That is certainly how player-coach Mark Dickel feels.
Help is on the way, though, but Dickel would have liked an extra body for the Easter weekend double-header against the Canterbury Rams and Wellington Saints.
Instead, the franchise had to muddle through without another ''big'' to help out in the paint.
The Nuggets dispatched the Rams 82-84 but lost to the Saints 77-76 in dramatic fashion, when Troy Payne missed two free throws in the final moments of the game.
The Nuggets did extremely well to be in a position to win, considering Dickel was forced to rest a sore hamstring and was confined to a coaching role.
His absence put enormous pressure on the rest of the squad and exposed the Nuggets' bench.
Sam King, who normally comes off the bench and has made some telling contributions this season, started the Saints' game.
That left Tony Tolovae to carry the bench. He played well, adding seven points and two rebounds.
But the other three who saw court time combined for just one rebound.
Basketball Otago general manager Markham Brown was aware the team was in urgent need of a new recruit.
''We are looking at trying to get a guy in this week,'' Brown said.
''I guess if it was one of the imports ... we could just dial up a replacement pretty easy. But because it is a Kiwi player, you can't, unfortunately. So we've been delving around and doing a lot of research and trying to find some options.
''We've got a guy, that if things go well, we might be able to get in this week. But there are a few things we have to get cleared to get him in. We've got a wee bit of groundwork to do.''
The Nuggets host the Hawkes Bay Hawks on Anzac Day in what shapes to be a critical game.
The Hawks are in second place with four wins from five games and the Nuggets are in third place with three wins from four games.
''It would be great to have a replacement for this weekend ... but I've been pretty heartened by what I'm seeing out of the guys,'' Brown said.
''If Mark is unavailable, then obviously it does put a bit of extra pressure on. The Hawks are going well as well, so we're trying to get someone in.''
