The pair spoke by phone the next morning and sorted out the misunderstanding behind their brief but controversial discussion.

"It was no big deal. We're still friends and it's all been put to bed," Joyce said yesterday. "Cookie and I go back a long way and our kids (Daniel Joyce and Dom Cooks) have been friends for a long time and stay in touch pretty regularly."

With the Blaze (2-13) languishing at the bottom of the ladder, the former Hawks coach has more pressing matters on his plate. Gold Coast had arguably the NBL's toughest playing schedule over the first half of the season and Joyce is looking forward to a friendlier draw from here on in.

The Blaze will be out to lower the colours of the high-flying New Zealand Breakers on Saturday on the Gold Coast.

"New Zealand's really clicking, offensively, and shooting a high percentage, so we're going to have to work hard to stop them," Joyce said.

"(Starting guard James) Harvey has been spending time in a hyperbaric chamber to get his hamstring right and it'll be good to have a full week to fit our new import Justin Bowen in and teach him more about our defensive philosophies."