That is how Otago Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere feels.
Obviously, it would be nice to host the National Basketball League semifinal on Saturday.
The Nuggets had a packed house for their final round-robin game against the Taranaki Airs at the Edgar Centre last Saturday.
But the league has opted to host all the playoff games in Auckland for logistical and economic reasons and that suits the Nuggets in one important way — they have not lost a game in the city in three years.
You have to wind the clock all the way back to July 25, 2020 to find a defeat.
New Zealand was in the middle of Covid and the NBL came up with the innovative idea of hosting the NBL Showdown in Auckland.
The Nuggets lost their final round-robin game 97-74 to the Nelson Giants.
But that was the last time the Nuggets tasted defeat in the City of Sails.
They won both playoff games and beat the Manawatū Jets 79-77 in the Showdown final to clinch the 2020 banner.
They beat both the Auckland Huskies and Franklin Bulls in Auckland in 2021, and last season recorded away wins over the Bulls and the Auckland Tuatara to help make the playoffs, which were held in Auckland.
And, as any Nuggets fan knows, Otago won all three playoff games to win their first NBL title proper.
This season, the Nuggets beat both the Bulls and the Tuatara during a tough road trip to help reach the playoffs again.
The playoffs are being hosted at Trusts Arena — the venue where the Nuggets soared to victory in 2020.
Matehaere is well aware his side have strung together 12 consecutive wins in Auckland.
"The support from the community here has been awesome all year," Matehaere said.
Auckland was the next best place to play, he suggested.
"It is a home away from home.
"It is back where we played in 2020 during the Showdown and we are pretty comfortable there.
"We’re looking forward to it."
The Nuggets are through to the Saturday semifinal. They will play the highest-ranked winner from Thursday’s playoff matches between the Canterbury Rams (3) and the Hawke’s Bay Hawks (6), and the Franklin Bulls (4) and the Wellington Saints (5).
The Auckland Tuatara are also through to the semifinals and will play the lowest-ranked winner on Friday.
