Mitch’s no-nonsense ways a boon for Taipans

COACH Mike Kelly has a reputation as a servant leader, which was on display in Round 1 as the Cairns players were seen constantly offering feedback to the coaching group.

The players clearly have a voice, which at this early stage in the season, seems to have created the ultimate internal buy-in and belief.

Beyond the performances by Melo Trimble and DJ Newbill, there were two cameos which had a major impact.

Firstly, the 14 points and eight rebound bench effort for Rob Loe was a great injection for the Snakes.

For the Cairns offence to continue evolving, though, they will need the additional floor spacing that improved shooting production from Devon Hall and Dexter Kernich-Drew could provide.

If off ball defenders can’t help off Loe, Hall or DKD, it makes the effective containment of the Trimble ball screen a near impossible feat.

The other player who had a significant impact on the game was Mitch Young.

Statistically, it looks like a standard outing for Mitch – 10 minutes, four points and three rebounds. But it was his hardhat mentally, on both ends, that added some physical element to the Taipans’ finesse.

The Taipans will need the same as they face one of the more physically dominant forwards in the league, Brian Conklin.

Illawarra had a Jekyll and Hyde Round 1. A brilliant performance in a four overtime game against Melbourne United, followed up with a 40-point drubbing at the hands of the Perth Wildcats.

At their best, they play a fun style with a good balance of perimeter and interior. At their worst, as they were against Perth, they shoot 21 per cent from three and 42 per cent from the foul line, only managing 61 points for the game.

The fans will be eagerly awaiting the second act for Trimble and the Cairns Taipans in NBL19. ■ Brady Walmsley is the former Basketball Queensland state performance manager for North Queensland and current coach of Gladstone in the QBL