Basketball: We'll win next year vows Bruton

Oscar Forman of the New Zealand Breakers competes with Dave Thomas of the Melbourne Tigers for the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Moments after the Breakers season ended at the hands of the Melbourne Tigers, CJ Bruton grabbed the announcer's microphone and addressed the crowd.

"Don't be sad or feel sorry for us because next year we're coming back ... and bringing that [premiership] ring here."

There is growing optimism that it could actually happen.

The Breakers played in the semifinals for the first time in the club's history and have the nucleus of a team capable of going all the way.

They were almost unstoppable in the opening half of the season and were only beaten by the Tigers on Friday night when they lost their nerve with the game there for the taking.

Coach Andre Lemanis talked afterwards about it being a "building process" but with players of the calibre of Kirk Penney and Bruton on board for at least another season they have two players to construct a team around.

"We have the makings of a championship-winning team,"

Lemanis said. "Obviously we need to keep getting better and we need to determine what that is ... but I think the mix of the group was pretty good."

The core of the team is likely to be back next season. Penney, Bruton,

Dillon Boucher, Oscar Forman and talented youngster Thomas Abercrombie are all signed up for at least one more season, meaning the rest are off contract.

Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said they couldn't move on contract negotiations until they knew their place was guaranteed in a revamped league, likely to be made up of eight or 10 teams, and until the points rating for each player was released.

Each player is rated from one to 10 - Penney, Bruton and import Rick Rickert were all 10s - and clubs are allowed to fit 10 players into 68 points.

"We will have a debrief this week and give the coaching staff time to think about personnel but we had a good season and we would like to try to keep large parts of the group together," Clarke said. "We have spoken to all of the off-contract players. Our approach has always been to fill the roster with local players and fill the gaps with imports."

As close as the Breakers got this season, they have some big decisions to make on their roster, particularly around the likes of veteran power forward Tony Ronaldson and Rickert.

The 36-year-old Ronaldson is the most experienced ANBL player in the league after more than 600 games but his powers are waning as his body ages.

He is still a valuable player and will become a good coach but the Breakers might look to see what else is out there, especially with the continued development of Tim Behrendorff.

Ronaldson was targeted by North Harbour, Auckland and Waikato to play in the New Zealand NBL but hasn't committed because of uncertainty around his Breakers career.

Rickert has proved a handy player at centre but as the Breakers' only import hasn't delivered as much as the club might have hoped.

Lemanis has built a side that lives and dies by their three-point shooting and if that's not on, as it wasn't in the second half against the Tigers on Friday (they shot a poor 23.1 per cent from beyond the arc), they need options inside and they haven't always been forthcoming.

Overall, though, the Breakers should look back on a successful season.

Boucher was in a bullish mood despite Friday's defeat and didn't feel they were far off winning a first title.

"It's a couple of possessions," said Boucher, who is among the finalists for the ANBL's best 6th man and best defensive player.

"We are right there. That's the frustrating thing.

"We were good enough this season to win the championship - we just didn't play well enough on the night.

"This team is a great team. It's been a fun ride.

"It's going to be exciting if we can keep the majority of the group together next year and make another push."