Basketball: Coach expects home victories

Breakers captain Paul Henare will likely be starting point guard against the Pirates. Picture / Richard Robinson

The Breakers are desperate to win their second home game, their fifth game of the new season, against the Hunter Pirates at Trusts Stadium tomorrow.

Coach Andrej Lemanis was pleased with the improved performance from the side against title favourites Brisbane after two less-than-spectacular efforts against Wollongong and West Sydney.

But he has made it clear to everyone that he expects the team to win at home.

"The loss at home to Cairns [in the opening game] was the biggest disappointment of all," he said of their 0-4 start to the competition.

"To make the playoffs you have to win at home.

"When we get some solidity we'll pick up wins away, but we have to win at home."

At centre, Hunter have Ben Melmeth, who should know the majority of the Breakers' habits after two years at the club.

He scored 17 as Hunter over-turned back-to-back champions the Sydney Kings 98-86 in Newcastle in the first round of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL).

Hunter's and the game's top-scorer was American forward Mike Helms with 28.

Russell Hinder scored 17 for the Pirates in that game.

Aaron Olson has been consistent top-scorer for the Breakers with his three-point eye well in.

Mika Vukona has been the big improver of the season, scoring 15 off the bench against Brisbane.

But the New Zealanders still struggle to get inside and score and on the three-game losing trip to Australia, some focus for that came on to centre Ben Pepper and point guard Lindsay Tait.

The other factor was the acclimatisation new American imports Brant Bailey and Rich Melzer are undergoing with the Downunder officials.

The Breakers have complained to the ANBL's refereeing commissioner about the number of travel calls against Bailey, especially as he does his "signature" move in rolling to the basket.

Is it a pivot or a step?

"He's played all around the world under FIBA rules and that move wasn't a travel," Lemanis said.

"We've asked the referees' adviser to look at it. We've sent them some tape and asked them to advise us."

If they don't get the response wanted, Bailey will have to adjust. "He adjusted against Brisbane, there was only one call for that," Lemanis said. "If it's going to be called all year we have to make adjustments."

There were adjustments in the running of the team during the three-game tour, Lindsay Tait giving way to captain Paul Henare as the starting point guard.

"Lindsay is still finding his way," the coach said.

"Maybe I threw him in to start a bit early."

Henare started against Brisbane and did a good job, so good in fact that Tait played only 18 minutes.

Lemanis said Henare would probably start against Hunter.

"It's not set in concrete.

"The good thing is they both go with what's working."

There were two stand-out stats from the loss to the Bullets.

The Breakers gifted 22 turnovers, double Brisbane's rate.

And they shot fewer than half their free-throws.

Lemanis said they had been averaging 81 per cent from the foul line so he expected that was a one-off.

The turnovers were coming because the players were still getting to know one another.

"As a group we're still learning when to attack and when to take the safer option and in that circumstance you're going to get turnovers."

He came back to the importance of home wins.

"The effort was there against Brisbane. They did everything I asked them to do and if we get that same effort at home this weekend, we'll be good.

"But that doesn't just happen," he said.

There are no injury concerns.

THE LINEUPS

* Breakers v Hunter Pirates
Trusts Stadium, Henderson, noon tomorrow.

Breakers: Paul Henare (c), Lindsay Tait, Aaron Olson, Clifton Bush, AJ Majstrovich, Brant Bailey, Mika Vukona, Rich Melzer, Ben Pepper, Tim Behrendorff.

Pirates: Brad Davidson, Lawrie Davidson, James Morgan, Aaron Trahair, Odell Bradley, Mike Helms, Russell Hinder, Ben Melmeth, Geordie Cullen.