That way they can hide from what was an embarrassing capitulation against the Southland Sharks in Invercargill on Saturday night.
The Nuggets were eviscerated 100-58, exactly the same score they lost by to the Waikato Pistons at the Edgar Centre late last month.
The pride-swallowing 42-point drubbing was the Nuggets' equal-heaviest defeat since the National Basketball League began keeping detailed records in 2000, and it was built on the back of some woefully inept shooting.
The Nuggets scored just three of their 19 attempts from the field in the opening quarter and by halftime trailed 52-20. The Sharks led by as much as 46 points at one stage.
The Nuggets camp had been laid low by sickness all week, though, and, at one particular training, just four fit bodies were present. But that is sport and the show must go on, coach Alf Arlidge said.
"We can't use that as an excuse. We have to be more professional than that.
"We just couldn't hit a shot. It is as simple as that," he said, adding "our defence was woeful at times".
The Nuggets' trio of Craig Bradshaw (13 points), Lance Allred (10 points) and Scott O'Gallagher (10 points) can usually be relied on to keep the team competitive. But, whether through sickness or otherwise, the threesome failed to fire.
Everyone on the bench got a run as Arlidge looked for a way to stem the onslaught. It was a bit like slapping a Thomas the Tank Engine sticking plaster on a compound fracture.
Forward Matt Trueman and guard Hayden Miller were notable exceptions. Trueman grabbed a couple of rebounds and posted six points in an honest effort, and Miller provided some hustle. But the bench has barely contributed all season and stayed true to form.
From the starting five, only Mark Morrison could hand-on-the-heart say he had a good game. His haul of 12 rebounds and nine points was good reward for steady improvement in recent weeks.
The Sharks, by contrast, and after a lot of personnel changes, appear to be finding their best form. Former Tall Black and Nuggets point guard Mark Dickel has burst into life in the past few weeks and was one rebound shy of a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists and nine boards.
American forward Kaniel Dickens top-scored with 27 points and new arrival Mike Rose and former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank scored 20 points apiece.
The Sharks have won five of their 10 games and are in a share of fourth spot, while the Nuggets slipped to 2-10 and are anchored at the bottom of the competition table.
While the heavy loss was humbling, Arlidge said his side needed to put the poor performance behind it and get up for Friday's home game against the Nelson Giants.
The Nuggets bounced back after losing to the Pistons by 42 points to bet the Taranaki Mountain Airs. So there is hope.
"Nelson are a great team but they are coming in to our house and we've just got to battle away and working hard."
NBL
The scores
Southland Sharks.... 100
Kaniel Dickens 27, Mike Rose 20, Brendon Polyblank 20
Otago Nuggets.... 58
Craig Bradshaw 13, Lance Allred 10, Scott O'Gallagher 10Quarter 26-6, halftime 52-20, third quarter 79-43
