Sheepish Rams need to start firing – and fast

Rams must find their spark

Talked up as NBL title contenders at the start of the season, the Canterbury Rams have been a disappointment through eight games. They hold a 4-4 record and if it wasn’t for Deshon Taylor lategame heroics in several games, it could be worse. Saturday’s 25-point home thumping from the Saints was a miserable result for the Rams, who failed to fire. Canterbury enter a critical stretch in the season, starting with Otago at home tonight and an away trip to Taranaki on Sunday.

Bevo’s Sharks firing on all cylinders

The Rams might be struggling, but it’s the opposite situation for the Southland Sharks. Rob Beveridge’s side are the hottest team in the NBL, winning their last six games, handing the Wellington Saints their first loss of the season on Friday. Southland haven’t lost since being knocked over by the Franklin Bulls on May 14 in Auckland. They host the Jets at their Stadium Southland fortress tomorrow.

Jets take off another initial grounding

After a rough start to the season, losing their opening five games,

Today 7.30pm: Rams v Nuggets at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch

Tomorrow 7.30pm: Sharks v Jets at Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Saturday 7.30pm: Hawks v Nuggets at Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier; Huskies v Bulls at Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sunday 3pm: Mountain Airs v Rams at TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Sunday 5pm: Saints v Jets at TSB Bank Arena, Wellington

Standings: Sharks 8-3, Saints 7-1, Hawks 6-3, Nuggets 5-4, Huskies 5-5, Giants 5-6, Rams 4-4, Jets 3-6, Bulls 3-7, Mountain Airs 1-8.

the Manawatu¯ Jets are hitting their stride. The Jets have been much improved over the past three weeks, going 3-1. Shane Temara had a huge outing against the Bulls, exploding for 34 points on 13/18 shooting, while also grabbing 13 boards, thriving in his 36 minutes on court.

Battle of the North

The fourth edition of the ‘Battle of the North’ between the Auckland Huskies and Franklin Bulls will be contested on Saturday on the North Shore. If the first three games are anything to go by it should be a thriller with the largest margin being just four points. The Huskies lead the derby 2-1 with margins of – Bulls by four points (2020 Showdown), Huskies by four (2020 Showdown), and Huskies by three (2021 season).

Salt v Timmins (hopefully)

Hoops fans will hope Rams centre Jack Salt (knee) is available to play against the Nuggets in Christchurch tonight. Salt’s battle with fellow Kiwi big Sam Timmins pits two of the best young centres in New Zealand basketball together. Timmins has been outstanding for Otago, averaging 21.9 points and a league-best 14 rebounds per game. Salt has played just three games, but is putting up 17 points and 9.3 rebounds per outing in those.