NBL Basketball / Andy Morris / 07 October 2008 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Two teams who have flown back across the Tasman with their pride badly dented will go head to head in Melbourne in Round 4 of the NBL, writes Andy Morris.

In the shock of the season so far, the Tigers went down 120-111 to the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland in Round 2. And as if to prove that was no fluke, the Breakers then racked up a club record victory next time out when beating the 36ers 118-80.

So both Melbourne and Adelaide are in recovery mode, though the Tigers' 24-point win in Cairns last week helped heal their wounds somewhat.

The defeat in Auckland apart, the Tigers have been in good form, as their 110.9 points percentage shows. The 36ers have had a mixed start, two road defeats following home wins against Townsville and Sydney.

Melbourne beat Adelaide 110-92 in this fixture last year, and have the league's second top scorer in Ebi Ere who had 96 from four games heading into the round's opening match at home to the Wildcats.

Jacob Holmes, the league's top rebounder at this stage with 46, could be a factor for the 36ers but the Tigers have shot .486 from the floor compared to their visitors' .440.

The Tigers can be taken in match odds with a fair degree of confidence. As indeed they should be snapped up in their home match with the Wildcats, who arrive with nothing to show for their opening two road trips.

The Breakers should see off Cairns in Auckland, especially with the Taipans missing star forward Martin Cattalini due to internal club disciplinary reasons.

Rick Rickert and Tony Ronaldson have been in excellent form so far for the New Zealanders and the Taipans travel on the back of two losses to the Crocs and the Tigers. Take the Breakers in this one.

The Blaze will be going all out to register their first win of the season at home to the Spirit, and this one should be close. But though home court advantage may be a factor, the Blaze have shot so poorly this season, with just a 84.9 per cent points record, that their confidence is at a low ebb.

Sprit's import Derrick Low will be matched up against Shane Heal in one of the confrontations that is likely to shape the game, and the Sprit will travel in confidence following their win over Adelaide. Take Sydney to edge this one.

Perth have won two games at home but lost their only two away matches, but they will go to Wollongong hoping to increase the Hawks' early season woes. The Hawks are next to bottom on the ladder with just one win from four games, and were off the pace in their last match at home to the Dragons where they lost 114-95.

The Wildcats have not yet found the form that took them to fourth place last season but they should have just enough to edge this one. They could even go one better by winning at the Spirit to wrap up the round, using that win as momentum.

Tips: Tigers to beat 36ers, Tigers to beat Wildcats, Breakers to beat Taipans, Sydney to beat Gold Coast, Wildcats to beat Hawks, Wildcats to beat Spirit.