We thought they might be when we saw the roster they had assembled. But until you see the team play, you never really know for certain.
The Nuggets dismantled the Super City Rangers 111-77 at the Edgar Centre on Saturday night in an outstanding effort, considering it was their first outing.
You can tell they are going to get a lot better, and that bodes well for their quest to end a 16-year playoff drought.
A few years ago, the Nuggets were on the other end of scores like that, but not this team. No chance.
Not if BJ Anthony keeps playing the way he did. A crowd of about 1800 watched the former Tall Black barge his way into the paint for a haul of 34 points - 22 of which were scored in a seven-minute period during the third quarter, when he consistently drew the foul and added the extra point.
The third quarter was frenetic, with the Nuggets outscoring the Rangers 39-28. The pace eventually got to Anthony. The 1.98m, 113kg power forward was running from end to end and actually subbed himself off, he was so exhausted. You deserve a seat when your stat line reads 34 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
The Rangers, who had been beaten 91-74 by Southland the previous night, could not match the Nuggets for muscle, with the home side amassing 62 points in the paint.
Nuggets import Antoine Tisby arrived in Dunedin from the United States on the morning of the match and, while he looked weary, the big centre still grabbed seven boards and scored 10 points.
Fellow American Akeem Wright was his busy self with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Guard Hayden Allen was not called on too often, as the Nuggets dominated the exchanges on the inside, but he chipped in with 12 points. Riki Buckrell drilled 12 points in the opening quarter but ran into foul trouble.
Captain Mark Dickel has warmed as the early favourite to claim the assists title. He had nine assists and seven steals, and might have got a double-double had he not run into foul trouble.
Former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank started from the bench, and the Nuggets vice-captain has got the back-up squad humming nicely. Points from the bench has been an issue for the Nuggets in the past but they scored a valuable 35 points.
Duane Bailey was the best for the visitors with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Carl Buck added 13 points but he also recorded eight turnovers.
The Nuggets asserted themselves within a few minutes of tip off when Wright dodged his way through heavy traffic to make a lay-up. But the opening quarter belonged to Buckrell.
He cut to the basket twice for four points and hit a three-pointer and was fouled on the buzzer trying to land a second. He made all three shots from the foul line to give the Nuggets a 31-12 lead at the break.
The Nuggets' lack of game time together showed in the second period. Passes stopped going to hand, shots stopped dropping and the whole show just looked a little sloppy. Put it down to rustiness.
Anthony responded in the third period with a scoring onslaught few players are capable of producing. He has surprisingly quick feet for a big man and can step most opponents.
He waltzed his way to the hoop with consummate ease and certainly was not put off by the odd collision. The bumps kept coming but the ball kept dropping.
The bench got an extended run in the last period and Nuggets brought up 100 points with four minutes left.
The powerful Wellington Saints opened the season with wins over the Taranaki Mountain Airs (85-74) and the Waikato Pistons (115-84). The Palmerston North Jets beat the Hawkes Bay Hawks 74-71, the Nelson Giants beat the Jets 82-67, and the Hawks thumped the Sharks 89-56.
NBL
The scores
Otago Nuggets 111
BJ Anthony 34, Akeem Wright 19
Super City Rangers 77
Duane Bailey 14, Carl Buck 13
Quarter scores: First, 31-12; halftime, 45-28; third 84-56
