Good, bad or otherwise, the pressure is always on in the Sal's NBL. It might only be the third round of the season, but there's plenty of 'pressure valves' to look out for this weekend.
We've highlighted five for you.
DeANDRE DANIELS
The talented Property Brokers Manawatu Jets import looked out of sorts last week and will be keen to bounce back when he steps out at home against the Go Media Otago Nuggets on Saturday night. It's unsure whether or not Daniels has been carrying a minor injury or if it has taken him a couple of weeks to get his legs under him, but the pressure is on after his return of 9-points on 4-of-17 shooting last round against the Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams and Nuggets, which included 1-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc and 2 assists in 66 minutes of action. On the upside, the renowned board-banger did drag down 15 rebounds.
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
SOUTHLAND SHARKS
After a tough round on the road that yielded losses to the Wellington Saints and Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks, the Sharks once again have to head north, this time to play the EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls and Sky Tower Auckland Huskies. Though it's early days, sitting at 2-2, this could be a telling weekend for one of the competition's regular finalists.
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
MANAWATU JETS & TARANAKI AIRS
The Jets are 0-4 and the Steelformers Taranaki Mountainairs are 0-3, occupying the bottom two rungs on the ladder and both will be desperate to grab a win as the pressure mounts. Ironically, they both face the Nuggets this round, and equally ironic is both have already lost to the Nuggets across the opening two rounds of the season. The pressure is on.
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
THE DOOMSDAY DOUBLE
So far the Rams and Sharks have come unstuck on the Doomsday Double - that's the name we've given to the roadtrip that takes in away games against the Saints and Hawks. Now it's the turn of the Mike Pero Nelson Giants, who looked a vastly improved unit on the road last round against the Bulls (win) and Huskies (loss). The week's road double looks a little tougher, but you sense Coach Mike Fitchett and the Giants relish the pressure that comes with the daunting task at hand. Can the Giants become the first team in 2021 to grab a win, or two, on the Doomsday Double?
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
THE KENDLE EFFECT
We all know what the Huskies can do (and did) with Jeremy Kendle, but can they keep doing it without him? A perfect 3-0 start to the season with their American dynamo torching the competition has hyped up the Huskies pack, but now the pressure rises as they try and claim wins this round against the Rams and Sharks - without Kendle.
(Photo Credit: PhotosportNZ)
