Injuries Don’t Faze Breakers
Tagged in: NZ Breakers
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The prospect of another Hummer Championship NBL game without a key player through injury isn’t fazing Harvey Norman NZ Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis.
The Breakers tackle the West Sydney Razorbacks at the North Shore Events Centre Thursday night and are likely to be without legendary forward Tony Ronaldson, who is shrugging off an Achilles strain.
If Ronaldson can’t play for the second match in a row, it will be the 19th time in 25 games that Lemanis has not had a full roster to choose from.
“We’re four wins and two losses in the half a dozen games where we’ve had everyone available,” Lemanis said.
“We’ve been continually presented with challenges, and the group has done a great job of pressing forward and achieving. They have stayed tight as a group and never let the disruptions become an excuse.
“We expect to go out and play hard and win regardless of the line-up. We could still finish as high as fourth if the stars and the planets align, so they’ve shown character.”
Currently eighth on the table – the cut-off point for going through to the finals – the Breakers face a Razorbacks line-up in 10th spot and desperate to climb into play-off calculations at the Breakers’ expense.
“I expect them to be desperate, just as we’re desperate,” Lemanis said. “It will be a battle … a war. I expect us to come out with an energy and focus that reflects the importance of the game.”
The trans-Tasman rivals have met twice this season and have a win apiece in their three-game series. The Pigs won 104-96 on the North Shore in the second game of the season, but the Breakers gained revenge with a 113-97 road win earlier this month.
It was during the recent match that Ronaldson’s Achilles complaint flared up. He loaded it up too much in the next home match – the record win over the Gold Coast – and now finds himself a grizzly bear.
“I’m frustrated. I’ve probably missed five or six games through injury in my entire career,” he said, ironically just two matches away from becoming only the second player in NBL history to play 600 games.
“Being sidelined is not something I’ve had to deal with and it’s certainly not something I enjoy. Every day that I can’t get on court makes the frustration levels rise.
“I’m missing the fun time of the year … those games leading up to the play-offs that are must-win and give us the chance to fire up the ladder.
“I’m so keen to get out there, but I have to be sensible. I need to be right to play or I could be out for the whole season. If I miss tomorrow night, we have another five games leading into the play-offs, and I have to stay positive and focused.”
Ronaldson may be stuck on 598 games, but two of his team mates will celebrate notable milestones against the Razorbacks tomorrow. Paul Henare will become the first Breaker to reach 150 games and fellow foundation member Paora Winitana notches up his 50th appearance.
Tip off at NSEC Thursday is at 7.30pm.
