Slam dunk: Tough season ideal for Tall Blacks, says Baldwin

By PETER JESSUP

Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin is enjoying a local basketball season he rates as the toughest ever and a good build-up to the Olympics.

And he doesn't buy into the talk that too many Australians are involved.

Baldwin rates the level of competition the Australians have injected and believes they have lifted the local players' standard.

"The standard is very high and it's a challenge to our Tall Blacks."


Baldwin said he had 17 or 18 names pencilled in for the squad of 12, but others were pushing for places.

History at the world championships and in Sydney would count for something, but he would pick on form.

"You can't expect a reversal in form just because someone is wearing a black jersey."

The Tall Blacks were fortunate in having an experienced core of players and others who had rotated in and out of the squad.

"Those players have had a taste of touring and opportunity and want more, and I think that makes us stronger.

"When we go to Athens we will not be struggling to name players 10, 11 and 12."

Sean Marks and Kirk Penney may not be able to take part in all the Tall Blacks' build-up, which begins on July 1 and cranks up with a three-test home series against the Boomers on July 9, 10 and 11.

Both players are aiming for NBA jobs. Marks is still on the injury roster at San Antonio, although he is injury-free. He trains and travels with the team but hasn't played

But Baldwin is not worried about his condition.

Penney is with Canary Islands in the Spanish league, has lost weight to improve his speed and hopes to get on to an NBA roster after summer camps.

Mark Dickel, whose Fenerbache team have reached the Turkish league finals, has overcome an ankle injury and will be home for the Australian tests once those playoff commitments are over.

Baldwin would rather start with something easier than Australia, ranked fourth in the world.

He would prefer a second-tier European team such as Hungary or the Czech Republic, who visited here during the past two winters.

"We found them tough to start before we got on top of them. Aussie will be tougher."

The aim was to win, but he would not regard three losses as shattering because there had to be other goals.

"We still have to test systems, make decisions on personnel, work up combinations, develop some improvement."

The squad would have to prepare to a higher standard, but they were capable of doing that.

Baldwin is pleased with the form of captain Pero Cameron.

"He's shaken injury, he has lost weight and he looks very determined."

Star shooter Phill Jones was in form, and up-and-coming guard Lindsay Tait had dominated games until he came up against the incumbent Tall Blacks point guard Paul Henare - good news on two fronts.

Baldwin said he was confident the Australians in the league were not taking spots from locals.

Each team are allowed one Australian, and the league has several others not regarded as imports as they have Kiwi parentage.

"We used to have two Americans in each team. The league adjusted and now there's one.

"Until we have Kiwis who are good enough but can't get in, it's not an issue."

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The Auckland Stars may not have Aaron Olson for their home-court game against the Nelson Giants tonight.

The Tall Black and Breakers shooting guard injured a thigh when he collected a Hawkes Bay Hawks player's knee last weekend, and has not been able to train.

But Daniel Barritt, who was concussed in training last week, has been declared fit and will be back in the squad.

Coach Kenny Stone has been impressing on the team the need to prove they can defend their home court after three losses at ASB Stadium. Tip-off is at 7.15pm.

Nelson play North Harbour Heat at the North Shore Events Centre at 7.30 on Friday night, and import Axel Dench will be keen to make up for a slow start in Nelson to his New Zealand league play.

Heat coach Colin Driscoll reckons the big centre may have expected an easier ride in New Zealand and was surprised by his Giants opposite, Ed Book.

The Taranaki Mountain Airs go to Christchurch on Saturday and Dunedin on Sunday, and the Wellington Saints host the Manawatu Jets on Saturday.