Slam dunk: Wily coach talks down Giants' chances in final

By PETER JESSUP

The Nelson Giants are underdogs for the NBL final against Auckland on Sunday despite home advantage, says coach Nenad Vucinic.

"All those Breakers they have, that makes it tough," he said.

The Giants won the last encounter between the teams 94-89 a fortnight ago at the Trafalgar Centre, the venue for the final.

"It's tough trying to beat a quality team twice in two weeks," said the wily Vucinic.

He and Auckland Stars coach Kenny Stone know each other well from previous finals campaigns, as do key players in both teams.

Stone began his NBL playing career as an import with Nelson in 1989 alongside Vucinic, before moving to Auckland to play under Tab Baldwin.

The Stars beat the Giants in three finals in the 1990s when Baldwin was coach, Pero Cameron captain and Kenny Stone a player, with Dillon Boucher. Phill Jones was with the Giants.

"We know everything about their systems and they know everything about ours," Vucinic said.

"If anything, beating them two weeks ago is a disadvantage. But we can improve on that performance and we'll need to."

Auckland's big scoring threats have been Aaron Olson and Lindsay Tait but Vucinic expects other factors to feature in the final - perhaps a big game from Casey Frank and Mike Homik on the inside - because the players will have to vary their game to beat that mutual knowledge.

Likewise, the Stars will be watching Jones and Ed Book from long-range and Darnell McCulloch inside. So it may need a big game from the likes of juniors Ollie Hill, Mika Vukona and Lance Baker to get them home.

Neither side have injury worries.

Stone sees defence and rebounding as the key to the outcome.

"It will be who can execute. It'll come down to which side can best cancel out the strengths of the other."

He expects a physical encounter.

Both coaches predict a scoring gap of less than 10 points.

The last two titles have gone to the travelling team, Wellington winning away to Waikato last year and Waikato over the Giants in Nelson in 2002.

The game is live on TV2, with the build-up beginning at 2.45pm for the 3.05 tip-off.

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Five of the NBL season awards have been decided after round play, with the elite player and coach awards to be announced before the Auckland-Nelson final.

Wellington Saints narrowly secured the regular season title (13-5) and also the team free-throw award (75.6 per cent); injured Waikato Titans centre Geordie Cullen won the scoring title (23.7 points); 2003 league MVP David Cooper grabbed the rebounding crown (11.7); and Hawkes Bay Hawks point guard Paul Henare secured his second assists title (5.2), after winning with Auckland in 2001.

The full list of finalists for the remainder of the NBL awards is:

Outstanding guard: Willie Banks (Taranaki), Phill Jones (Nelson), Lindsay Tait (Auckland).

Outstanding forward: Geordie Cullen (Waikato), Ben Knight (Wellington), Adrian Majstrovich (Hawkes Bay).

Outstanding NZ guard: Banks, Jones, Tait.

Outstanding NZ forward: Link Abrams (Taranaki), Dillon Boucher (Auckland), Majstrovich.

Kiwi MVP: Majstrovich, Brendon Polyblank (Wellington), Tait.

Rookie: Leon Henry (North Harbour), Luke Martin (Manawatu), Jeremiah Trueman (Nelson).

Coach: Shawn Dennis (Hawks), Mike McHugh (Wellington), Nenad Vucinic (Nelson).

MVP: Banks, Cullen, Majstrovich, Tait.

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The WNBL title will be decided in Christchurch at the weekend, with top-finishing Waikato playing fourth-placed Nelson at 5.30pm tomorrow.

Harbour, who finished second, meet third-placed Canterbury at 7.30pm in the semis.

The final will be played on Saturday.

* * *

The Breakers just missed out on a pre-season trip to Japan to compete against the national team in a three-game series for the annual Kirin Cup.

The offer came at short notice when other visitors cancelled, but the Japanese chose another of three teams who responded to the late call.

The Breakers have given the Japanese a firm commitment to play there if chosen next year.

Pre-season opportunities in Malaysia and the Philippines are still a possibility for the Breakers.

Giant United States clothing manufacturer Russell Athletic has signed as a gear sponsor.