Heat-Stars 1/4-Final Preview
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat (11-7, 3rd) vs Youthtown Auckland Stars (9-9, 6th)
North Shore Events Centre, North Shore, 7.40pm
Referees – Andy Thackray, Gavin Whiu, Melony Wealleans
Amid the controversy, the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat will try to avoid losing three times to the Youthtown Auckland Stars this season in Wednesday night’s second quarterfinal of the Dominion Finance NBL Playoffs.
The Stars were ruled ineligible for the playoffs by Basketball New Zealand on Monday after failing to pay the final installment of their entry fee but were reinstated late Tuesday afternoon after threatening legal action, which would have halted tonight’s game and semifinals scheduled for Thursday in Wellington and Friday in Te Awamutu.
After losing their first Battle of the Bridge season series since 2002 last season, the Stars have dominated the Heat in 2008.
The Stars only scraped into the playoffs originally – despite losing three of their last four games — after finishing level with Devon Dynamos Taranaki at 9-9 but owning the head-to-head season series 2-0, while hosts Harbour also stumble into the postseason off a loss to the Dynamos in New Plymouth.
Third-seeded Harbour have been hampered by injuries all season, with guard Hayden Allen and forwards Oscar Forman and Daryl Cartwright spending games on the sidelines, while Auckland coach Kenny Stone has had to deal with rebuilding his roster mid-season after the additions of American George Baker and Australian Jonathon Shepherd.
How the Stars handle Harbour’s seven-foot centre Tim Behrendorff, averaging 14.8 points per contest, and their streaky outside shooters will be key while Tall Black Casey Frank looms as the big threat for the Aucklanders.
Harbour’s offence features five players averaging double figures, with Australian Oscar Forman and Allen leading the team with 17.9. The Stars have been getting increasing points production from role players like Reece Cassidy, Dillon Boucher, Dylan Perfect-Tait and Tyrone Davey to ease the load on Frank, Adrian Majstrovich and Baker.
While two wins separated the teams in the standings, little separates the City of Sails rivals in stats comparisons.
Harbour is second in rebounding while the Stars have the best bench scoring in the League, but with both averaging an NBL-worst 15.9 turnovers per game, who can limit their turnovers under the playoff spotlight could be the key to winning.
Harbour Heat vs Auckland Stars
Head-to-Head
2008
Round 10 (May 1)
Youthtown Auckland Stars 96 Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 81
Round Two (March 8)
Youthtown Auckland Stars 91 Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 86
2007
Round 14 (June 4)
Harbour Heat 82 Auckland Stars 80
Round Six (April 14)
Harbour Heat 86 Auckland Stars 76
Last 5 Years
Stars 10-2
Last 10 Years
Stars 17-7
