Giants ‘no easybeats’
The critics have lined up to write off the Giants, who have lost six of their last seven games to round out the regular season, with their only win a 120-82 romp against lowly-ranked Stirling.
Giants coach Wayne Creek has labelled the team “massive underdogs” in the play-offs, but Vaudreuil is confident the players can recapture their best form.
“Although we’ve been on the wrong side of things in terms of win-loss, I think our energy has been a lot better the past couple of weeks,” Vaudreuil said.
“Realistically at this stage it’s a new season and anybody can win. “As long as we show up like we did against Stirling and our shots are falling, we are not going to be easily beaten by anyone.”
The 203cm forward from Minnesota was one of the Giants’ best with 23 points in Saturday’s 96-87 loss to Wanneroo at home which dropped them to seventh spot.
Vaudreuil said the team had already moved on from the loss and he stressed the importance of winning game one of the best-of-three quarterfinals series at Kalgoorlie’s Neils Hansen Stadium on Saturday.
Games two and three, if required, will be played on the road. “It would be a big confidence boost (winning game one) and it also puts the pressure on Willetton because all of a sudden they’ve got to win two in a row and that’s not always easy to do,” he said.
Vaudreuil said he hopes Willetton’s 212cm centre Daniel Johnson plays because he will relish the challenge.
Johnson has not played for the Tigers since July 3 after signing with the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers. Johnson has starred with 27 points in both of Willetton’s encounters with the Giants this season, leading them to a 110-108 win against Goldfields in Kalgoorlie in April and a 99-90 win last month. Vaudreuil has had 17 and 23 points respectively in those games.
“He (Johnson) is definitely a quality player and one of the premier players in the league and we’ve had some good battles,” Vaudreuil said.
“Although Willetton are the second seed and we finished seventh, both of our games this season were very close and I think we match up quite strong against them. “It will be fun for me to go against Daniel (and) Ty Shaw – (Michael) Haney and I will take on those guys and it will be a big battle.”
The Giants hot terribly at only 40.5 per cent from the field on Saturday, but Vaudreuil said the game would be won on the defensive end. “We’re going to have to play really tough defence, especially on their guards,” he said.
“Cameron Tovey is a solid player, along with (Adam) Nener and (Alex) Prince. We have to tighten that up and our communication has to improve. “Hopefully we go out for that first game with a lot of energy, leave it all on the court and see what happens and then go into the next week.”
The Giants have reached the semifinals every season since 2004.
Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/SportsVision)
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