Basketball: Henare eyes Perth reverse

Paul Henare says he doesn't want the Breakers match against Perth to be his swansong. Photo / Dean Purcell

Paul Henare doesn't want it to end like this. "I'm not ready," he says, as he contemplates the fact today's do-or-die match against Perth could be his last in a Breakers singlet.

Henare announced before the season started this would be his last. He's had plenty of time to think about it, but the reality of retirement has crept up on him. The 33-year-old represents a large part of the Breakers' history, as the only foundation member of the side, and will head to Napier to coach the Bay Hawks in the New Zealand NBL as soon as the Breakers' season finishes.

If Henare and his team-mates are to prolong their season, they need to perform a massive turnaround after their embarrassing 101-78 defeat to Perth on Thursday night. They were outplayed in all departments.

There is a widespread confidence within the side they can win this afternoon against the defending champions and force a third game back in Auckland on Wednesday.

They are a side that lives and dies by their shooting - and they died a painful death on Thursday as they shot just seven of 31 three-point attempts (23 per cent). They can't possibly shoot that badly again. But they need to step up their intensity at both ends of the court, particularly on defence and under the basket, and need to do it without the influential Mika Vukona.

"It's something I bring to the team and it's something I need to bring to this game," says Dillon Boucher, who looms as a natural replacement for Vukona. "I need to be good in all areas because Mika is out. He's a big energy to this team.

"With him out, it's a huge hole and it's up to guys like me to make up for that. Energy is one thing that's easy to turn on and off and we need to turn it on, basically."

Some of that energy has been missing since they sewed up the minor premiership a month before the playoffs. When they needed to be peaking, they were cruising and it's not something that comes back easily. They looked shellshocked as Perth ran away with the game.

The Breakers have shown they can win on the road and finished the regular season with an impressive 10-4 winning record away from the North Shore Events Centre. But there are few more intimidating venues than Perth. The Breakers were beaten by 40 points when they played there in November.

"It's a fun time to be playing," says Henare. "I have only done it three times in eight years. It's why you play. You play for these pressure situations. It doesn't get any more pressure-filled than going to Perth and needing to win to keep your season going. As tough as it is, it's fun. I still feel 100 per cent confident in the team, even without Mika. If we play well, we can beat this team, no doubt about it. It's not going to be easy but I wouldn't have it any other way because if we get through it will make it that much more satisfying."

It will also prolong his Breakers career by a few more days.