Some defeats melt away with time - others remain fresh.
The Otago Nuggets' first round loss to the Southland Sharks is in the latter camp. It is an unwanted reminder of how easily victory can slip away.
The Nuggets pulled all of the strings and made little brother dance the frantic jig of a side under pressure. Having nursed a five-point buffer for the majority of the game, the Nuggets found a way to lose.
The franchise was in the midst of its worst losing streak which stretched back to April 2008. Happily, the Nuggets had a breakthrough win against Manawatu Jets last month. And a second win against the Taranaki Mountain Airs last Friday has helped the franchise reset what is possible.
There is a new belief in the camp. Wins against teams such as the Waikato Pistons, Wellington Saints and Hawkes Bay Hawks are still well out of reach. But games against the next level of the teams, the likes of the Sharks, the Jets, the Mountain Airs and the Auckland Pirates, suddenly feel winnable, especially at home.
And even though the Nuggets have won just two of their 11 games, a place in the playoffs remains a slim possibility. A win against the Sharks in Invercargill tonight would be a step in the right direction.
Equally, the Sharks can ill-afford to drop a game against the likes of the Nuggets with its place in the playoffs still up in the air.
There is another fascinating element to the clash - the personal duel between American imports Lance Allred and Kaniel Dickens.
Allred has been incredibly consistent for the Nuggets, averaging 16.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. He has registered double-doubles in seven of his 11 games.
Dickens was a late arrival for the Sharks but is averaging 15 points and 8.7 rebounds.
It is not a pure match-up in the strictest sense with Allred at centre and Dickens likely to play in the power forward role. But this pair have an interesting history. Allred effectively replaced Dickens at the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 and they played against each other in the D League (NBA feeder competition). So there is a healthy rivalry in place.
"In the D league there is a sort of camaraderie where you're happy for each other if you get the call up," Allred said.
"We get along just fine. He is a very good-natured guy.
"He's got a great jump shot and he has really worked on his outside game. That is what set him apart in the D League that year."
The chance to see two former NBA players go at each other should ensure a good crowd at the Velodrome.
The Nuggets' game plan has not changed all year. They will look to Allred and Tall Blacks forward Craig Bradshaw to dominate the exchanges on the inside. American point guard Scott O'Gallagher is also starting to settle into his role as provider.
Small forward Mark Morrison has got more active but the Nuggets will need more from their bench and the likes of James Ross, who has added some spark in recent weeks.
The Sharks have lost guard Kevin Braswell to a season-ending injury. Mike Rose, who had a brief stint with the franchise last season, has been whistled in as the replacement.
Far from weakening the side, Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge believes Rose will be a positive addition to the line-up.
"I think he is a better player than Kevin, I really do. He's a great shooter and I think he'll suit them better - because that is where they have been lacking."
Former Tall Blacks Mark Dickel and Brendon Polyblank combined for 45 points in the Sharks 97-95 win against Taranaki last week and remain a threat.
The Sharks held Bradshaw, the Nuggets' most productive scorer, to a season low of 12 points in the 73-70 loss at the Edgar Centre.
Of late, the 2.05m power forward has found his range from the outside and is expected to be a key player for the visitors.
Nuggets v Sharks
Invercargill, tonight, 7pm
• Nuggets: Sam To'omata, Lance Allred, Craig Bradshaw, Mark Morrison, Scott O'Gallagher, Riki Buckrell, James Ross, Tom Rowe, Sam King, Matt Trueman, Hayden Miller, Tom Allan.
• Sharks: Mark Dickel, Brendon Polyblank, Mike Rose, Kaniel Dickens, Gareth Dawson, Martin Iti, James Paringatai, Dan Peck, Sam Dobbs, Paratene McLeod, Andrew Wheeler, Izaac Williams.
