Straight Up
Tagged in: NBL
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With a Dominion Finance NBL post-season spot not quite secure, U Park It Waikato Pistons coach Murray McMahon canít afford to get too cute in a possible semifinal preview with the league leaders.
ìWeíve got a bit of work to do yet,î admits McMahon, whose outfit still need a win from their final two regular season outings to clinch the veteranís first playoff appearance in a nine-year, 186-game NBL career.
ìBut it is in our hands and thatís always a good position to be in.î
Waikatoís opponents in Round 15 will not be easy. First up, confirmed regular season champions Appliance Shed Harbour Heat (14-3) hope to round out their successful season with a victory that would give them the best home record of the league (8-1).
Then, the Pistons must host TET Taranaki Mountain Airs (7-9), a team that have filled the role of ìspoilersî since their own title hopes faded away last month.
ìThey are two good teams and two good games,î assesses McMahon (63). ìWe havenít really done the calculations Ö weíre just aiming to win both.î
Well, we have juggled the numbers (see below) and the most likely scenario will see Waikato visiting Harbour for the second semifinal on June 24.
McMahon obviously hasnít given that prospect much thought and nor should he count that particular chicken before it hatches. While the Heat can afford to hold something back from opposition scouts, the Pistons donít have that luxury.
But they are already one of just three teams to topple Harbour this year – 86-75 in Round 10 – and another win would give them a decided psychological advantage heading into the business end of the season.
ìEven way back when we played them the first time, I thought we were both semifinal teams,î says McMahon. ìWe both have depth and size, and both seem to play a good team game.
ìBut once youíre in the playoffs, I donít think it matters where you finish. All the teams are very good, even teams like Taranaki, who arenít in playoff contention.
ìAnd the court is the same, no matter where it is.î
Playoff Picture
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat (14-3)
v Pistons (home), Wednesday
Already clinched regular season title and home advantage through playoffs.
Easy LPG Bay Hawks (12-5)
v Rams (home), Friday
Hold a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Pistons, but concede 0-2 to Giants in a countback. Would finish third on the table in a three-way tie with Giants & Pistons.
Blue Chip Nelson Giants (12-5)
v Saints (away), Thursday
Hold a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Hawks, but trail Pistons on points difference (1-1, -10). Would finish second on the table in a three-way tie with Hawks & Pistons.
U Park It Waikato Pistons (11-5)
v Heat (away), Wednesday
v Taranaki (home), Friday
Need to win at least one game to clinch semi spot. Hold a head-to-head edge over Giants (1-1, +10), but concede 0-2 to Hawks. Could host a semi if they win twice and Hawks lose to Rams. Would finish fourth on the table in a three-way tie with Hawks & Giants.
Youthtown Auckland Stars (10-7)
v Nuggets (home), Thursday
As good as gone, but hold a points difference advantage over Pistons (1-1, +1) and sneak into semis if Waikato lose twice.
Forecast
If Hawks and Giants win out, and Pistons win at least one, the semifinals will be Ö
Blue Chip Nelson Giants v Easy LPG Bay Hawks, Trafalgar Centre, June 23, 7.30pm
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat v U Park It Waikato Pistons, North Shore Events Centre, June 24, 7.30pm
Dominion Finance NBL Guide (Round 15) (pdf 1.3KB)
