Disrupt the head to win the tale

AS the skid continues, the Taipans now face the most inform team in the league, the Sydney Kings.

The outcome of this game will be largely dictated by the Snakes’ ability to disrupt the two primary decision makers for the Kings, Andrew Bogut and Kevin Lisch.

Bogut enters the game with averages of 11.4 points per game, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 59 per cent shooting.

In any league, a doubledouble average is impressive. But Bogut’s greatest asset to the Kings is his ability to facilitate their offence at the top of the key from the centre position. Watch a couple of Kings possessions and you see Bogut catching at the top, surveying the court and actioning offensive patterns with the pass or dribble. Add to that, his ability to change and block shots on the defensive end and you quickly see his value.

Kevin Lisch comes to Cairns averaging 14.7 points on 48 per cent shooting. While Jerome Randle may be the more exciting talent in the Kings back court, a large part of their team success is dictated by the mature and experienced decision making of Lisch. He isn’t particularly flashy, but he understands the game, is connected to his teammates and plays with equal effort on both ends. He makes smart decisions and is difficult to rattle, making him the perfect floor general for an outfit with so much talent.

If the Taipans are going to give themselves a chance, they need to be disruptive defensively against Bogut and Lisch. Given the opportunity to make comfortable decisions against a passive defence, that combination will pick the Taipans apart. It won’t be that pair who do the scoring, but it will come as a result of their influence.

With a 12-straight loss on the line, let’s hope we see the Taipans try to dictate the terms with their defensive intent.