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The New Zealand Breakers' gun shooters will be confronted by the best inside game in the Australian National Basketball League when they host the Adelaide 36ers in Thursday's quarterfinal.
Statistics through 30 rounds of round-robin play suggest two contrasting styles will match up at the North Shore Events Centre.
The Breakers have based their 18-12 winning record around a dominant offence.
They average 103 points per game, the only team in the 10-strong competition to clear three figures on average, with Kirk Penney the league's dominant scorer.
Sweet-shooting Penney is one of the favourites to win the ANBL's most valuable player award, averaging 24.8 points per game. The next closest is Ebi Ere of the Melbourne Tigers with 21.3. Adelaide's American forward Adam Ballinger is third with 20.5.
The Breakers' reputation as pure shooting team is highlighted by their success in three-point shooting.
They attempt significantly more shots from outside the arc than any other side but it pays off because they have the most success at 42 per cent.
Again they have the leading individual, with Oscar Forman averaging a remarkable 49.2 per cent while CJ Bruton is third and Phill Jones fourth on percentages. Ballinger is second.
While Adelaide are ranked mid-table for shooting, they are an ominous force in the rebounding stakes, suggesting the hosts will need to be accurate.
The 36ers average a league-best 45 rebounds per game while the Breakers are seventh with 38.
Towering Adelaide centre Luke Schenscher gobbles up missed shots, lying first equal with Melbourne's Chris Anstey on 309 while he has more offensive boards than anyone with 102.
Schenshcer, standing 2.16m, has received quality support from Ballinger and Jacob Holmes while Rick Rickert has tended to fight a lone hand for the Breakers.
Former NBA centre Shenscher is also second for blocks, pulling off 40 this season while Rickert is the Breakers' best with a comparatively light 15.
The return to fitness of veteran Breakers guard Bruton can't be underestimated because of his all round influence.
As well as his three-point shooting prowess, Bruton is comfortably first in the league for free-throw shooting percentage (89.1) and third for assists per game (5.4) and steals per game (1.8).
- NZPA
