Bruton.
Because you can take only 10 players on the road, development player Corey Webster has been left at home, meaning Phill Jones will slot into the point from time to time to give Henare some rest.
With Kirk Penney also struggling to shake off the effects of the rolled ankle he suffered in practice before the Perth match, the Breakers' depth will be tested as never before.
Lemanis sounded a curious mixture of fatalist and optimist ahead of the roadtrip, after seeing his team beaten for the second time at home last week against the Adelaide 36ers.
"It's much better having this happen [the injuries] when we're 7-2, not 2-7, so we've got a little bit of breathing space and now any win on the road will be a really good win.
"This isn't something that is going to kill us right now," Lemanis said. "I have faith in this group."
Before last night the Breakers were 7 and 3. If they return home next Sunday with an 8 in the win column, it will at least feel like a minor victory.
