Stat Stuffer

Dominion Finance NBL Player of the Week - Dillon Boucher (Youthtown Auckland Stars)
13.0 points (58.8% FG, 75.0%), 10.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 5.0 steals & 2.0 blocks v Inspire Net Manawatu Jets & U Park It Waikato Pistons
Auckland’s six-game winning streak began before Boucher rejoined them from his ANBL exploits, but he has quickly reminded us why he has won more championships than any other player in league history.
He continues to flirt with that elusive triple double (15 points/nine rebounds/eight assists v Jets, 11 points/12 rebounds/seven steals v Pistons), propelling himself to the top of the league assist rankings (5.8) and Player Power Rankings.
Includes Round Five Stat Leaders & Player Power Rankings (Top 50)
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Temperature Rising

The honeymoon is over for Appliance Shed Harbour Heat.
For the past two weeks, they have been the only unbeaten team left in the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL, although buried down the table due to their comparative lack of games.
Based on their success at the pre-season BLITZ and a 4-0 start to the regular season, the Heat have quickly established themselves as the team to beat, but coach John Dorge admits their newfound elite status is about to be tested.
“We’re probably one of the lucky few that have had the majority of our group together since January,” says Dorge. “We have been able to get a head start on the other clubs by putting a lot of things into place early in the season and building on that.
“But that advantage has gone now. If you look at the teams playing well, they’re the same ones that are up there year in and year out in this league – Wellington, Nelson, the Hawks and Auckland.”
Harbour were perhaps a tad fortunate to steal a road win over Easy LPG Bay Hawks in Round Two at a time when the defending champions were still assembling the pieces of their roster. The Youthtown Auckland Stars lost their opener without starters Dillon Boucher and American Tashaan Forehan-Kelly, but now appear to be firing on all cylinders.
Blue Chip Nelson Giants are now over a spate of early-season injuries and the added distraction of Mika Vukona’s wedding, while Century City Wellington Saints are surely now past their annual rotation of imports.
Round Six should see the NBL lift a peg or two in intensity, starting with the traditional Battle of the Bridge where Harbour put their unblemished record up against the Stars’ six-game winning streak next Saturday.
Includes full Round Five results
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Harbour's Revenge

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Penney, Berlin On Top

NZ Tall Black Kirk Penney had nine points to help Alba Berlin defeat Brose Baskets 68-65 and maintain their lead at the top of the German Bundesliga table.
Penney shot 4/6 FG, 1/2 3pt, adding three steals, an assist and a rebound in his 18 minutes off the bench.
Among his opponents was former Harbour team-mate Chris Ensminger (four points, three steals and a rebound).
Berlin have now won their last eight games and are 24-5 for the season.
Meanwhile, fellow Tall Black Phill Jones had 11 points as his Tisettanta Cantu fell 65-81 to Bologna in the Italian Lega A.
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Pero May Blaze Trail To Coast

Gary Birkett, Sunday Star Times
Tall Blacks skipper Pero Cameron is being chased by new Australian league franchise the Gold Coast Blaze.
Cameron has been made an offer by the Blaze after two years playing in Turkey and Iran since being cut by the New Zealand Breakers.
The 32-year-old forward is currently playing in the NZ NBL for the Waikato Pistons after returning from Iran.
A Pistons spokesman told the Sunday Star-Times that Cameron had firm offers from Australian and European clubs, but had not signed anything yet.
Gold Coast coach Brendan Joyce declined to comment on the speculation over Cameron.
“We’ve put an agreement in place and we’re negotiating with players. But we haven’t officially signed anyone,” Joyce told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
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Breakers Bolster Guard Stocks

The Harvey Norman NZ Breakers have signed Australian young gun Ryan Kersten to strengthen their guard stocks for the 2007/2008 Philips Championship.
An Australian Institute of Sport graduate, the 20-year-old has American college experience virtue of two years at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque but is yet to play in the Australian NBL.
Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said Kersten had the credentials to make an immediate impact, but was signed for two years with an eye to the future.“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback about Ryan’s ability and commitment and we’re certain he’ll push for plenty of court time as a back-up point guard or in the shooting guard spot,” Clarke said.
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