Basketball New Zealand

Waikato Pistons point guard Jason Crowe (Photosport)

Asked how his Waikato Pistons can compete with a Century City Wellington Saints squad he just described as having “all the parts”, coach Murray McMahon responds with five words.

“Like we did last time,” the former Tall Blacks video analyst and first-time NBL Finals coach said ahead of game one of the 2008 Dominion Finance NBL Finals on Tuesday night in Te Awamutu.

And he is right.

The Pistons delivered the Saints their last loss on May 3, a 101-89 overtime win at the Hamilton City Leisure Centre in round 10, getting a combined 72 points from their American backcourt tandem of Jason Crowe (30) and Brian Wethers (42).

Waikato’s bigs Pero Cameron and Mike Homik also out-physicaled Wellington centres Nick Horvath and Kevin Owens down-low in a bruising contest, winning the overall rebounding battle 56-47, and the Pistons hit 11 three-pointers.

“We defended their bigs very hard and then they had to defend our guards,” McMahon said.

“That game could’ve gone any way though. It was just about the right amount of intensity and direction and focus. And all those things come into play come finals time.”

Many things have changed since that May match-up.

The Pistons went 4-3, including three straight losses, to finish the regular season and Wethers struggled at times with a lower back injury, while Wellington won seven straight since and added Tall Blacks Lindsay Tait and Brendon Polyblank to their mix.

“They’re regular season champions, so that speaks for itself,” McMahon said.

“They’ve got very good depth and they’ve got very good size. And they’ve got all the positions covered with good players backing-up. They’ve got all the parts.”

A game one win would put pressure on the Saints to win two straight in the Capital to take the ’08 title, while a loss at home would leave Waikato needing to win twice in Wellington where the Saints have gone 10-0 this season.

But McMahon insists neither team has favouritism or any more pressure than the other going into game one.

“There’s a certain amount of pressure on them, they’re first and we beat them the last time . . . and we’re second, so there’s a certain amount of pressure to beat them first up here.

“Defence is always going to win championships. The way we defend the on-ball screens and how we defend on the guards coming off and the big guys diving to the hoop will be important.”

Wethers got his points – a game-high 26 – in Waikato’s 86-80 semifinal win over the Youthtown Auckland Stars on Friday night, but it was the contribution of the supporting cast that pushed them into their first championship game since 2003.

Homik had a season-high 13 points, Cameron 11, Ben Hill and Puke Lenden nine and Ray Cameron seven points, stepping up as Crowe found second quarter foul trouble and did not score his first points until midway through the third.

Despite his scoring struggles, Crowe – who has had three triple-doubles this season – ran the offence patiently and his willingness to get everyone involved in the offence proved critical for Waikato.

“He’s been a great player all season and it was a slightly lesser game for him than he has had. The foul situation forced that upon him.

“He will be ready to come back with a vengeance and knowing what a competitor he is I expect nothing less than a super-competitive game from him.”

Wethers’ back seemed to be a non-issue as he shot 8-of-14 from the field for 26 points and pulled down eight rebounds against the Stars.

Waikato last reached the NBL decider in 2003, when Wellington ruined the then-Titans three-peat bid 97-88 in overtime at Mystery Creek.

Dominion Finance NBL Finals Guide (1.15MB pdf)