This year, though, they are right in the thick of that frantic race and, starting in Wollongong tomorrow night, Tom Abercrombie is finding the whole experience a bit of fun.
Of course the Breakers would prefer to be in the position of years previous, sitting atop the table with the minor premiership locked up and playoff preparations underway.
But perhaps the only positive of their 9-12 record sees the champs with a chance to play meaningful games in the remaining weeks, scrapping for wins and - in the best-case scenario - playing themselves into finals form.
It's a prospect their success has denied the Breakers in their three championship campaigns, so they may as well make the most of a bad situation and enjoy the desperate dash to the finish line.
"That's what I've been telling people," Abercrombie said. "The last few years have been great - being safe and comfortable up the top there. But we find ourselves in a different position now, with a great shot of making the playoffs but really with a lot of work left to do.
"It makes for an exciting run home and I think it's something for the crowds and public to really get behind."
The New Zealand public will first have to follow Abercrombie's advice from the comfort of their couches, with the Kiwi club across the ditch this weekend for a decisive double-header.
On Friday night they will face the team immediately behind them, a Wollongong Hawks (9-13) side who did the Breakers a huge favour by upsetting Sydney (10-10) last weekend.
The Kings' fourth spot is the defending champions' main target, and a win over second-placed Adelaide (14-8) on Sunday would certainly help them reach that goal.
The back-to-back games appear an unenviable task for the Breakers, who have struggled to a 3-8 record in Australia during this campaign, but Abercrombie viewed it as an opportunity.
"If we can pick up a couple of games here going into that last home stretch it puts us in a really good position. But we're not getting ahead of ourselves at all, we've got a very tough game against Wollongong, who are right there with us on the table.
"It's a game we really have to win, and then another one against Adelaide. So it'll be two pretty intense match-ups."
That intensity will play into the hands of Abercrombie and his teammates if they complete an improbable mission and take their title defence to the postseason. Often in the playoffs, it's not the best team who wins but the hottest, a role in which the Breakers would be dangerous.
"It's exciting - it's something different to the last few years," Abercrombie said. "And if we can put ourselves in a good position and get through there, it means we've played some pretty intense playoff-style basketball heading into the playoffs."
- By Kris Shannon of APNZ
