Breakers focused

In coaching, it doesn’t pay to stay steamed for too long.

Emotions, staunch messages and metaphorical kicks up the rear end are all well and good, but there soon comes a time when players need a cool head and clear message from their coach if they hope to achieve the results that are being sought.

Breakers coach Paul Henare very much fits that category. After last Friday night’s fourth quarter meltdown against Adelaide at Spark Arena, the coach arrived in the press room notably late and still fuming from a fourth defeat in the last five Australian NBL games that has seen his team slump from a commanding 9-1 record to 10-5.

But now his, and the team’s, sole focus is tomorrow night’s visit to the bottom-placed Sydney Kings (3-11) – the first of two straight holiday season road game for the Kiwi club.

The coach said key areas had been identified – mostly on defence, but also around ‘‘getting on the same page’’ offensively – and the focus was now purely on the rejigged Kings whom he was adamant presented dangers far beyond what their record reflected.

‘‘They’re arguably the most talented team in the league. Jerome Randle, Brad Newley, Todd Blanchfield, Perry Ellis, Jeremy Tyler ... the list goes on. They’ve got a two-time MVP possibly sitting on the bench in Kevin Lisch. This is a dangerous, dangerous team. They’ve just come off a 20-point win against Cairns. In this competition you can’t look at placings on the ladder. It doesn’t matter.’’

Yes, Henare has cooled. But not enough to remove that floating threat that he could yet make a personnel move, with a third import spot still up his sleeve.

‘‘It’s an option that’s available, but as of now we’re not making any changes,’’ he said after yesterday’s practice.