Basketball: Home court advantage vital

By Peter Jessup

The Auckland and Waikato basketball teams are hoping home court advantage will be the spur that carries them to wins this weekend and the NBL finals playoffs at season's end.

Both sides have valid reasons to expect they will get better in coming weeks and both have relatively easy runs down the last few games. First, they both need to overcome rivals in Taranaki and North Harbour respectively that can upset anyone, anytime.

Auckland's captain, Pero Cameron, will play an unusual role at Unitec tonight, dressing for the game and staying warmed up on a gym bike.

But he is unlikely to play a part unless the Rebels fall behind on the scoreboard with coach Tab Baldwin realising that Cameron's strained leg muscles need rest.

Guard Dillon Boucher has also been unable to train this week but will play despite tendinitis. Veteran Kenny Stone did train with his repaired wrist but Baldwin felt he was protecting it and wants to give him another week.

"We handled their inside game very well last time round," Baldwin said of the Oilers' twin 2.13m forward thrust "but without Pero and Kenny it's a different ball game. We'll have to do all the little things well."

Puke Lendon, troubled by injury all season, looked hot in the minutes he had against Waikato in the Challenge Cup and his contribution from the bench, along with that of import Iona Enosa, could be the decider.

North Harbour are in disarray and the Warriors are ready to take advantage in Hamilton tomorrow night. Star shooter Kirk Penney is heading home but will have little time off the plane before he plays.

Warriors coach Jeff Green said they had prepared all week as if he would play and were ready to shut down Penney's extraordinary shooting game. However, they questioned the wisdom of bringing him in to an established, working line-up. "What do the guys who get dropped think? It's got to upset them," Green said.

Also undoubtedly unsettling Harbour is the coaching position with three different hands on the wheel this season. Incumbent Tracey Carpenter is without import Johnny Dadzie (sprained ankle) and is resigned to a struggle.

Waikato's new buy, Josh Kreiger, has settled well despite a baptism of fire in the 31-point cup loss to Auckland that cost him some confidence.

They have only one more away assignment, a double-header against Otago and Nelson, but both those will be without their Tall Blacks, away at the Taiwan tournament for the William Jones Cup.