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Tab Baldwin - Source: Photosport
An old mentor and friend turns foe on Wednesday morning (NZT) when New Zealand and the Tab Baldwin-coached Lebanon lock horns in a crucial basketball world championship match in Turkey.
A third loss for the Tall Blacks would leave their campaign to reach the quarterfinals teetering following their 13-point opening defeat against Lithuania and a 84-101 loss to defending champions Spain this morning.
Coach Nenad Vucinic admits the match will be an emotional one personally as he matches wits with the man he replaced at the helm of the national team.
Vucinic was assistant to Baldwin for much of his reign, from 2000 to 2006, which famously included New Zealand's run to fourth place at the 2002 world championship in Indianapolis.
"We're good friends and we're not looking forward to this game in terms of coaching against a friend but I'm sure when the game begins we'll both forget about that," Vucinic said.
"Lebanon are a very tough team with a good coach. It is pretty much a must-win for us and that's how we're going to play."
The pair have crossed paths several times in recent days, with Baldwin a regular presence in the New Zealand camp.
"I think he misses the Tall Blacks a lot. He's always around us, we can't get rid of him. We try to put a wall up but he's always jumping over to our side."
Lebanon opened with an 81-71 defeat of Canada before crashing 86-59 to France today, leaving them targetting a win over New Zealand as their route into the knockout stage.
Veteran Tall Blacks forward Pero Cameron, a regular in Baldwin's New Zealand sides, said it was obvious who was coaching Lebanon when watching them play.
"There's a lot of style and systems that you recognise from Tab," Cameron said.
"We know how he coaches but I'm sure he'll have a lot of inside knowledge on a lot of us as well. It's a challenge all looking forward to."
Cameron's fitness is improving. He played 17 minutes against Spain but could do little to prevent them from an offensive master class in which they nearly managed 75 percent shooting from the field.
"Their big players rose to the occasion and we just fell away in the second half," Cameron said.
"Overall the performances was a lot better and a lot smarter but at the defensive end we have to be a little more hungry and determined to stop some of these guys. "They're shooting shots which are just automatic for them."
Memphis Grizzlies National Basketball Association centre Marc Gasol was at the heart of an impressive Spain unit who were still hurting after being toppled by France a day earlier.
Gasol scored 22 points to top a fine team scoring effort while only Kirk Penney (21) and Thomas Abercrombie (19) came close to him in terms of point production.
The Spanish burst from the blocks and were 10 points clear before the Tall Blacks reduced the scoreline to 48-44 at halftime. However, the 2006 champions dominated the start of the third quarter and were never threatened from there.
Vucinic said Lebanon won't pack the same inside presence as Spain, leaving him hopeful his team will be more effective on defence.
"This performance (against Spain) will give us confidence going into the next three games. When you play tough teams, it makes you tougher.
"If we use our smarts, I think we'll have a good chance."
