New Zealand basketball coach Paul Henare has kickstarted some mind games ahead of the Oceania Olympic qualifying series, suggesting Patty Mills' late call-up "messes with the chemistry" of Australia.
San Antonio Spurs guard Mills answered a SOS from Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis to replace another NBA player, the injured Dante Exum, for the two-game series starting on Saturday in Melbourne.
Henare says the switch comes as no surprise and admits they have replaced one world-class player with another, describing Mills as an experienced and proven match-winner.
However, the 26-year-old is also a dominant presence in any team he represents, which Henare reckons might not gel with the game plan Lemanis has been honing.
"It will be interesting. He'll be such a strong influence on how their team plays and they've only got a week to incorporate that into what they've been doing the last couple of weeks in Europe," he said.
"From their point of view, he comes in and strengthens their group but, from our point of view, maybe he messes with the chemistry."
Following a successful pre-series tour of Europe and China, Henare has been focusing on the Tall Blacks' own culture, calling on former captain Glen Denham to address the players on Tuesday in Auckland.
Denham spoke of the importance of fighting for every inch if the world No.21-ranked New Zealanders are to overcome the 11th-rated Boomers and book an automatic berth at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"That's how we're going to beat Australia - we're not going to out-talent them," Henare said.
"It's going to be about how we come together and whether we can do it like a band of brothers."
Henare is still awaiting a fitness update for New Zealand Breakers forward Duane Bailey, hospitalised on Monday night with suspected appendicitis.
Dion Prewster, who was omitted from the squad when it was reduced to 12 last week, rejoined as training cover.
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