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For the first month of the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL, the titleholders have borne the burden of unreasonable expectations, their own and the world’s.
ìThis group was carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders for no reason,î observes Easy LPG Bay Hawks coach Shawn Dennis.
ìThis team are not the defending champions Ö that was last yearís team. This is a different team that need to put their own mark on the competition.
ìI didnít think they had done that.î
Last Fridayís 83-64 annihilation of Century City Wellington Saints may be the performance that eases this Hawks outfit over the psychological hump.
Certainly, after their lacklustre 93-81 dismissal of a depleted Cartridge World Otago Nuggets in Round Five, Dennis had issued a stern warning to his charges.
ìThe way we were going about things, I donít think our attitude was 100% right,î he reflects. ìI felt like we just thought we could just roll on and win.
ìHopefully, weíve now made that adjustment.î
Victory over the Saints saw the Hawks outplay their rivals right across the court. Offensively, six different players scored in double figures, led by reigning MVP Paora Winitana (17 points/six rebounds/six assists) and fuelled by a collective 23 team assists.
Defensively, they allowed only one opponent out of single figures – American
centre Nick Horvath had 10 points (5/19 FG) – while restricting Wellington to just 32% FG.
ìThereís no doubt it was a better defensive effort,î says Dennis. ìWe played a lot more relaxed Ö perhaps thatís not the proper word.
ìWe had a freer frame of mind that allowed us to be a lot more proactive, particularly at the defensive end. We were able to shut them down by making it difficult for Horvath and their new import Hendrix inside, while rotating to make sure we didnít give up outside looks.
ìIt was a good challenge for us to come up against a pre-season favourite, chock full of talent, to see if we were making steps forward. I believe thatís what we got out of it.î
The Hawksí early-season losses to Appliance Shed Harbour Heat (at home) and TET Taranaki Mountain Airs could be attributed to a range of factors. Dennis has had to deal with continually changing team chemistry due to the late arrivals of American Kareem Johnson and Kiwi forward Callum Baynes, then the replacement of injured import Shane Nicely with Aussie Andrew Rice.
ìFortunately, Andrew has come in and fitted like he was always a part of the group.î
But, as Dennis is at pains to point out, the balance of this Hawks roster is subtly, yet radically altered to the successful band of 2006. While he still has a core of Winitana, Johnson, Paul Henare and Aidan Daly to build around, the coach chose not to invite back American Field Williams, who led all scorers in last yearís final with 32 points, and handed the starting shooting guard spot to talented Kiwi Everard Bartlett.
In effect, he put the fate of the campaign in the hands of a player totally unproven at this level Ö but so far, the gamble is paying off. Against Saints, the former ANBL slam dunk champion had 13 points and seven assists, showing he can do far more than just take it to the wrack.
ìWe knew if we wanted longevity in this league, we have to keep developing guys like Everard and Callum Baynes. Iíve put a lot of faith in Everard and he has improved over the past two or three weeks.î
Their performance against Saints suggests the Hawks (4-2) may now be rounding into some form for their return match with the still unbeaten Heat (5-0) on SKY Sport 1 this Thursday. It offers a clash of the leagueís top defensive sides – Harbour has conceded just 72.8 points a game, the Hawks 75.0.
ìAll year, teams have made it tough for us by going to a zone defence,î says Dennis. ìIn the BLITZ final, Harbour went to a 1-2-2 zone with great success and did the same when we met in the regular season.
ìDealing with that will be a major factor for us. Their zone gives [Aussie centre Tim] Behrendorff the opportunity to stay home and be an intimidator, which also allows their guards to pressure the ball and gamble a bit by trying to steal it.î
Last time they met, Johnson was playing his first game of the season after arriving from Iceland, Baynes had just returned from his Las Vegas jaunt with the Brisbane Bullets and the smaller Nicely was holding down the Hawks ìfourî spot.
Dennis believes his front court is now better placed to combat the seven-foot Behrendorff, who has dominated opponents this season.
ìThe win against us really set their year up and gave them full belief they could carry on and do this thing,î he says. ìThey are playing with a lot of confidence.
ìThat will be a challenge for us Ö to take away that confidence and put some doubt in their minds.î
Dominion Finance NBL
Thursday, April 12
Christchurch
Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams 72 (Mychal Green 20, Michael Joiner 16, Jeremy Kench 14) TET Taranaki Mountain Airs 64 (Link Abrams 19, Garry Hill-Thomas 19, Gabe Stephenson 11, Kaine Hokianga 10)
Quarter 16-17
Halftime 33-29 (17-12)
Threequarter 48-46 (15-17)
Fulltime 72-64 (24-18)
Friday, April 13
Napier
Easy LPG Bay Hawks 83 (Paora Winitana 17, Paul Henare 16, Everard Bartlett 13, Andrew Rice 11, Callum Baynes 10, Kareem Johnson 10) Century City Wellington Saints 64 (Nick Horvath 10)
Quarter 28-13
Halftime 45-33 (17-20)
Threequarter 61-48 (16-15)
Fulltime 83-64 (22-16)
Dunedin
TET Taranaki Mountain Airs 97 (Garry Hill-Thomas 30, Link Abrams 19, Ben Jeffrey 15, Gabe Stephenson 13) Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 85 (Branduinn Fullove 32, Justin Bailey 13, Brook Pearce 12, Shaun Tilby 12)
Quarter 21-19
Halftime 47-40 (26-21)
Threequarter 71-64 (24-24)
Fulltime 97-85 (26-21)
Saturday, April 14
North Shore
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 86 (Hayden Allen 18, Oscar Forman 17, Nat Connell 17, Brent Charleton 13, Tim Behrendorff 13) Youthtown Auckland Stars 76 (Danny Lambert 20, Lindsay Tait 18, Casey Frank 16)
Quarter 21-12
Halftime 43-24 (22-12)
Threequarter 67-50 (24-26)
Fulltime 86-76 (19-26)
Palmerston North
Blue Chip Nelson Giants 98 (Josh Pace 27, Faron Hand 19) Inspire Net Manawatu Jets 85 (Stacey Lambert 24, Aaron Nowell 18, Reece Cassidy 18)
Quarter 22-21
Halftime 49-42 (27-21)
Threequarter 73-61 (24-19)
Fulltime 95-83 (22-22)
