The Otago Nuggets have to lift their defence and they need more out of the bench, otherwise that elusive win will remain out of reach when they play the much-improved Manawatu Jets at the Edgar Centre tonight.
The Nuggets extended their National Basketball League losing streak to 33 games with a disappointing effort against the Wellington Saints last week. The 99-80 drubbing could have been worse had the Saints got out of second gear.
The defending champion was instead content to cruise and save some energy for the follow evening's match against the Southland Sharks, in Invercargill.
Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge knows another lacklustre performance like that will end in familiar fashion - defeat.
The home side will have to find a way to shut down the competition's leading scorer, Darryl Hudson, and classy point guard Jeremy Kench, while forwards Nick Horvath and Jeremiah Trueman are a threat on the inside.
"Hudson is the leading scorer in the league so, obviously, we've looked at how we are going to defend him," Arlidge said.
"A couple of games ago he scored 38, so he is playing really, really well."
Mark Morrison and Sam To'omata are likely to get stuck with that defensive assignment at different stages during the match.
The other key will be keeping Kench quiet. The Nuggets were keen to sign the speedy guard when the Christchurch Cougars folded following the February earthquake but he opted for the Jets and will be a thorn in the Nuggets' side.
His ability to control the tempo and cut to the hoop will present a daunting challenge for Scott O'Gallagher. The American had an off night last week but was not 100% fit.
The Nuggets decided to keep news of his hamstring strain in-house but O'Gallagher will be keen to stamp his authority on the match.
He is crucial to the Nuggets' game plan. The home side will look to assert some dominance up front through Craig Bradshaw and Lance Allred and it will be up to O'Gallagher to get the ball to the target men.
The battle on the inside with Horvath, Trueman and Mike Homik shapes as a highlight.
"We've got to try and dominate them on the inside. We've got two of the better big guys in the league and, I think, in the last couple of games, we've gone away from that plan.
"So we're going to go back to what was successful for us in the first couple of games and keep working at those things."
It will be Allred's job to keep Horvath off the offensive rebounds and the Nuggets will lean on Bradshaw to score heavily at the other end.
The Nuggets need more out of Mark Morrison. The experienced swingman was expected to make an impact for the franchise this season and is capable of more on attack.
Sam To'omata has found his range in the last few weeks and will be one of the players the Nuggets look to for some points from beyond the arc.
Nuggets v Jets
Edgar Centre, tonight, 7pm
Otago Nuggets: Sam To'omata, Lance Allred, Craig Bradshaw, Mark Morrison, Scott O'Gallagher, Riki Buckrell, James Ross, Tom Rowe, Sam King, Matt Trueman, Tom Allan, Ben Dick.
Manawatu Jets: Jeremy Kench, Darryl Hudson, Matt Te Huna, Jeremiah Trueman, Nick Horvath, Rob Igbawua, Kaine Hokianga, Mike Homik, Logan Funnell, Duane Bailey, Ben Anderson, Tim Cleaver.
