Game Preview: Sharks @ Giants

The NBS Nelson Giants return to Trafalgar Centre on Saturday afternoon looking to bounce back from a tough offensive night, but they will need to do it against the form team of the Sal’s NBL.

The SBS Bank Southland Sharks arrive in Nelson with their winning streak rolling and their depth looking more dangerous by the week. Their latest win over the Franklin Bulls was not their prettiest offensive showing, but it was another reminder that Southland can now find multiple paths to victory. Tobias Cameron’s impact off the bench has given the Sharks another scoring option, while Caleb Asberry, Rylan Jones, Sam Timmins, Keylan Boone and Brayden Inger continue to give Southland one of the most complete cores in the competition.

For Nelson, the challenge is clear. The Giants defended well enough to stay close in their last outing, but scoring only 58 points left them with too much of a gap to overcome. Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Shane Gatling, Liam Judd, Alex McNaught, Eemi Luukkonen and Tohi Smith-Milner give Nelson enough talent to trouble anyone, but the Giants will need more offensive rhythm if they are going to slow down a Sharks side sitting near the top of the league at both ends.

When: Saturday 13 June, Rapid League 12.30pm, Sal’s NBL 1.30pm

Where: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Watch: Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else

Commentary: Nathan Limm and Lindsay Tait

Box Score Here

Last Time Out

The Sharks defeated the Franklin Bulls 86-75 to keep their winning streak alive.

Much like the Rapid League contest before it, Southland got ahead early and led most of the way. It was a low-scoring defensive game to begin, with the Sharks holding a 12-10 lead after the first quarter, but their depth eventually helped them take control.

Franklin made a late push, led by Derrin Boyd and another big effort from Jace Carter on the glass, but the comeback came too late. The Bulls had arrived off Carter Whitt’s game-winner against the Nuggets, but they could not carry that shooting rhythm into the early stages against Southland.

Despite a sluggish game offensively the Sharks were still too much to overcome as Cameron’s impact off the bench stood out in just his second game with the team. Asberry was efficient again, Timmins controlled his moments inside, and Southland’s rotation produced enough answers to finish the job as they took their 9th straight victory.

SBS Bank Southland Sharks 86: Tobias Cameron (18p, 2r, 2s), Caleb Asberry (17p, 2a, 2r, 2s), Sam Timmins (12p, 8r, 3a, 2s)

Franklin Bulls 75: Derrin Boyd (26p, 7r, 2a, 2s), Jace Carter (14p, 18r, 1a, 1s, 1b), Carter Whitt (13p, 7a, 2r, 3s)

The Giants were beaten 69-58 by The Northern Group Tauranga Whai.

Nelson started well, using early shot-making and defensive pressure to take a 16-13 lead at quarter time. But the Whai responded in the second quarter, finding rhythm on both ends of the floor and gradually taking control of the contest.

The Giants continued to fight and kept the game within reach, but Tauranga sealed the result with disciplined defence and timely scoring down the stretch. Reuben Te Rangi played a key role throughout the contest, while Tauranga’s balanced offensive attack and strong team defence proved too much for Nelson as their offensive attack sputtered with 25 points in the second half only 10 of which came in the fourth period.

The Northern Group Tauranga Whai 69: Reuben Te Rangi (23p, 11r, 6a), Jordan Ngatai (10p, 6r, 2a), Jayden Bezzant (9p, 3r, 1a)

NBS Nelson Giants 58: Liam Judd (12p, 2r, 2a), Kruz Perrott-Hunt (11p, 11r, 4a), Shane Gatling (9p, 5r, 2a)

What to Expect

Projected Starters

NBS Nelson Giants

G: Alex McNaught

G: Kruz Perrott-Hunt

G: Liam Judd

F: Eemi Luukkonen

C: Tohi Smith-Milner

SBS Bank Southland Sharks

G: Rylan Jones

G: Caleb Asberry

F: Keylan Boone

F: Brayden Inger

C: Sam Timmins

Southland has become the league’s toughest team to solve.

