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BY
PIET VAN HASSELT
26 March 2002
DIGITAL MOBILE WAIKATO TITANS
2001 Placing: Champions (15-1)
Coach: Jeff Green
Key Players: Dillon Boucher: Tall Blacks
MVP of the Aussie series. Pero Cameron: The best team
player in the NBL. Hayden Allen: Electrifying point guard
joins stacked back-court.
2002 Outlook: Defending Champions
re-stock their talent pool and are the team to beat. All
Kiwi line-up.
SAINTS
2001 Placing: 2nd (10-6)
Coach: Dean Vickerman
Key Players: Troy McLean: Pure shooter
that toured with NZ Development team to the US. Tony
Brown: Veteran guard that can still score in spurts.
Aidan Daly: One of the NBL’s quickest and has
boundless energy.
2002 Outlook: Much of the squad that
made 2001 final are gone, forcing the Saints into
re-building mode.
ASB
BANK NELSON GIANTS
2001 Placing: 3rd (11-5)
Coach: Nenad Vucinic
Key Players: Phill Jones: The NBL’s
resident whirling dervish and high-scorer. Ed Book:
Dominating centre moves south after becoming a Kiwi
Citizen.Judd Flavell: Spark-plug point guard.
2002 Outlook: The Jones & Flavell
guard combination is the NBL’s best, and addition of
Book could spell title.
BLOCKBUSTER
AUCKLAND
2001 Placing: 4th (9-7)
Coach: Kenny Stone
Key Players: Darryl Cartwright:
Long-armed defensive intimidator and inside scorer.
Lindsay Tait: Can penetrate to the basket with speed.
Kenny Stone: NBL Veteran returns as player-coach after
lengthy absence.
2002 Outlook: Loss of Coach Baldwin,
Boucher and Henare hurts, and success will depend on
youngsters.
PROPERTY
BROKERS MANAWATU JETS
2001 Placing: 5th (8-8)
Coach: Wayne Brown
Key Players: Clifton Bush: The
do-everything league MVP. Kent Mori: Intelligent
playmaker, former Tall Black and capable scorer from the
outside. Jonathon Southey: Ignites the team from the
point guard spot.
2002 Outlook: One of the big improvers
over the off-season, Bush will lead Jets in the uptempo
game.
POENAMO
BASKETBALL KINGS
2001 Placing: 7th (5-11)
Coach: Tracey Carpenter
Key Players: Brad Riley: Capabale scorer
and versatile swingman. Dylan Chase: Underrated top
assist maker. Aaron Olson: Deadly three point shooter
with US Collegiate experience.
2002 Outlook: The NBL’s
underachievers should improve, but will mourn
Cathie-Pongia’s move to Titans.
THE
MIGHTY HAWKS
2001 Placing: 8th (4-12)
Coach: Curtis Wooten
Key Players: Paul Henare: Tall Black
hero returns home with winning experience from Auckland.
Rob Hickey: 7 footer comes back to NZ after year off.
Willie Burton: 39 year old resident NBL legend and Tall
Black.
2002 Outlook: Big improvers with the new
inside-out combo of Henare and Hickey. Import will hold
key.
OTAGO
NUGGETS
2001 Placing: 9th (3-13)
Coach: Todd Marshall
Key Players: Andrew Parke: Inspirational
leader on the court, hustling veteran forward. Michael
Fitchett: Sharp-shooting point guard pick-up from Giants.
Daniel Ryan: Forward looking to build on strong 2001
campaign.
2002 Outlook: Another season of
character building for the NBL’s youngest squad. No
lack of hustle.
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