Basketball: Breakers still need to fix it

Breakers 94 Tigers 108


Unlike previous seasons, the Breakers have finished their campaign without being urged to axe the coach and most of the squad. And for that, Andrej Lemanis should be thankful.

Prior to last night's game against the Melbourne Tigers, the Breakers had secured nine wins. Last year's coach Frank Arsego managed to win nine games and was given the boot.

The results don't necessarily suggest Lemanis has fared any better than his predecessor. For much of the recent campaign, the Breakers defence was just as flimsy as it ever had been. They couldn't hang on to deliver the sucker punch in the final quarter and were too reliant on the work of imports Brian Green and Rich Melzer.

Yet, despite these failings, Lemanis has convinced almost everyone that he is a coach with some promise.

After his side capitulated against the Pirates in their final game of 2005, his opposite number that day, Adrian Hurley, came out with the unprompted suggestion that perseverance down the same lines would eventually lead the Breakers to more successful times. The veteran Hurley was sure that all Lemanis needed was time.

Others, though, think he might need a little more than just time. Basketball analyst John Dybvig believes Lemanis would benefit from the introduction of a seasoned coach to work alongside him.

"I think it would help Lemanis to have an older, more experienced coach there to give him a brains trust he could tap into.

"You look at the All Blacks and they have great coaching staff, with great results. The Knights look like they are going to a similar thing by keeping John Adshead and appointing a new coach to work with him.

"I don't know for sure but I suspect that Ben Pepper has had his most consistent season because he has been working with Breakers assistant coach John Dorge. Dorge was a big, athletic guy and I think that has really helped Ben.

"I'm not sure what value assistant coach Wayne Brown adds but I know that it is good to have an assistant coach making suggestions during the game. I think Lemanis was that guy at the Crocodiles last year. He leaves and they crumble."

The playing roster probably needs more attention than the coaching structure. Green and Melzer are streaky but it can't have escaped Lemanis' attention that when those two combined and were shooting 60 points a game, the Breakers either won or went close.

If both are happy to stay, it would be a brave call to let them go. Former Tall Blacks coach Steve McKean would certainly encourage them to stay and, like Dybvig, he believes Pepper has emerged as a major force this season.

His issues aren't with the starting five - Olsen, Henare, Pepper, Melzer, Green. They are with the bench, which he believes could be strengthened.

"They could be a bit smarter with their bench recruits. Clinton Bush and Adrian Majstrovich probably struggle at this level and I think Dillon Boucher would have given them something they don't have.

"I thought they had got it wrong with Green at first but he came through. The big difference this year is that the players look as if they are buying into what the coach is trying to do. The chemistry seems better and I think that is really important."

Dybvig would be looking for Lemanis to make more personnel changes and said that a top priority is finding a replacement for captain Paul Henare.

Henare offers hard work, loyalty and commitment. As valuable as these qualities are, Dybvig said the brutal reality is that the New Zealander is not quite good enough to take the Breakers to the next level.

"I think they need a new point guard. Neither Henare nor Aaron Olsen have enough court savvy to win it in the final quarter. All tight games are won in the last 10 minutes and the Breakers need to get an international player at point guard.

"That decision could leave the coach in hot water but Henare is not good enough. He's a good guy but if they want to go to the next level, they need to make a change. They were hoping that Lindsay Tait might come through but he's virtually disappeared this year."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY