The Breakers are looking to their big men to slay the Dragons tonight and keep their ANBL playoff hopes alive.
Fresh from back-to-back wins over fellow playoff contenders from Singapore and Wollongong, the Breakers are in a group of four teams all gunning for the one remaining spot in the top eight finals series. All four sides have 10 wins each.
Coach Andrej Lemanis says the Breakers are upbeat knowing they still have plenty to play for. They also have confidence from beating the Slingers and Hawks in the past week.
''It showed a lot of character to win those games because our opposition was as hungry as we were,'' Lemanis said. ''It's great that were playing well but there's work to be done and we have to come out with that intensity against the Dragons.''
The Breakers beat the Dragons, without their experienced player/ coach Shane Heal, early in the season at home, but dipped out in Melbourne in game three of their 16,000km four-game road trip in December.
''For a first year franchise they've put together a very impressive team,'' Lemanis said. ''We've had even matchups against them this season and it's a classic case of our size versus their speed and athleticism.''
Lemanis is keen to involve the Dragons in a measured contest rather than a fast, free-flowing game.
''We can run too, but we can also slow it down and utilise our big men inside. Our ability to control the tempo of the game and service the tall timber will be a telling factor in the outcome.''
Given the points logjam, Lemanis is certain his team will be focused.
''If we take care of our two home games [against the Dragons and bottom-placed West Sydney] and drop the road games [against Brisbane and Perth] we need other results to go our way to make the top eight.
''If we win three or four of those matches, other results would have to be totally unexpected for us to dip out. So we definitely have every incentive to do well.''
Breakers v Dragons North Shore Events Centre, 7pm today
