Basketball: Breakers to play on Thursdays

The Jets will have Brad Davidson (right) for the first time on Sunday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

The Breakers will play 13 of their 16 home games next season on Thursday nights, most likely all at Trusts Stadium.

The Australian NBL announced its draw yesterday, with a return to 12 teams because of the entry of the Melbourne South Dragons meaning each side plays every other three times.

The Breakers start with six of their first eight games at home, then have a flurry of overseas games.

This year they travel for 47 days instead of the 51 last season but their trips are arranged so they play multiple games in one state rather than fly domestically between states.

Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said research at the end of last season showed that the club's sponsors and fans wanted a set time to catch their home games.

"Our mantra was 'one night, one time'. Thursday nights appeal as a night towards the end of the week that doesn't have as much competition from a sporting and general events perspective."

The 2006-2007 season will start almost a month later than usual because of the World Championships in Japan. The Breakers requested a late start to their season and open against South Melbourne at home on Tuesday, September 26.

The Dragons are still recruiting, with former Boomer Shane Heal confirming he is in negotiations and is a 50/50 chance to come out of retirement.

They have secured former Kings power forward Frank Drmic who has been in Germany, small forward Jacob Holmes from Adelaide and guard Matt Shanahan, along with the star of the AIS programme, Joe Ingles, 18.

Former Australian women's representative Michelle Timms is development officer. They are banking on coach Mark Price's connections in the US to ensure two hot import signings.

The season starts with new team Singapore playing the Adelaide 36ers on September 20.

Rumour has it that Wellington Saints coach and Basketball New Zealand elite programme manager Gordon McLeod has signed to coach Singapore.

Stars face tough trip

Auckland face a hard road trip this weekend; in Wellington on Friday night then Nelson on Sunday. It was winning away that got them to the title last season, though. The Stars have 299 wins and will be the first NBL side to achieve 300.

Otago host the Hawks on Friday and will be keen to close the huge gap between the teams. The Hawks then go on to play Canterbury on Saturday.

But both Auckland and the Hawks had a good spread of scorers in their opening games to prove their capability.

North Harbour host Waikato on Saturday night.

On Sunday the Jets, who will have Boomer Brad Davidson in their team for the first time after he arrived mid-week, host Davidson's team of 2005 the Taranaki Airs.