HAMISH BIDWELL
Never be satisfied.
That was the mantra of 0800 Easy LPG Hawks coach Shawn Dennis after his side's emphatic 94-78 win over the JD's Taranaki Mountain Airs at Pettigrew-Green Arena last night. Most coaches would probably be patting themselves on the back and remarking on what an excellent gameplan they'd devised to snuff out the opposition. But not Dennis.
He felt his team went soft in the final couple of minutes and that they should have been even more ruthless in their dismantling of the visitors.
"We should've won that game by 30 points," Dennis said. "I felt we gave them a few easy points at the end and good teams don't do that. It was like 'we've won the game, we don't need to try.'
"But you can't do that. You've got to scrap for everything and never be satisfied with just winning. You're only ever satisfied when you're holding up the championship trophy."
Before too many players and fans get too upset, it should be pointed out that Dennis was sporting, by his standards, a fairly contented grin. Never, it seems, a man for getting carried away, Dennis was very pleased with last night's performance, just not completely satisfied.
"You know, they played that zone defence and we couldn't break it down. We were still getting open shots, but they weren't falling.
"But it's good. It still gives us plenty to work on." Where Dennis was prepared to admit he was delighted, was with the effort of his three local starters, Adrian Majstrovich, Paora Winitana and Paul Henare.
With imports Dusty Rychart and Derek Moore both in foul trouble throughout the match, the rest of the starting five had to stand up. Majstrovich responded with his best all around performance of the season, leading all scorers with 25, pulling down 18 rebounds and dishing up four assists.
But for the second home game in a row it was his effort defensively that was particularly impressive. The same has to be said for Winitana, who has to possess the quickest hands and the most agile body in the business.
He was once again after every loose ball, chasing down every Taranaki fast break and then finishing at the other end whenever the Hawks snaffled a cheap turnover. It was that kind of effort that Dennis has been after all season and it was exactly what he got for 38 of the 40 minutes.
Apart from that slight lapse at the end, it was an extremely professional Hawks effort, one which improves their record to three wins and three losses heading into Monday afternoon's home clash against the NBS Nelson Giants.
Basketball: Majstrovich spearheads majestic Hawks effort
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