Coach Petrovic previews Crackers must win game
The Crackers take on league leaders Dece Pirates tomorrow at 1400NZT (ESPN) in what promises to be a preview of the grand final. With Dece Pirates on top of the league table (6-0) - 12pts. and the Crackers second at 5-1 (10pts.) this game would give the Crackers that extra win that could possibly see them tied for first though the Pirates' points differential is far superior to those of the Crackers. Last weeks 74-64 win took some pressure off the Crackers who now have a bit more breathing room at 2nd place, the next team below them is on 6pts. The team is unaware of the game schedule for the following few weeks, something that the management has criticized throughout the season - not being able to plan ahead. Some key matchups for tomorrow will be the bloody, dirty, elbow swinging matchup between Nenad Petrovic and Manimal Manilow, half man, half beast. Petrovic is focused about the game, regarding the match up, he said " I'll stick to him like blu-tac. I'll steal the ball off him so much he might also find his wallet missing later on. I'll bitchslap him a few times if I have to. I'd rather have a game where i guard him well and don't take a single shot than a game where I let him 'manimalise' the court. This game is all about getting that psychological advantage before the final." If Tom Tomasson plays tomorrow then the Crackers will have a hard task on their hands. No one man can mark T-Tiddy and Rene Smith and Andy Roxburgh are expected to pitch in with steals, defensive hussles and rebounds. Rene Smith, the superstar of the team was quoted as saying "Man, its going to be war out there. I'm bringing my uzi, my handgun, my .45, my grenade launcher, my bow and arrow, my multi-tool, a couple of hand grenades, some anthrax, weapons of mass destruction, simple as that." We hope that he also brings a mop to clean up the mess that his arsenal will make. TAB odds for Crackers vs Dece Pirates SCORE Crackers: $2.63 Dece Pirates: $2.11 Draw: $19.00 INDIVIDUAL Rene scoring 20+: $2.84 Rene ankle breaker: $3.32 Roxburgh block: $1.86 Nenad flop: $1.10 Manimal hurting someone: $1.70 Sam block: $100.00 Sam blocked: $2.17 King lay-up missed: $1.28 Unfair foul call by referee: $1.15 Nowitzki being a dick: $0.98
