Pistons-Stars Semi Preview
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
Waikato Pistons (13-5, 2nd) vs Youthtown Auckland Stars (9-9, 6th)
Te Awamutu Events Centre, Te Awamutu, 7.40pm
Referees – Gavin Whiu, Tim Brown, Melony Wealleans
The Waikato Pistons last two trips to the Dominion Finance NBL final four did not quite go according to plan.
The second-seeded Pistons will be looking to avoid a third straight semifinal exit when they host the Youthtown Auckland Stars in the second NBL semifinal at the Te Awamutu Events Centre on Friday night.
Following their back-to-back titles and three straight trips to the NBL Final earlier this decade, the Pistons, formerly the Titans, have experienced two consecutive one-and-done postseasons, losing to the Nelson Giants both times, in the minor semifinal in 2005 and in the semifinals last season at home.
The good news for Waikato, the Giants were eliminated by the Century City Wellington Saints last night. And even better news, the Pistons have defeated the Stars by double digits in both meetings this season.
Bad news for Waikato, they stumble into the playoffs having lost three of their last four games – although their regular season finale was a 94-79 win over the Stars – and have concerns about American shooting guard Brian Wethers’ problematic back injury.
Wethers won the regular season scoring title, averaging 27.6 points per game, but has been overshadowed by compatriot back-court running mate Jason Crowe, who averaged 21.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and also won the assists title with 8.3 dimes a game.
The Pistons rank second in scoring and field goal percentage, making limiting high-scoring Wethers and Crowe a priority, while the Stars advantages could come from their number one ranked bench scoring and three-point shooting, where they rank third behind the Giants and Saints.
Auckland produced in both categories in their emphatic 94-84 quarterfinal win over the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat on Wednesday night, their bench outscoring Harbour 30-8 and shooting 55.6 percent from distance.
Waikato Pistons vs Auckland Stars
Head-to-Head
2008
Round 15 (June 5)
Waikato Pistons 94 Auckland Stars 79
Round 6 (April 5)
Waikato Pistons 88 Auckland Stars 67
2007
Round 11 (May 19)
Waikato Pistons 83 Auckland Stars 71
Round 5 (April 8)
Auckland Stars 92 Waikato Pistons 79
Last 5 Years
Waikato 8-5
Last 10 Years
Waikato 17-7
