Maor: Why Breakers are still in mix

New Zealand may sit ninth in the NBL standings heading into Round 16, but Mody Maor believes the two games in hand the Breakers have over a number rivals searching for a Play-In position means the ladder doesn’t tell the full story.

The Breakers have played two games fewer than Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania – who all currently occupy Play-In positions – and Cairns, who currently sits in eighth. 

While the NBL standings are based on win percentage and even out based on a team's success rate, Maor says the fact New Zealand has eight games remaining, more than any team in the bottom four, gives them significant room to move.

Maor’s men will play just once this weekend, before they ramp up for a jam-packed final four rounds of the season.

“The table in the NBL is one that doesn’t really depict what the real situation of the league is, because teams haven’t played the same amount of games,” Maor said.

“In the loss column we’re two losses out from third place, so all we need to do is take care of the next game, the one that comes after that and the one that comes after that.

“The NBL season is so short, so compact, and if there’s one thing we can predict with some level of certainty at the end, it’s that every game will matter.

“The Breakers have eight more regular season games to win. If we can win six of them we have a good chance of making the Play-In.

“We’ve had this approach from day one, and obviously this is the same approach we’re going to take into the next game.”

New Zealand’s hopes of establishing itself in a Finals position took a hit in Round 15. First, the Breakers suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to ladder-leaders Melbourne United, before they were thoroughly dispatched to the tune of 29 points by Sydney just two days later.

“The game against Sydney was not a good game for us and we never want to look like that when we step on the floor,” Maor reflected.

“It doesn’t matter what the extenuating circumstances were, we want to represent the Breakers and our fans in a different light.

“When we lose like that it’s definitely accompanied with a few sleepless nights.”

If the Breakers are to firm themselves ahead of a late-season Finals push, they will have to kick-start it without the services of Finn Delany.

Delany has been sidelined with a calf injury and last played in New Zealand’s Round 11 win over Cairns.

Maor offered an update on the star forward’s recovery.

“Finn is on track with his recovery from a soft tissue injury to his calf,” he said. “It’s not something we can rush, he’s probably three weeks away.”

The Breakers’ clash with South East Melbourne tips off on Saturday night at 5:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo and Sky Sport in New Zealand.