The Sharks are fourth in scoring at 95.5 points per game, third in points allowed, first in three-point percentage and first in made threes. They also rank third in steals and fourth in assists, the stats confirming what your eyes have been seeing, a team with many different ways to apply pressure. If the game speeds up, they have the athletes and shooting to punish mistakes. If the game slows down, Timmins gives them a reliable interior option while Asberry offers the one on one option every half court offence needs.

Asberry remains one of the league’s most efficient scorers, averaging 22.0 points while shooting 58 percent from the field and 50 percent from three. Timmins continues to anchor the frontcourt at 19.5 points and 10.7 rebounds, while Jones brings 16.9 points, 6.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Add Boone, Inger, Cameron, Darling and Webster, and the Sharks have a rotation without any soft spots. But a sluggish offensive start against the Bulls showed that they can be hampered by the right defensive plan.

Nelson’s first priority is finding cleaner offence. The Giants are 10th in scoring and 11th in field goal percentage, and the loss to Tauranga showed what happens when their main creators cannot find rhythm. Perrott-Hunt remains the fulcrum, averaging 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, while Gatling gives Nelson a high-volume scoring punch off the bench who will need to produce down the stretch. Judd, McNaught, Luukkonen and Smith-Milner will all need to give the Giants more consistent support if the Giants want to protect their home court.

The Giants do have defensive tools. They lead the league in three-point defence, holding opponents to just 29 percent from deep, and they sit fourth in field goal percentage defence overall showing their ability to turn the screws. That gives them a genuine pathway against a Sharks that has been manipulating defenses with its ability to stretch the floor

For Nelson, this game has to be about making Southland uncomfortable. They need to defend the three-point line, keep Timmins away from deep catches and avoid live-ball turnovers. For Southland, the goal is to keep pressure on Nelson’s offence and trust the depth that has carried them through this winning run.

Matchup to Watch: Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Shane Gatling v Caleb Asberry and Rylan Jones

This matchup may decide whether Nelson can score enough to stay with Southland.

Perrott-Hunt has carried a major load for the Giants all season. He gives Nelson scoring, rebounding and playmaking, and when he is aggressive the Giants have a much better offensive shape. Gatling adds another dangerous scorer, and while he had a quiet night against Tauranga, his ability to create a shot off the bounce gives Nelson someone who can change a quarter quickly.

But Southland’s backcourt is in outstanding form.

Asberry has been one of the most efficient offensive players in the league, and Jones continues to impact every part of the game. Jones can score, pass, rebound and defend, while Asberry’s shooting forces opponents to stay attached at all times. Together, they put constant pressure on defensive rotations.

Perrott-Hunt and Gatling need to make good decisions under pressure. If they force the issue, Southland will turn misses and turnovers into quick offence. If they create paint touches, find shooters and keep the ball moving, the Giants can make this a real contest.

Asberry and Jones will look to control tempo and test Nelson’s perimeter defence. If they win this battle clearly, the Sharks will be hard to slow down.

Matchup to Watch: Tohi Smith-Milner and Eemi Luukkonen v Sam Timmins and Keylan Boone

This is where Nelson has to make its stand physically against a frontcourt that has been dominant in the first half of the season.

Timmins remains one of the league’s premier interior players. He can score, rebound, pass out of pressure and protect the rim. Even when he is not putting up huge scoring numbers, his presence bends the defence and creates space for Southland’s shooters.

Boone adds length, perimeter scoring and defensive versatility alongside him. He can run the floor, rebound, finish and guard across positions while also stretching the floor, giving the Sharks a frontcourt pairing that can pressure teams in different ways.

Smith-Milner and Luukkonen need to be strong and composed. Smith-Milner gives the Giants experience, rebounding and passing from the centre spot, while Luukkonen has been one of Nelson’s most efficient finishers. The Giants do not need them to dominate the scoring battle, but they do need them to hold their ground, finish their opportunities and prevent Southland from controlling the glass.

If Timmins and Boone win the paint, Southland’s depth becomes that much harder to manage. If Smith-Milner and Luukkonen can keep it even, Nelson gives itself a chance to stay close into the fourth quarter where the home crowd can power them home.

Matchup to Watch: Liam Judd v Brayden Inger

Can the wing matchup swing the contest?

