Two others are less palatable. The inevitable health problems that seem to hit the Breakers at this time of year have struck again, with stomach bugs keeping key players Gary Wilkinson and Dillon Boucher and development squad member Dion Prewster away from training today.
Tom Abercrombie again took no part in training due to his injured ankle - although he is likely to play some part in the second game of the series in Perth on Friday night _ and Bruton caused a scare when he briefly left training with a minor toe injury.
Lemanis remains positive the ill trio will be available for final training tomorrow before the squad makes the long trek to Perth on Thursday.
"As if there are not enough challenges in a week like this, we seem to have been hit with a bit of a stomach virus,'' Lemanis said. "Hopefully it is just a 24-hour thing and we'll all be good to have a good session tomorrow because we need one.''
The other is the background noise coming out of Perth in the form of Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge complaining about the unsportsmanlike conduct of his finals series opponents.
Lemanis did his best to play down the almost constant baiting from Beveridge, whose side will force a deciding match at Auckland's Vector Arena next Tuesday if they beat the Breakers.
Beveridge's latest complaint was that the Breakers over-celebrated their thrilling 104-98 overtime victory over the Wildcats, with Wilkinson the main culprit, the same complaint he had last week as he remembered the Breakers' recent double-overtime win in Perth.
"Ask the public, I don't know,'' was Lemanis' reply when asked if he thought the Breakers behaved appropriately. "I think the crowd was in there and they were enjoying themselves on Thursday night. I thought it was a great atmosphere and a great game. I think as a club one of our things is we have to enjoy our successes. There's no point in playing it down. If you're playing well, you're having fun.''
Lemanis has every right to be having fun. The Breakers are leading the best-of-three series, have home court advantage and have key individuals hitting form.
Cedric Jackson topscored for his side with 25 points in game one, but it was veteran guard Bruton who again proved he is the man for the big time, scoring 20 points, including five three-pointers, and demanding the ball in the key moments.
Bruton today revealed that with seven seconds left in regulation time and the scores tied, he told Lemanis to throw away the gameplan and give him the ball.
"He was drawing up the play with seven seconds left and I was thinking: 'I don't want this to go to anyone else. Just put it in my hands and let me make the decision.' He backed me, my teammates backed me.''
In the end Bruton passed to Jackson, whose shot was unsuccessful and overtime was forced, but it was an insight into one cool mindset.
And it is fitting he will have the chance to wrap up the series in Perth. Bruton made his NBL debut for the club back in 1994 but, before that, he used to watch his dad, Cal, play for and coach the team.
"I grew up there, that's the love I have for Perth,'' the American-born Bruton said. "I love it dearly. My dad helped to bring that franchise to where it is today. In 1987 I remember wiping the floors, that's how I got to see all the superstars playing this game. I've learned from them, watched how they take control of certain situations and watched the fans fill that stadium and keep it packed until today.''
Now Bruton is the one controlling the big games, and having signed with the franchise for another two years, he wants to start a dynasty.
"We want to be the team of the decade,'' he said of the Breakers in the NBL. "To do that you've got to win multiple titles and you've got to be up there in the top four for a number of years. So, baby steps, but right now we know we're on a fast track to doing something special again but we've got to make sure we consolidate and finish this the right way.''
