Basketball: Breakers know skill will carry them to the top

Kirk Penney. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Breakers will look to their depth to help them through a hectic two-match road trip as they target being top of the Australian National Basketball League at Christmas.

They face competition leaders Wollongong tonight, before rushing down to Melbourne to tackle the lowly Tigers 24 hours later.

"It's a tough trip, it really is," star shooting guard Kirk Penney said.

"I'm hoping this is the time our depth really comes through. We do have 10 very capable players who can all step up, and they've done so far to give us that 8-2 record."

A win on the New South Wales coast would see the second-placed Breakers leapfrog Wollongong (9-2), who nudged ahead of them with wins over Adelaide and Sydney in round nine.

More importantly, it would keep the season series against the Hawks alive. Having been handed a 57-73 defeat when the teams met in Auckland in round six, the Breakers must take the next two matches against the Hawks to earn the split - something that could be crucial if the high-flying clubs are tied on points at the end of the season.

The assignment could hardly be tougher. To keep the series alive heading into the third match in Auckland in early February the Breakers must do what no other side has yet managed this season - beat the Hawks in their own gym.

Aside from a one-point win over Townsville, the Hawks have hardly been tested in strolling to a 5-0 record at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

Add in the comprehensive nature of the Hawks' victory earlier this season - when they held the Breakers to a franchise-low score - and there is little doubt the home side will start strong favourites tonight.

"We played very poorly [last time] and we obviously want to put together a much better performance," Penney said.

The Breakers do cross the Tasman with plenty of confidence garnered from good wins over Gold Coast, Sydney and Cairns.

Having struggled badly against the Hawks in his first home appearance of the season, Penney has rebounded with a 24-point haul against the Blaze and a player-of-the-week effort against Cairns.

His 25 points against the Taipans included 7/10 three-pointers as the Breakers eased to a 93-79 victory.

"The last couple of games we've kept pushing and kept pushing and, come the fourth quarter, someone has been able to break the game open, and that's allowed everyone else to fill in behind," Penney said.

"CJ [Bruton] did it in Sydney and I was able to hit some shots against Cairns."

Getting back into the groove had taken a bit of time but Penney felt his form was improving day by day.

"There were a few things going on, like getting the body right and getting back with the team," he said.

"When you're nowhere and you've been travelling around the world, you can't just rock up and play great.

"There's preparation involved and, if you prepare well, you usually perform well. When you can't prepare the way you want to, your performance can be affected by it."