Otago Nuggets captain Sam Timmins has not quite been himself this season.
The 26-year-old has been juggling "stuff" outside the game.
The Nuggets have also had some mid-season personnel changes and the big centre has taken time to adjust.
In a way his season has mirrored the Nuggets’ National Basketball League campaign. Everything went smoothly at the beginning. Then there was a blip in the middle.
Star point guard JaQuori McLaughlin suffered a season-ending injury which was followed by some rejigging.
The Nuggets lost their way for a period but have rediscovered their form in time for the playoffs.
And so has Timmins.
"I’ve had a pretty up-and-down season, trying in figuring out where I can make an impact," Timmins said.
"Sometimes you have stuff you’ve got to juggle and you’ve got things going on. You’ve got to learn how to show up and perform.
"That has been a big one for me this year — just to figure out the things that come into your life and still go out there and be able to put on your best basketball.
"As a professional, it has been a good learning experience for me."
On court we have seen those struggles in his performances. He has not been as dominant in the paint and his finishing around the rim has lacked polish.
But the signs he was emerging from a malaise were there to see in his 20-point haul against the Nelson Giants earlier this month.
And he looked in great touch on his way to 23 points and 12 rebounds in the 100-95 loss to the Taranaki Airs in Dunedin on Saturday.
That game was a dead rubber and the Nuggets lacked some urgency. But Timmins attacked the hoop with a lot more intent and his accuracy could not be faulted.
He looked more like the "Slammin’ Sam" Nuggets fans expect.
"I think over the last few couple of games I’ve got to a really good place about my form going into the playoffs.’
"We’ve got the door open."
They certainly have.
The defending champions are through to Saturday’s semifinal. They will play the highest-ranked winner from tonight’s two playoff games, while the Auckland Tuatara will play the lowest-ranked winner in the other semifinal tomorrow night.
The Nuggets are at their best when they are playing hard defence, scrapping for every possession and that has been the focus.
"We really want to hang our hat on that. We’ve had some lapses with that throughout the season. It took the back foot and we got too caught up in offence."
The Nuggets have enough scoring threats to have faith in their offence.
Australian shooting guard Michael Harris is good for at least 20 points each night. You can bank on Todd Withers nailing a few three-pointers down the stretch.
Tai Webster has added a spark since joining the team late in the season.
Nikau McCullough is a very capable scorer as well. And guys such as Matthew Bardsley and Darcy Knox have added energy off the bench, while Robbie Coman played in the starting five earlier before there was some personnel changes and did a great job.
Timmins is the final piece. When he is dominating the boards and smashing dunks, the Nuggets are formidable.
The playoffs are being staged in Auckland where the Nuggets have won 12 games in a row and have many happy memories.
Trusts Arena, in particular, is the site of the Nuggets’ historic win in the NBL Showdown in 2020.
"There is something to be said for that in basketball. Sometimes people just have good and bad gyms."
