Snakes dangerous across the board
BASKETBALL TAIPANS recruit DJ Newbill does not think he is going to be the club’s “main man” this summer.
Newbill does not even think his talented American teammates Devon Hall or Melo Trimble, or fit-again big man Nate Jawai, will carry that coveted title in the upcoming NBL season.
The former New Zealand Breaker said the Far North club won’t even have or need a go-to guy in Mike Kelly’s first season as head coach, such is their spread of contributors.
The 26-year-old was the offensive focal point for the Breakers at times last season, with Édgar Sosa carrying that title mostly, and would be the logical cornerstone of the Snakes’ offence with years of experience on Hall and Trimble.
But, just as Travis Trice was for the Snakes time and time again two seasons ago and Mitch McCarron and Cameron Gliddon were last campaign, Newbill believes the “main man” down the stretch this coming season will be whoever is hot on that individual night.
“That is what is great about this team, there is no man,” Newbill said on Sunday ahead of Round 1 against Brisbane.
“Everyone is good in their roles. You never know who is going to get hot … That is going to be scary about this team because we have multiple guys who can score 20 points on any given night.”
The former Penn State guard is positive about the squad Kelly has assembled and is eager to get the season proper started.
“It seems like it is taking forever to get here, I was in the NBL last season and I do not remember it taking this long to get started,” he said.
“I am excited to get out there and play.”
The Taipans will play their season opener on the road against the Brisbane Bullets.
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