Judd led Nelson in the loss to Tauranga and remains one of the Giants’ most important shot-makers. He is averaging 13.6 points and shooting 34 percent from three, giving Nelson a floor-spacing option who can punish help defence when teams load up on the backcourt.

Inger has been efficient and productive for the Sharks all season long. He is shooting 52 percent from the field and 46 percent from three, and his combination of size, shooting and physicality makes him difficult to match up with. He does not need a huge number of touches, but his spacing is vital because it opens driving lanes for Jones and Asberry while giving Timmins room inside.

Judd needs to be aggressive and efficient for the Giants but Inger will look to keep the floor stretched and make Judd work defensively to lessen his impact.

If Judd finds rhythm, Nelson’s offence gets a major lift. If Inger continues to produce efficiently, the Sharks’ balance becomes difficult to contain.

Individual Leaders

Category	NBS Nelson Giants	SBS Bank Southland Sharks
Leading scorer	Shane Gatling 21.3 / Kruz Perrott-Hunt 20.8	Caleb Asberry 22.0
Leading rebounder	Tohi Smith-Milner 8.1	Sam Timmins 10.7
Leading assists	Alex McNaught 5.0	Rylan Jones 6.4
Best FG%	Eemi Luukkonen 53%	Timmins 59% / Asberry 58%
Best 3PT FG%	James Matthews 38% / Shane Gatling 35%	Quake Webster 53% / Caleb Asberry 50%
Blocks	Tohi Smith-Milner 0.9	Sam Timmins 1.8
Steals	Kruz Perrott-Hunt 1.4	Rylan Jones 2.7
Minutes	Kruz Perrott-Hunt 32.8	Sam Timmins 34.0

Stats that Matter

Stat	NBS Nelson Giants	SBS Bank Southland Sharks
Points Per Game	83.7 ppg (10th)	95.5 ppg (4th)
Points Allowed Per Game	90.1 ppg (6th)	87.6 ppg (3rd)
Scoring Margin	-6.4 (8th)	+7.9 (4th)
Field Goal %	41% (11th)	49% (3rd)
Field Goal % Defence	44% (4th)	44% (3rd)
Free Throw %	75% (3rd)	70% (7th)
3-Point %	30% (9th)	37% (1st)
3-Point % Defence	29% (1st)	32% (5th)
3-Point FG Made	10.2 (5th)	12.2 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game	42.5 (4th)	40.3 (8th)
Rebounding Margin	-1.7 (8th)	-1.2 (7th)
Offensive Rebound %	23% (9th)	27% (6th)
Defensive Rebound %	73% (5th)	70% (10th)
Assists Per Game	17.2 (10th)	20.7 (4th)
Steals Per Game	6.4 (9th)	8.8 (3rd)
Blocks Per Game	2.3 (10th)	3.4 (4th)
Turnover Margin	-1.5 (9th)	+1.3 (4th)
Assist/Turnover Ratio	1.36 (10th)	1.60 (6th)

Last Word

Trying to slow down the Southland machine will be a major test for Nelson.

The Giants are coming off a game where the defence was competitive, but the offence never found enough flow. Against Southland, that margin for error is even smaller. Perrott-Hunt and Gatling have to give Nelson scoring pressure, Judd needs to make shots, McNaught has to control the tempo, and the frontcourt must hold up against Timmins and Boone.

The Sharks arrive with confidence and depth. Asberry is scoring efficiently, Jones is running the group, Timmins is still a force inside, and Cameron’s arrival has given the bench another player who can change a game. Southland’s ability to win ugly against Franklin only adds to the feeling that this team is becoming more complete.

Nelson’s best path is to lock down the three-point line, slow the game down and turn this into a half-court battle to keep the Sharks depth from impacting proceedings. Southland will look to keep their considerable momentum going by sharing the ball, trusting in its depth and making the Giants score enough to keep up.

If the Giants can make the Sharks uncomfortable and get enough scoring from their main creators while protecting the rock, the Trafalgar Centre could give them a chance. If Southland is able to get comfortable and impose their will on the game their winning streak is likely to hit double figures.