That concern will get a stern examination tonight.
The team will be missing the bulk of its firepower as its National Basketball League campaign tips off in Nelson.
Import trio Tahjere McCall, Todd Withers and Keith Williams will not link with the Nuggets until next week.
Key local Josh Aitcheson is also awaiting return-to-play clearance, having missed last weekend’s pre-season matches with Covid-19.
It is certainly not ideal, and coach Brent Matehaere admitted it was disappointing.
However he said the team would make the best of the situation against the Nelson Giants.
"It’s just a case of carrying on," he said.
"I think it’s a really good opportunity for the group to press for minutes later in the season.
"As a coach, you want to put your best team on the floor, but you also want to be sure they’re firing at 100% when they’re on the floor.
"Going deep and having confidence in the bench, and guys coming on to do their jobs, it gives you confidence to go to them in games.
"If you look at a lot of successful teams, they do go deep.
"Here’s an opportunity for these guys who are potentially playing their debut games this weekend."
The Nuggets, in their first season under the ownership of Australian group SEN, will not be completely without star power.
Sam Timmins is set to meet his team in Nelson, returning directly from his debut season with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia.
His inside presence will be key and he comes off a season in which he was one of the league’s dominant players a year ago.
Likewise, new signing Nikau McCullough showed his class in Saturday’s pre-season match against the Southland Sharks.
The 25-year-old point guard compiled 39 points, shooting well from the outside, while also gaining penetration and showing his ability to attack off on-ball screens.
They will be joined by a local contingent that includes regulars Darcy Knox, Matthew Bardsley and Jack Andrew.
Both Robbie Coman and Joe Ahie will likely get more opportunities this year, while young big man Max Pearce will travel this weekend after a handy display last week.
If Aitcheson cannot play, Dallas Hartmann will join the team.
Matehaere said finding, and utilising, the strengths within that group would be important, as would the team’s focus on defence.
"I think we’re going to have strengths in different areas this weekend that we didn’t have last year.
"We’ll be looking to exploit those. And just the way we’re playing defence this year, it’s more aggressive.
"We’re dictating more what the offence are doing, rather than reacting. That’s an important part of the off-season that we’ve developed.
"We’re looking forward to exploiting that and creating some issues for opposition teams."
Once they have their full complement, the Nuggets should put out a dangerous team.
Their three imports are all of a high class, McCall notably having put up 42 points and 10 assists in his last outing for the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.
Timmins will be as good as any centre in the league, while Aitcheson and McCullough are both quality pieces to put around that quartet.
While winning, as they did in 2020, remains the ultimate goal, Matehaere said enjoyment remained a key factor in success.
"That’s what we want — we want our players enjoying their basketball. That’s the first thing that shows we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.
"We’re executing well, both offensively and defensively, and the guys are getting better and enjoying each other’s company on and off the court."
Tonight’s game will be followed by a match-up with the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Nuggets will play their home opener next Saturday against the Wellington Saints.
Three keys
1. Chemistry
Last year, the Nuggets operated largely through Sam Timmins and Isaiah Moss. Now there are more scoring threats and firepower. That could be a bonus, but there is still only one ball. Finding a way to get the most out of their stars, while also getting their stars to buy in to their roles, will be important.
2. Bench production
This team has, at this stage, a clear top six that will compete with most in this league. However, with Covid-19 circulating, injuries and foul trouble, it is going to have to go deeper than that at stages. If the Nuggets are to do well, that next contingent needs to produce against the good teams.
3. Rebounding
While Timmins is a monster inside, he will need to take breaks at some point in games. At times last year it seemed he was so dominant rebounding and protecting the hoop, the rest of the team relaxed, and often gave up a lot of offensive rebounds when he went off.
The squad
Sam Timmins, Tahjere McCall, Todd Withers, Keith Williams, Josh Aitcheson, Nikau McCullough, Darcy Knox, Matthew Bardsley, Jack Andrew, Robbie Coman, Joe Ahle
