What could have been an oldfashioned mismatch has been transformed into a potentially intriguing encounter by the form of the respective sides.
The Nuggets are still at the bottom of the National Basketball League but are coming off two wins in a week, and the Pistons have the best winning percentage in the league but are on a two game losing slide.
For Sims, the key is keeping his side's momentum up as they head to play the Pistons and the Taranaki Dynamos on consecutive nights.
‘‘The players are feeling good about themselves, which is a positive thing. It's been a while since they've had the opportunity to win a couple of games in one week,'' Sims said yesterday.
‘‘We've just got to go in and play hard, play our game and see where the chips fall. I always hope we're in the game in the fourth quarter, and then anything can happen.''
There is no doubt the Pistons, even though they were out of sorts in losses to the Giants and the Saints last weekend, demand respect.
They started the season with six-straight wins, spurred by the dynamic duo of American guards Brian Wethers and Jason Crowe. Wethers is the leading scorer in the NBL, averaging 26.6 points a night, and Crowe leads the league in assists (nine per game) and is second in steals (3.1).
Throw in veterans Pero Cameron, Mike Homik, Puke Lenden and big Ben Hill, who plays his 150th game tonight, and you have a fair side.
‘‘They have proven themselves to be a a champion team and I expect they will come out at home and try to send a message,'' Sims said of the Pistons.
‘‘We expect them to be very aggressive and very competitive. We're preparing for a great battle.
‘‘Wethers and Crowe are probably the best backcourt tandem in the league. I haven't seen them up front but their performances speak for themselves.''
Waikato is a team that likes to hit the three-point shot but can also penetrate the middle on the fast break. That will force the Nuggets to get back quickly on transition defence and make sure Crowe and Wethers do not find holes.
A major plus for the Nuggets has been their rebounding in recent weeks, with the addition of Antoine Tisby helping the side rank first in the league.
But the Nuggets are still the lowest-scoring, worst-shooting team in the country, and the likes of Brent Charleton and Nat Connell must keep searching for their range to back up Tisby and Lemar Gayle.
This is their first look at Waikato but the Nuggets have seen what Taranaki can offer. The Dynamos claimed an 84-73 win in Dunedin at the end of March.
It will be a special night in New Plymouth tomorrow for veteran Taranaki import Link Abrams, who will play his 100th consecutive game for the franchise.
Abrams, who has not missed a game since making his NBL debut five years ago, averaged 20.4 points and 11.5 rebounds last year on his way to being named outstanding forward, rebounding champion and a member of the All-Star Five for the second time.
Otago's game against the Waikato Pistons screens live on Sky Sport 1 from 7pm tonight.
