In a strange way the Breakers' six-game losing skid may have been the best thing for the team -- just as important as ending it.
"Everything changes, because winning is way better. We just know what we need to do every game -- just stick with it and go hard every game; just don't slack off at all," says Breakers forward Tai Wesley.
Wednesday's win over Adelaide was their second in a row, and they now need to win at least two of their last three to have any chance of staying in the race for the top four.
"We still have that anxiety or nervousness, but I think that gives us an edge too. We've shown when our backs are against the wall we can play better basketball," says Wesley.
"I like the mind-set of the group right now," says Breakers coach Dean Vickerman. "They're watching more basketball, taking attention to detail better and we're as healthy as we've been."
After the Taipans the Breakers face two games against table-topping Melbourne United to end the season.
A win tomorrow would take the defending champs into the top four ahead of Adelaide, but if Cairns win all their remaining games and Adelaide drop their last two, there's the potential for a three-way tie for the final playoff spot, with Cairns holding the tie-breaker.
It's a numbers game the Breakers are keen to avoid.
"None of us are mathematicians," says Wesley. "We'd rather take it out of the mathematical equation completely and just be a lock, and if we win all three then that'll be it."
And that starts with a win tomorrow night.
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