- The Auckland Tuatara (13-5) have set the benchmark this season. They finished at the top of the standings at the end of the round-robin and get direct entry into the semifinals.
- The Otago Nuggets (12-6) finished in a three-way tie for second place, but leaped ahead of the Canterbury Rams and the Franklin Bulls on the ‘‘mini ladder’’ to also nab direct entry into the semifinals.
- The format for the playoffs has the No3-ranked team Rams playing the No6-ranked Hawke’s Bay Hawks, and the No4-ranked Bulls playing the No5-ranked Wellington Saints. The Tuatara will play the lower-ranked winner in the first semifinal on Friday, while the Nuggets will play the higher-ranked winner in the other semifinal on Saturday. The final is on Sunday.
FIRST ROUND
Canterbury Rams (12-6) v
Hawke’s Bay Hawks (8-10)
Trusts Arena, tomorrow, 6.30pm
Head-to-head: Rams 112-97, Rams 110-103.
Key players: Rams shooting guard Tevin Brown torched the Bulls for 25 points in the last outing, while Troy Baxter jun is another dangerous player. But the Hawks have Jordan Ngatai and Ira Lee. Ngatai warmed up for the playoffs with 47 points — 47! — against the Jets. Lee has been consistently good with 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Prediction: Hawks to upset the Rams. Too much muscle in the paint.
Franklin Bulls (12-6) v
Wellington Saints (9-9)
Trusts Arena, tomorrow, 8.30pm
Head-to-head: Bulls 100-89, Bulls 92-86.
Key players: Bulls guard Rickey McGill is a superb defender, while Tall Black forward Daniel Fotu is the Bulls’ leading scorer with 17.9 points a game. The Saints are all about the offence and Kyle Adnam (17.8) and Thomas Vodanovich (16) are as potent as any.
Prediction: Saints. Just a hunch. Bulls are awfully deep, though.
