Hunter will become the hunted.
The Otago Nuggets have come up with a couple of plans they hope will mute the threat Nelson Giants import Hunter Hale will present when the sides meet in a National Basketball League game at the Edgar Centre tonight.
The 23-year-old American posted a game-high 37 points to help his side defeat an understrength Canterbury outfit 91-79 in Nelson on Thursday night.
The Nuggets have been working on a damage control plan and it mostly involves crafty guard Richie Rodger attaching himself to the silky guard and shutting down his scoring options, coach Brent Matehaere suggested.
"Obviously, Hale is really creative with the basketball and able to score in various ways," Matehaere said.
"He is a very good basketball player who takes good shots ... so it is an important match-up.
"We’ve got a few plans for defending Hale. Richie Rodger is a very, very good defender. I think he is an elite defender, so we’ll see how he goes.
"But one person does not defend a player — it is the team."
The Giants also shoot a lot of three-pointers, so the Nuggets will have to stay alert on the perimeter.
"They’ve got a couple of wily old campaigners. Sam Dempster leads that team really well and Tom Ingham, who used to be down here with the Nuggets, is playing really well."
American Donte Ingram, who went to school with Nuggets import Isaiah Moss, and centre Anzac Rissetto complete a decent starting five.
There is help on the bench in the form of Nicolas Trathen and Bronson Beri as well.
For the Nuggets, form centre Sam Timmins was cleared to play earlier this week. He injured a knee during the tense overtime winner against the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North on Saturday.
He grabbed a staggering 27 rebounds in the match and also knocked down 29 points.
His absence was sorely felt the next night. The Nuggets laboured without their star player and slumped to a 91-62 loss to the Taranaki Mountainairs.
"He has come through the week’s training feeling pretty good," Matehaere said.
"We missed him [against Taranaki] but we were also pretty fatigued. It was a tough turnaround and we were up against a team which was really hoping to get going.
"Having Sam on the floor poses problems for our opponents. He is right up there in terms of stat leaders in every category.
"He is scoring, he is rebounding, he is passing the ball really well and challenging a lot of the guards with the assists he is getting.
"It will be interesting to see how the Giants look to combat his threat."
Akiva McBirney-Griffin filled in admirably during Timmins’ absence and must be pressing hard for a starting spot, perhaps at the expense of Geremy McKay.
"He took his opportunities ... and we are really happy with how he went and we will be looking for a continuation of good things from him."
Nuggets guard Matt Bardsley has been sidelined with an ankle complaint but he will return to club basketball this weekend.
If he comes through the match well, then he will be considered for the Nuggets’ next assignment.
Aaron Roydhouse has recovered from concussion symptoms and will take a spot on the bench.
