The National Basketball League resumes tonight and the Otago Nuggets will begin their campaign on Friday. Basketball writer Adrian Seconi examines the prospects of their nine opponents.
Southland Sharks
2013: Champion
Coach: Paul Henare
Key players: Hard-working forward Brian Conklin and three-point king Kevin Braswell
Prospects: Conklin dominated the low post while Braswell knocked down three-pointers. It proved a deadly combination in 2013 and they are back for another stint. The Sharks have depth with Leon Henry and Reuben Te Rangi also capable of dominating a game. They have a great coach in Paul Henare and will be very hard to beat, especially at their shiny new stadium in Invercargill.
They are building a dynasty down there. Top four at the very least.
Nelson Giants
2013: Beaten finalist
Coach: Liam Flynn
Key players: Prolific scorer Josh Pace and centre Jamal Boykin.
Prospects: The Giants have a familiar and comfortable feel. Pace is a big-game player and a consistently high scorer. He led the league last year and the year before that. He just brings so much offensive power. Mika Vukona has agreed to play the first four games for the Giants with Adrian Majstrovich out with an injury. American centre Jamal Boykin bagged 36 points and 11 rebounds in a pre-season match with Canterbury. And let's not forget veteran shooting guard Phill Jones. He can still hit the big shots. Will threaten for a playoff berth.
Wellington Saints
2013: Beaten semifinalist
Coach: Shane Heal
Key players: Powerhouse BJ Anthony and star point guard Lindsay Tait.
Prospects: The championship was the Saints' to lose last year and they succeeded, ousted by the Southland Sharks in the semifinal. The franchise will be determined to put that wrong right this season and will look to the significant talents of Lindsay Tait, Corey Webster and BJ Anthony with help from imports Ernest Scott and Elijah Obade. Too much depth and talent not to make the top four.
Manawatu Jets
2013: Fifth
Coach: Darron Larsen
Key players: Dominant centre Nick Horvath and American point guard Brandon Jenkins.
Prospects: Missed out on the playoffs last season but the Jets appear to be ahead of the game this year. Won all four of their games at the pre-season tournament without Horvath. He is the best centre in the league and averaged 17.6 points and 13.8 rebounds last year. He is expected to miss the opening game while he recovers from a groin injury. Jenkins impressed during the pre-season as did fellow import Paul Jones. Definitely in with a chance of playing some playoff basketball.
Taranaki Mountain Airs
2013: Sixth
Coach: Daryn Shaw
Key players: Americans Suleiman Braimoh and Adrian Oliver
Prospects: The franchise is desperately looking around for another ''big'' after Sam Walker showed up for the pre-season tournament looking anything but motivated and then pulled the pin. The Mountain Airs will be relying on American Suleiman Braimoh to muscle up. He has some experience in the D-League. American guard Adrian Oliver also had a brief stint in the D-League.
Might be a tough year. Bottom end.
Hawkes Bay Hawks
2013: Seventh
Coach: Tab Baldwin
Key players: Sharp-shooter Paora Winitana and centre Kareem Johnson
Prospects: Underachieved last season but may just lack the class of some of the very top sides. That said, coach Tab Baldwin has some good material to work with and the team should push hard for a spot in the top four. American power forward Dustin Scott replaces Darko Cohaderevic and there is strike power in Winitana at Everard Bartlett. American Kareem Johnson is back after sitting out last season.
Waikato Pistons
2013: Eighth
Coach: Pero Cameron
Key players: Game-breaker Akeem Wright and American point guard Corin Henry
Prospects: The Pistons will be much stronger this year. Wright has played for the Nuggets for the past two seasons and is a proven scorer, although he can be a bit streaky. Casey Frank is an experienced campaigner and Henry is quality point guard who should make a big impact on the league. Lost Thomas Abercrombie to a gig in France. Top four potential but certainly not favourites.
Waitakere Rangers
2013: Last
Coach: Aik Ho
Key players: Breakers sniper Darryl Corletto and big-scoring point guard Eric Devendorf
Prospects: The Rangers struggled last year with just two wins from 16 games but the club has brought in some serious firepower in the form of Corletto and Devendorf. Devendorf has baggage, of course, and a bad back, but he can certainly play. He scored 49 points on debut for the Pistons in 2010 but was released by the franchise following an incident in a bar. He signed with the Saints the next day and helped them win the title. Dillon Boucher is out injured but will bring enormous experience when he returns.
The season is going to be a struggle, though.
Canterbury Rams
2013: Not in the league
Coach: Dave Harrison
Key players: Classy guard Jeremy Kench and tough American Glen Dandridge
Prospects: It is the Rams' first year back in the league since they dropped out at the end of 2008. Do not expect too much in their comeback season. Kench will bring some offensive clout and organisation. Dandridge looks like he enjoys a good battle and at 2.11m Matt Rogers will give the Rams a presence under the hoop.
Middle of the pack, perhaps even lower.
A Nuggets season preview will follow on Friday.
