The Otago Nuggets have strung together 15 consecutive loses against the Nelson Giants and have not beaten their rival since 2002. Most of the statistics point to another comfortable win for the Giants when the sides meet at the Edgar Centre tonight. Basketball Adrian Seconi reports.
Scoring
If you put both teams' offensive production through the matrix, hold your breath, hop on one leg and count to 10, then the Giants should win by 7.6 points.
Nelson has averaged 84.4 points this season which puts it in the middle of the pack. The Nuggets, however, have struggled, averaging just 76.8 points. They are also coming off a dreadful performance against the Southland Sharks where they managed just 58 points in a 42-point drubbing.
The home side's shooting percentages from the floor are the worst in the league at 41.9%.
The Nuggets improve to sixth place from beyond the arc and, from the free-throw line the team is deadly, topping the league with 73.6% accuracy.
American point guard Scott O'Gallagher has landed 60 of his 69 attempts from the stripe and James Ross 10 of 11 attempts.
Game-breakers
The Giants should have too much firepower, with the likes of sharp-shooters Phill Jones and Michael Fitchett hovering on the fringes waiting to drill three-pointers and centre Darryl Dora averaging 20.1 points.
And American swingman Rod Grizzard was the player of the week with 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the 87-83 win against the Taranaki Mountain Airs.
The Nuggets will look to the usual suspects to keep the score moving. Craig Bradshaw scored a game-high 27 the last time the sides met and is averaging 18.6 points. And big games will be required from O'Gallagher (17.2) and Lance Allred (16.1) if the Nuggets are going to effect an upset in Allred's last game for the franchise before he returns to the United States to trial with NBA team the Charlotte Bobcats.
Defence
The Nuggets wobble along on training wheels held in place with a bit of gum and a plaster.
Most nights, it is an adhesive which lasts a quarter or two, with their opponents scoring an average of 91 points. Only the Mountain Airs have a worse defensive record, coughing up an average of 94 points.
The Giants have the third-best defence in the league, conceding and average of 84 points, and have a clear advantage.
Form
The visitors made a slow start to the league but have won four of their past five games and hold down fourth spot on the competition table. The Nuggets are last with two wins from 12 games and a place in the playoffs looks remote.
Road trip
The ash cloud which has disrupted air travel throughout the country also grounded the Giants. The team had to drive to Timaru yesterday and on to Dunedin today. Tomorrow it heads to Invercargill to play the Sharks.
Nuggets v Giants
Edgar Centre, 7pm tonight
Otago Nuggets: Sam To'omata, Lance Allred, Craig Bradshaw, Mark Morrison, Scott O'Gallagher, Riki Buckrell, James Ross, Tom Rowe, Sam King, Matt Trueman, Hayden Miller, Damon Cleverley.
Nelson Giants: Michael Fitchett, Phill Jones, Rod Grizzard, Mika Vukona, Darryl Dora, Josh Bloxham, Ben Wright, Sam Dempster, Darryl Jones, Michael Karena.
