Slamdunk: Lobbying for rules to decide finalists with runaway Waikato Titans

By PETER JESSUP

The last round of the NBL could result in a messy four-way tie for the three finals spots behind runaway leaders Waikato, and there is already lobbying for interpretation of rules that would determine who drops out.

It all depends on Nelson beating Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow night. If they do, and then Auckland drop to North Harbour, Wellington go down to Hawkes Bay away and Manawatu win one from a double-header, then the Giants, Stars, Jets and Saints will all finish on 22 points.

The Basketball New Zealand rules say teams are then ranked on their head-to-head performance. But there is discussion on whether Auckland or Wellington, who have 22 points now, should be excluded from the calculation if they win at the weekend.

The permutations allow either Auckland or Nelson to be pushed out, depending on how the rules are interpreted.

The Titans could sink all the speculation with big Pero Cameron. Coach Jeff Green has always maintained he has been keeping Cameron back so he could unleash him when it mattered.

He has also said he would be prepared to drop this game if it meant he did not meet Nelson in the finals because they are the team he fears the most.

But that's all talk. He would rather take the psychological advantage and that defeatist talk is the first step, trying to get the Giants thinking the Titans might go down easy.

Phill Jones' outside shooting remains the key for Nelson. But he's one man. The Titan's bench strength should win it.

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Harbour's Lance Baker (ankle injury) and Auckland forward Daryl Cartwright (back) are in doubt for the Battle of the Bridge at Unitec on Saturday night.

This is Harbour's chance at a trophy after what has been a disappointing year in some ways. They pushed the Stars hard in the first encounter and now have motivation in an opportunity to push them out of the finals.

"We've been so close so many times - this is our chance to show we are up with the pace," Heat coach Colin Driscoll said. "There will be plenty in it and I'm picking a closer finish than last time. Mentally, we know we can compete."

Auckland's problem has been competing throughout the game rather than in bursts, coach Kenny Stone said.

"We have to consistently maintain our execution and our defensive intensity. It's great when we put it all together, but we can't go and win playoffs if we keep turning it on in spurts.

"They're disappointed with themselves," Stone said of the 101-86 thrashing from the Titans last weekend. "I'm sure they will be better this weekend."

Driscoll said he was already feeling some spin-off from the presence of the Breakers at the North Shore Events Centre.

He had had approaches from players in other parts of the country who were looking at moving north to get exposure before their coaches Green and Frank Arsego.

Longer-term, Driscoll is sure there will be a lift in junior players sparked by the interest the franchise generates playing in the Australian league, and those players will grow to the national league.

Driscoll is sticking out the remaining two years of his contract despite the wooden spoon finish, "and hopefully I'll be here longer than that" if management is happy with the rebuilding process.

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Season tickets for the Breakers' games are on sale from this week, starting at $162 for adults and $87 for children, via Response and with links from The Breakers website. The full website with player profiles will be up from next week.

The franchise also expects to settle on its playing strip by the end of next week.

Three games have been confirmed for pre-season: Wests Sydney Razorbacks on August 23 and the Hunter Pirates on August 24 at Coffs Harbour, north of Sydney, and the Sydney Kings in the city on August 26. Other games had been proposed but the team will be without their Tall Blacks, who are playing in Turkey, so that was curtailed.

Paora Winitana has been unable to train this week with a thigh injury.

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Tall Black sharp-shooter Kirk Penney is home today for a break to see family before heading back to the Minnesota Timberwolves' pre-season camp.

While here he will discuss his availability for the Tall Blacks' series against Australia in early September. But it appears there is a clash of dates and the NBA franchise may demand he returns for teamwork and insurance reasons.

The Timberwolves have signed Latrell Sprewell, who gained infamy three years ago when he attacked his coach.

Sprewell plays Penney's position which, on the face of it, appears to lengthen his odds of a spot.

However, management is looking for cheap but viable options to fill out an already expensive roster, and Penney is certainly one of those.

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Issues clouding the naming of the Tall Blacks for Turkey are Penney's possible unavailability, whether Sean Marks' injuries have healed and his situation with the NBA pre-season and the availability of Cairns Taipans' forward Tony Rampton.

It appears guard Mark Dickel will miss the Istanbul World Cup because he is required by his new Belgian club Oostende in pre-season. Dickel has a clause allowing his release for any Olympic and World Championship qualifying games or competition so he will play the Aussies in September.

The Tall Blacks squad is due to be named mid-week after those matters are sorted and following the last round of the NBL.

Wellington Saints have a playoffs problem - home court at the Queens Wharf Events Centre is booked for a large wedding that weekend and is unavailable.