Auckland Stars and Harbour Heat will be out to inflate their records against the Otago Nuggets as round four of the NBL starts tonight.
Despite the recruitment of solid performers Brent Charleton and Nat Connell, the Nuggets (0-2) have shown little sign they are ready to part withthe wooden spoon they have made their own over the past three seasons.
The Nuggets, who play the Stars (3-1) at ASB Stadium tonight before backing up against the Heat (2-1) on the North Shore tomorrow have opened their season with losses to Nelson and fellow strugglers Canterbury. They'll meet an Auckland side on top of the ladder after three straight wins and then a Harbour team that smashed contenders Hawkes Bay by 27 points in their previous outing.
With a trio of Breakers in their line-up alongside Singapore Slinger Hayden Allen, the Heat were always expected to be among the frontrunners this season.
Auckland's form, considering the team has just one import and is without injured star point guard Lindsay Tait, has been more surprising. This year's side is built around veterans Casey Frank and Dillon Boucher and new recruit Adrian Majstrovich but coach Kenny Stone said the form of youngsters Valence McCarthy, Valance Te Ratana and Dylan Perfect-Tait had also been a standout feature.
"The guys are playing pretty well together, that is the most pleasing thing," Stone said.
Tall Black Frank has been in dominating form, scoring heavily in every outing so far. Stone said his star forward had benefited from the increased freedom in his role since returning from a stint in the Australian NBL with Gold Coast.
"He is playing with a lot of confidence ... I think he feels he has the freedom in this team to take shots and we look to him as a scorer. On the Gold Coast he wasn't a main offensive player but for us he has the green light and he is smart enough to know when not to force shots."
The Nuggets, who won just two of 18 games last season, are to travel a path that Canterbury, Nelson and Taranaki will all follow - a Thursday match against the Stars followed by a Friday date with the Heat.
