BRENDON EGAN

April 6 2015

Canterbury Rams coach Mark Dickel knows his side will need to be far better defensively when they take on defending champion Wellington Saints in the capital on Easter Monday.

The Rams tipped off their National Basketball League (NBL) campaign with a 114-98 victory over the under-manned Manawatu Jets on Friday at Cowles Stadium.

It was a pleasing performance offensively from the Rams, who had five players score in double digits and shot 50 per cent [43/86] from the field.

Defence ultimately wins basketball games and Dickel acknowledged their defensive intensity needed to lift several levels.

The Rams did not play any pre-season matches before the NBL season, which Dickel attributed some of the rustiness too.

Canterbury improved after giving up 17 points in the first five minutes against Manawatu, but allowing 98 points would have been a concern.

“It wasn’t what the plan was. I anticipated us scoring as many as we did, but I didn’t anticipate us conceding that many,” Dickel said.

Wellington opened their campaign with a hard-fought 102-93 win over Taranaki in New Plymouth on Thursday night.

The Saints are without last year’s league MVP Corey Webster this season, who is playing in Serbia. With Lindsay Tait and Leon Henry in their lineup, as well as Americans Torrey Craig and Kareem Johnson they command respect.

Experienced forward Brendon Polyblank, a former team-mate of Dickel’s at the Otago Nuggets, has also been around the NBL for years.

“With the Saints, it doesn’t matter who is on their team, they always seem to be there or there abouts,” Dickel said.

“Lindsay Tait is the key for them. We’ve got to find a way to make it hard for him [to score]. Polyblank is going to be a big issue too.”

Dickel will be looking for the Rams’ frontcourt to lead the way on the glass as they did against Manawatu, who ran into major foul trouble.

Canterbury dominated the rebounding battle 54-29, with star American import Mickell Gladness, schoolboy Sam Timmins and Marques Whippy pulling down 30 rebounds between them.

Timmins, who is in year 13 at Middleton Grange, had a dream Rams’ debut, contributing 20 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes of court-time.

Dickel was delighted with how the 2.08m centre went, but said expectations needed to be tempered.

“He did well, but it’s not realistic to anticipate he will do that every game. He’s young and he’s talented. With his skillset, he’s going to be really hard to guard.”

Tipoff is at 3pm in Wellington.

Rams’ travelling squad: Ethan Rusbatch (c), Marques Whippy (c), Jeremy Kench, Kyle Coston, Sam Timmins, Mickell Gladness, Richie Edwards, Tony Tolovae, Marty Davison, Taylor Britt.

 – The Press