Basketball: Airs coach identifies key lessons after playoff miss

Photo by John Velvin

Taranaki Airs coach John White believes a lack of consistency and depth ultimately cost his side a place in the Sal's National Basketball League playoffs.

But he says the club has laid the foundations for a stronger campaign in 2027.

The Airs finished 10th with a 6-14 record after ending the regular season with four straight losses to Canterbury, Nelson, Franklin and Auckland to miss the top six.

While White admitted the side "probably underachieved", he said the season needed to be viewed in the context of a club that had effectively started again with a new coach, new general manager and a largely rebuilt roster.

“I'm not happy with how we finished the season,” he said on The Most FM Sports Show on Saturday morning.

“But definitely humbled by the experience.”

White said the biggest difference between the Airs and the competition's leading teams was consistency.

“I think the difference between the top teams and the bottom five probably came down to consistency.”

He said the compressed schedule, quick turnarounds and constant adjustments from opposition teams made it difficult to maintain performances week after week, with the league's best sides finding the right balance between experienced campaigners and emerging talent.

The decisive stretch came midway through the season when the Airs struggled to string together consecutive wins while facing a demanding run against several of the league's strongest teams.

“That really kept us in the chasing pack for that fifth and sixth spot.”

Despite the results, he was proud the squad never drifted from its standards and said training intensity remained high throughout the campaign.

“The group at practice was phenomenal. Every day they turned up willing to work and competed hard. We didn't stray from our plan.”

White said those habits would provide a platform to build on despite the disappointing finish.

One of the season's biggest positives was the emergence of young guards Riley Tuuta and Zavier Adam, who both took their opportunities and played important roles in several of the team's victories.

White also singled out veteran Quintin Bailey, saying the local stalwart's leadership set the tone for the rest of the squad.

“Whether he was playing five minutes or 25 minutes, his attitude never changed.

“When you see your local guys doing the job, I think the rest of the team has no choice but to follow.”

Although the Airs lost several close contests, White highlighted the narrow defeat to Canterbury as proof his side could match the competition's best.

“While we were seriously disappointed with the loss, it was a really fun game to be part of,” he said.

Planning for next season has already begun, with recruitment identified as the priority.

White said improving the team's depth would be critical after relying heavily on its starting group throughout the campaign.

“Our second unit was talented, but we probably could've had one or two more players that could've provided some scoring punch or some defensive intensity,” he said.

He said the club would continue placing a strong emphasis on character, believing it had assembled a group of players who embraced representing Taranaki in the community, and now needed to complement that culture with greater on-court depth.

White confirmed he would return for a second season and thanked the Taranaki community for embracing both him and his family after arriving from Australia.

“I can't be thankful enough to the people of New Plymouth and Taranaki. They wrapped their arms around me.”