Basketball: Breakers to face import decision next month

Dillon Boucher presses forward during the Breakers' win over the Tigers. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers will decide within the next couple of days whether to bring in a second import to help resurrect their stuttering season.

The club picked up their third consecutive road win, against Melbourne on Saturday night, to level their record at 9-9. However three consecutive home defeats have ensured they remain in sixth, outside of the playoff picture and in desperate need of a consistent run of form.

With a January 8 deadline for bringing in new players looming ever closer, general manager Richard Clarke confirmed a decision on whether to pull the trigger on a second import would be made before Christmas.

"It depends on there being a player available who is going to help us," Clarke said. "Since Awvee [Storey] was released we have been keeping an eye on the player market but we haven't made any decisions yet."

The player market isn't that deep because the D-League (NBA Development League) has started and the European teams are pretty well set and won't start shuffling players for a little while yet.

"So it is a matter of is [coach] Andrej [Lemanis] happy with where we are at? ... I guess we are going to have to have those discussions over the next few days."

Lemanis had stated his preferred option was not to bring in a second import but, with the return from injury of star shooting guard Kirk Penney failing to produce a boost in the club's fortunes, he may revisit that.

Clarke confirmed at the time of Storey's release that the club had money for a replacement. Storey's salary would be deducted from the salary cap on a pro-rata basis, although some of that will have been eaten up by Australian veteran John Rillie, who was brought in when Storey was released.

With league rules preventing new signings after the three-quarter point of the regular season, any new recruit would need to be registered with the NBL before the Breakers play Perth on January 8.

A player would also have to be released to free up a roster spot, with little used forward Jeremiah Trueman the most obvious candidate. A dominant forward to complement stand-out centre Rick Rickert is the most pressing need.

Rickert, who is having a stellar year after returning on a significantly diminished contract, was again the stand-out against the Tigers on Saturday night.

The American contributed a 16-point 13-rebound double-double in the 77-68 win.

The Breakers trailed narrowly after the first and third quarters but blew the Tigers away with a 26-16 final quarter, Tony Ronaldson sealing the win with two late three-pointers. Ronaldson had 13 points, including four of seven three pointers. Kirk Penney also had 13 while CJ Bruton chipped in with 12.

Despite the win the Breakers remain in a precarious position, with their next three matches away to the league's top three teams.

First up is a trip to the Gold Coast to play the pacesetting Blaze on New Year's Eve. They then face Wollongong (January 6) and Perth two days later before heading home to face Melbourne on January 14.

"I don't think we are happy with where we are at," Clarke said. "Obviously Saturday night's win was important but the loss against Townsville and dropping games when we were in winning positions against Perth and Wollongong hurt. If we'd taken those chances we'd be sitting at the top of the table and that is where we want to be with this team."

* Ups and downs

With a 9-9 record the Breakers sit sixth on the NBL ladder.

The top four teams make the playoffs. To be one of them, the Breakers will need to win at least six and possibly seven of their remaining 10 games.

Since dumping import Awvee Storey early last month the Breakers have won five and lost four of their nine games.

The boost expected from the return of injured star Kirk Penney has not materialised, with the team winning three and losing three matches since his comeback in round 10.