That is the message from player-coach Mark Dickel. A damaging run of four consecutive losses has left the Nuggets (4-5) in sixth place.
The campaign is teetering. The team made changes last week in an attempt to arrest the slide. Brandon Bowdry replaced Troy Payne but struggled to make an impact in his NBL debut.
He had barely got off the plane, though, and, having had a week with the Nuggets, shapes as a much bigger threat.
He will need to be threatening, because the Nuggets play the much improved Waitakere Rangers in Auckland this evening and the Waikato Pistons in Hamilton tomorrow afternoon.
The Rangers were pushed aside easily enough earlier in the season. But they beat the highly rated Wellington Saints in the last round and the arrival of Jason Cadee and former Tall Black Dillon Boucher's return has resulted in a change of fortune for the Auckland-based franchise.
In six games, Cadee has scored 163 points and is potent from the outside, having landed 23 of his 48 three point attempts.
Fellow Australian and Breaker guard Darryl Corletto's ability from the outside is well known and forward Duane Bailey has been exceptional value. He is averaging 18.9 points and 9.7 rebounds a game.
And Boucher is the ultimate team player, who contributes in countless ways which are not always recorded on the stats sheet.
Dickel is aware how tough both games shape and backing up is never easy. He is the oldest team member at 37, and the last time the Nuggets played back-to-back games he skipped the second match.
''Earlier on in the season I was having trouble just practising, let alone playing, but I feel pretty good now,'' he said.
''I don't think we'll have any trouble. Unless someone gets hurt in the first game, we should be fine. We practise two days in a row so I don't see it being any different.''
Bowdry will be fresh. He arrived in the country on Saturday and has settled in well, Dickel said.
''He looks good. He is going to do his part but it is really not just on any one of us to do anything more than we are capable of doing. We just need a few more people to chip in.''
The bench has been a weakness for the Nuggets, particularly in the last month. Sam King is really the only player who has added much and his confidence appears to have waned.
Three-point shooter has been another major Achilles heel. Tony Tolovae, Micah Lepaio and Carter have combined for eight three-pointers from 64 attempts. It has been horrific. The Nuggets are easily the worst outside shooting team in the league.
However, the Rangers and the Pistons are second and third respectively.
The Nuggets have been relying on Brendon Polyblank, and Carter to a lesser extent, to work the ball inside. Teams have responded by doubling up on Polyblank and Carter to force the Nuggets to shoot from outside.
Just about every basket the Nuggets have scored has been hard work. But with Bowdry's arrival, relief could be on the way.
The Nuggets will hope he hits a few shots from outside early so he can draw some defenders away from the inside exchanges. That could make all the difference for the Nuggets.
''We made it very, very hard for ourselves by losing four games in a row at home. We undid all the good work we did early on in the season. If we don't come away from this weekend with a couple of wins, it will be even harder.''
National Basketball League
Otago Nuggets v Waitakere Rangers
When: Tonight, 5pm
Where: Trust Stadium
Nuggets: Mark Dickel, Micah Lepaio, Brandon Bowdry, Brendon Polyblank, Warren Carter, Sam King, Tony Tolovae, Steve Robinson, Damon Cleverley, Olly Smith.
Rangers: Jason Cadee, Duane Bailey, Darryl Corletto, Dillon Boucher, Patrich Bolstad, Houston O'Riley, Christoph Fahrensohn, Theo Johnson, Cameron Stuart, Tohi Milner-Smith, Hayden Miller, Jaylen Gerrard.
