NBL Round One Preview

Christchurch Cougars v Easy LPG Bay Hawks

When: Thursday March 4, 7pm

Where: Cowles Stadium Christchurch

Projected Starting Fives

Cougars Bay Hawks

PG: Jeremy Kench

SG: Aidan Daly Everard Bartlett

SF: Chris Daniel

PF: Trent Wurtz Ben Hill

C: Lionel Hopgood Jamil Terrell

The Cougars had a very successful debut season last year, winning their home quarter final against the and nearly upsetting the champions in the semi finals. The Hawks struggled last season but scraped into the playoffs being the only team to make the playoffs with a losing record (7 wins 9 losses).

This year the Hawks have bolstered their squad with the additions of former Canterbury players Nat Connell and Dave Langrell, and have recruited some notable imports in the league, former league MVP and NBL Championship winner Jamil Terrell. The Cougars meanwhile have ironically recruited former Hawks player Aidan Daly, while Jeremy Kench and Mark Morrison return to Canterbury after a season with the Hawks.

The Cougars franchise signing last year returns to his hometown to play for the Hawks, but is questionable on how much he is going to play this season. Import Tim Behrendorff will not be with the Cougars for the first game because he currently is with the Wollongong Hawks who will be playing in the Australian NBL Finals. For the Hawks they will not have Josh Pace for the game.

Last season the two teams split their meetings, Cougars winning 83-74 away and the Hawks winning 86-81 away. Waikato Pistons v Fico Finance

When: Thursday March 4, 7.30pm

Where: Te Awamutu Events Centre

Projected Starting Five

Waikato Pistons Fico Finance Nelson Giants

PG: Michael Fitchett

SG: Phil Jones

SF: Thomas Abercrombie Darryl Jones

PF: Tony Ronaldson Michael Harrison

C:

A rematch of last year’s finals - Champions Waikato Pistons will host runners up The Fico Finance Nelson Giant. Both sides are having a very different landscape to the teams we saw battling last year.

Michael Fitchett will be returning to his home town after spending a year with Waikato and import Michael Harrison returns to Nelson after playing for them in the 2008 season. Arguably one of the best signings of the year will be playing for the Giants this season but will not be playing this round with commitments for the .

Waikato meanwhile have rebuilt their team losing captain and replacing him with his Australian equivalent Boomers legend Tony “The Bear” Ronaldson who has recently retired from the Australian NBL playing over 600 games.

The Pistons have also taken advantage of the Stars situation and recruited high scoring guard Hayden Allen and have signed Cougars shooting guard Gerard Bowden who started every game for them last season.

Former US college star Eric Devendorf will replace Justin Bailey as the Pistons import guard and bring some scoring to the team. Bench will favour the Pistons who have the experience of players Puke Lendon, and Ray Cameron returning. Last season Pistons won 3 of the 4 games against Giants.

Taranaki MountainAirs v Fico Finance Nelson Giants

When: Friday 5 March, 7pm

Where: TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Projected Starting Five

Taranaki MountainAirs Fico Finance Nelson Giants

PG: Tyrone Davey Michael Fitchett

SG: Jack Leasure Phil Jones

SF: Aaron Bailey-Nowell Darryl Jones

PF: Michael Harrison

C: Demarshay Johnson Tony Rampton

Last year’s wooden spooner’s Taranaki who went winless last season will host the Giants who will be coming off a game in Waikato.

Taranaki have improved from last season with the addition of former rookie of the year point guard Tyrone Davey and Burger King Breakers Jeremiah Trueman who will bring some much needed size and work ethic to the franchise. Mountainairs new coach Angelo Hill will be remembered winning championships as a player with the Saints and will begin his first season as a Head Coach in the NBL. Last season the closest the Mountainair’s came to a victory was when they hosted the Giants narrowly losing in overtime 97-95.

The match up of the game will be between shooting guards Phil Jones and Jack Leasure. Jones had a terrific year last season being named Most Valuable Player and led the league and three point percentage at an incredible 50%. Leasure is also a very strong shooter and does not need much room to get his shot off.

Harbour Heat v OceanaGold

When: Saturday 6 March, 7pm

Where: North Shore Event Centre

Projected Starting Five

Harbour Heat OceanGold Otago Nuggets

PG: Corey Webster Sam To’omata

SG: Kavossy Franklin James Ross

SF: Reece Cassidy Matt Gillan

PF: Tyler Amyla

C: Rick Rickert Antoine Tisby

North Harbour have been the movers and shakers from last year with the signing of Burger King Breakers players Dillon Boucher and import Rick Rickert. Veteran import in the Australian League Kavossy Frankin will partner up with high scoring guard Corey Webster who should form the highest scoring backcourt in the competition.

After a one year hiatus the Otago Nuggets return to league to face arguably a championship contender in the Heat. OceanaGold Otago Nuggets do retain big man import Antoine Tisby who won the rebounding title in 2008.

Both teams have a youthful but talented bench with former Junior Tall Blacks in both sides. Both sides have first time coaches in the league, NZ Breakers assistant coach Judd Flavell for the Heat and Anthony Arlidge for the Nuggets.

Zerofees v Easy LPG Bay Hawks

When: Saturday March 6, 7pm

Where: Southland Stadium

Projected Starting Fives

Zerofees Southland Sharks 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks

PG: Daniel Munday Jarrod Kenny

SG: Ian Carthcart Everard Bartlett

SF: Rene Rougeau Chris Daniel

PF: James Paringatai Ben Hill

C: Jamil Terrell

The Southland province finally has a team in the National League and they will prove they are no easy beats when they host the 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks.

The Sharks will not have one of their star signings point guard who will be with the Wollongong Hawks. A player to watch out for in the Sharks is rookie big man Martin Iti who has played for Australian Universities team and also played for one of Americas best high school basketball programs Mount Zion Academy.

Rookie coach Richard Dickel has recruited Rene Rougeau, a six foot six swingman who went to the University of Las Vegas where Dickel’s brother Tall Black Legend attended. Rougeau has been compared to Dillon Boucher with his stifling defence.

After a solid season with Taranaki big man James Paringatai joins the Sharks bringing some more size to compliment Martin Iti and promising forward Gareth Dawson returns from Wollongong where he was used as a development player.

McDonalds v Century City

When: Saturday March 6, 7pm

Where: Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

Projected Starting Five

McDonald’s Manawatu Jets Century City Wellington Saints

PG Paul Bristol

SG Kaine Hokianga Troy McLean

SF Richard Jeter Darryl Hudson

PF Ronald Allen

C Callum McLeod Nick Horvarth

The Jets will have a new look side from last season with former Los Angeles Sparks coach Ryan Weiseneberg taking the reins and bringing with him two imports looking to make an instant impact in the league.

One of them is Richard Jeter who is a six foot six guard who played pre season for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003.The Jets have also signed former Saints players Calum McLeod and Matt Te Huna who should get some good court time.

The Century City Saints will be welcoming back former All Star Five selection Nick Horvarth, who returns to the Saints after a year break. The Saints will be without Coach Pero Cameron who still has commitments with the Gold Coast Blaze and they will be playing with only one import combo guard Darryl Hudson who has played in the top leagues in Finland, Germany and Hungary. The Saints have not lost to the Jets since 2007.