Breakers seeking improvement

Improved offensive execution is a must if the Breakers are to avoid an 0-2 start to the Australian National Basketball League.

Fresh off an ugly 82-71 home loss to the Cairns Taipans on Sunday, coach Paul Henare singled out his team’s score when looking ahead to Friday night’s match against the Sydney Kings in Auckland.

‘‘The scoreboard showed 71 points for us though, and you are going to struggle to win games on the back of that level of scoring, there are a lot of areas of improvement for us there,’’ Henare said yesterday.

An off night for experienced guard Kirk Penney (seven points in 26 minutes), who was hindered by a stomach problem, didn’t help. While forward Thomas Abercrombie led the Breakers with 23 points.

The home side shot a sluggish 26/66 (39 per cent) from the field - something which needs to improve significantly at the Spark Arena on Friday night.

‘‘We missed lay-ups, had some good open looks that we need to knock down, especially against a team like Cairns you have to keep the scoreboard ticking over,’’ Henare said.

‘‘We need better bench production, that has been great in the preseason, but those numbers were down.

Kirk was hit with a stomach bug that didn’t help, but overall improved execution and finishing plays will result in more points on the board for us on Friday.’’

The Kings also dropped their home opener - 105-96 to the Adelaide 36ers - but Henare is wary of the many threats on their roster, particularly guards Kevin Lish, Travis Leslie, Jason Cadee and Brad Newley.

‘‘They are a talented side on the back of a loss on their home floor as well so it will be two teams hungry to turn those results around,’’ Henare said.

Henare put his team through a thorough debrief after their disappointing season opening loss, and is confident his side will put in a vastly better performance against Sydney than their rusty first up performance.

‘‘I think you can have all the preseason you like.

‘‘But until you turn the lights on, turn the cameras on and have that real game experience you don’t get that intensity that players like Edgar [Sosa] and DJ [Newbill] need after a long break, but I think we will all be better for it.’’