Tough away double key stage of season for Nuggets

THE Otago Nuggets will find out plenty more about themselves this week than in the previous six or seven.

The team is well placed midway through the roundrobin phase with five wins from nine games.

But the back end of the season looks a more daunting prospect. And it starts with a tough away double.

The Nuggets play the Canterbury Rams (44) in Christchurch this evening and the Hawke’s Bay Hawks (63) in Napier on Saturday.

Coach Brent Matehaere is certainly not underestimating

the challenge.

‘‘The Rams were touted early on as one of the frontrunners for the league title,’’ he said.

‘‘And the Hawks were the team everyone was talking about as being the No 1 team. They will have players back as well.’’

Former Nuggets Jordan Hunt and Jarrod Kenny are expected to front for the Hawks.

‘‘That will be a nice reunion for us but certainly a huge challenge to play a team stacked with talent.’’

As far as Canterbury goes, the Rams like to move the ball around a lot which will make defending tough.

‘‘It is not only a physical effort but a mental effort as well because you have to stay on your game because they will pick you apart if you make a mistake.

‘‘So we have to make sure we blow up some of their plans and be able to react to anything they throw at us.’’

But stopping the Rams is only part of the equation the Nuggets will need to get right. Matehaere wants his side to make improvements at the other end of the court as well.

‘‘We got away from what we do well,’’ he said.

‘‘I think our focus has been too much on basically trying to get the ball into the post and we are missing other aspects of our game.

‘‘Getting the ball into the post should be a product of the other bits and pieces we are doing on the court.’’

With Sam Timmins waiting in the paint and in terrific form, the temptation has been to get it into the big fellow.

But the Nuggets have a decent outside shooting game and may look to shuffle the ball to import Isaiah Moss a bit more.

Canterbury will look to import duo Deshon Taylor and Edwards Singler to get the scoreboard moving. Taylor is averaging 22.4 points and Singler 13.6 points and 7.5 rebounds.

‘‘They are quality players and they are certainly leading the way for the Rams. But they have big boys in [Alexander] Talma, [Quinton] Bailey and [Ben] Constable who are also big threats inside and out.

‘‘It is a game when you know you will be in for a battle.’’

The Nuggets have added a player to the roster this week. Former Tall Blacks swingman Luke Aston has signed with the franchise for the remainder of the season.

Aston, who grew up in Queenstown and honed his basketball skills at Otago Boys’ High School, played for the Nuggets in 2010 and 2013.

He has been living in the United States but has returned to visit a sick family member.

He left managed isolation on Monday, so is likely to play a limited role tonight.