Tall Blacks seeking perfect performance

The Tall Blacks need to beat Australia by more than 12 points to make the Rio Olympics. Photo / Getty

The Tall Blacks believe they can conjure up a perfect display to overcome a 12-point deficit against Australia and book a spot at the Rio Olympics.

After falling 71-59 in Melbourne to the NBA-laden Boomers side, the Tall Blacks have to win by 13 points or more in Wellington tonight to qualify for the 2016 Games - a task which will require a monumental effort.

There is a blueprint available for Paul Henare's side to follow however, with the Tall Blacks overcoming a seven-point deficit in the 2009 first leg to crush Australia 100-78 at TSB Arena - the same venue where tonight's clash will take place.

Although this Australian side is much stronger than the one who were vanquished six years ago, several Tall Blacks who were present for that stunning victory believe a repeat dose is possible.

"We'd love to emulate that, it's a different group of guys but everyone is confident with what we can do," said power forward Mika Vukona, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the 2009 victory.

The immense task in front them would have been a more manageable one if it wasn't for a late run in Saturday's first leg of the two-leg series, where the Boomers stretched out a three point lead with three minutes left into the daunting 12 point margin now required.

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills hit his usual tough shots on his way to 17 points, while former NBA forward David Andersen also chipped in with an efficient 17 as the Boomers capitalised on a few defensive miscommunications from the Tall Blacks.

Henare is well aware that those errors can't occur tonight if his side is to have any chance of qualifying for Rio.

"They're such a good side that you have to be near perfect at the defensive end so you don't come up with those sorts of errors."

Led by NBA defensive standouts Matthew Dellavedova and Andrew Bogut, the Boomers largely put in a good defensive effort on Saturday, but open shots were available for the likes of Rob Loe and Thomas Abercrombie who couldn't cash in, going 1-6 and 0-4 from deep respectively.

As a result, Henare believes that his side can improve their shooting splits which saw them fire at a below-par 38% clip from the field and 25% from deep.

"For me the shooting percentages we had, out of the two teams we are the one that can make the biggest improvement, for sure."

If they can't overcome the 12 point deficit, the Tall Blacks will get another shot at qualifying for the Olympics, but Henare says that's the last thing on the team's mind.

"We're definitely not thinking about any other route of getting to Rio," he said.

"This is the one we're focusing on for now."