Basketball: Breakers know intensity key to matching Perth

Andrej Lemanis. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers will need to match fire with fire if they are to overturn a 20-point defeat by Perth in the space of just four days, coach Andrej Lemanis says.

Breakers-Wildcats games tend to be hotly contested affairs but in Perth on Sunday only one team brought the heat, the Wildcats romping to 94-74 victory after bursting out of the blocks with a 22-5 start.

The Breakers were beaten all over the court but rebounding was their most glaring deficiency, with the Shawn Redhage-led Wildcats out-hustling them 42-24 in the total rebound count.

"We've got to take care of the boards," Lemanis said. "They smashed us over there on the glass. They had 50 per cent of the offensive rebounds, which is just completely unacceptable.

"Perth do come piling in, we've just got to be stronger. They will come in very aggressively, throw you out of the way and do what they need to do to get to the ball. So we've got to make sure we match that energy and match a bit of their fire with fire of our own."

The Breakers moved to increase their offensive potency by releasing import Awvee Storey and bringing in veteran guard John Rillie this week.

Rillie, 38, is known for his perimeter shooting, an area in which the Breakers have declined dramatically since releasing Phill Jones and losing Kirk Penney to injury.

Their 34 per cent success rate ranks the Breakers last-equal with Melbourne in three-point shooting.

"[Rillie] is one of those veteran guys who understands what teams need to do to win in this league and it is no secret that he shoots the ball and gets it in a lot," Lemanis said.

"Our three-point shooting hasn't been where it has been in the past and we expect him to help us on that perimeter.

Rillie was yesterday allocated a full roster slot, meaning he can remain with the team if Kirk Penney returns as projected in three weeks' time.

That decision also means Rillie cannot be the player released if the club brings in a second import to replace Storey.

A decision on the import spot would not be rushed into, with the club to assess its needs once Penney's injury situation became clearer, Lemanis said.

The Breakers may have struggled to find their groove since losing Penney in just the second round of the season. But the league-leading Wildcats have won five straight, albeit all in Perth, and lead the league in scoring (91ppg), field goal percentage (49) and three-point shooting percentage (44). The Wildcats hold a 11-7 record against the Breakers, although just three of those wins have come in Auckland.

Looking to avoid a third straight defeat, the Breakers head into the match without Penney and back-up centre Alex Pledger, but with injury concerns over Corey Webster (foot) and Jeremiah Trueman (neck) having eased.