Big game experience makes Deng key cog
WHEN we reach this point of an NBL season – it becomes Majok Deng time.
While the 27-year-old stretch forward’s influence has been up and down so far in this semi-final series, history tells us Deng will come to play when it matters most.
Just a couple of seasons ago, the South Sudan product was one of the breakout stars of the NBL grand final series for Adelaide, helping push Melbourne United to five games.
Snakes coach Mike Kelly remembers those games well – he was second in charge at United back then – as he devised a plan to try to slow down the threepoint bomber. play in a grand final and I had the chance to show what I could do.
“Now, I am in a bigger role here in Cairns, I am embracing it and ready for it and hopefully help the team win.
“Half of the team is pretty experienced; guys have played in a grand final or deep in the playoffs before, so I think we are already, trying to pull the young guys through and just staying composed.”
Deng was limited to just three points in Game 1 but bounced back well on Sunday, landing 11 points on 4-7 shooting, to go with a couple of rebounds and assists.
NBL coach of the year Kelly brought Deng to FNQ this past off-season and can remember the forward giving United a heap of issues.
“He was great, I remember it because I was on the other side of it,” Kelly recalled. “Majok was instrumental to pushing that series to the limit.”
Coming into tonight’s series decider, the second-year Cairns coach is looking for a similar performance from Deng.
“I think he has been good here as well; he came back in that third game after being out for a little while with the flu,” Kelly said.
“He did some things and he did really well the other night in Game 2.
“We expect good things from Majok – he is always ready to step up to take a big shot or make a big play.”
LET’S be real, the Taipans should be in the NBL grand final series already.
Game 2 was unbelievable and Game 1 was one heroic Bryce Cotton performance away from being a massive win on the road. Cotton notched 42 points, including 10 threes, plus six assists.
Coach Mike Kelly knew he had the game plan and the troops to win the next game if they could just stop Cotton from shooting 19 threes again.
Allowing him to come off screens and get open shots allowed him to have the production he did.
The Taipans did everything they needed to win Game 1 – quietened the crowd, beat Perth on the boards, shot 60 per cent from the field and had their best offensive rating of the season.
It was the most points by an opposition team ever in the Perth Arena.
Cameron Oliver has simply dominated this series so far averaging 21.5 points and 18 rebounds on 63 per cent shooting.
He has forced Miles Plumlee, an NBA veteran, to just 18 minutes a game; he’s singlehandedly caused Perth coach Trevor Gleeson to change his pick and roll coverage over and over again.
The Wildcats simply don’t have an answer for him and quite frankly the same goes for the Cairns import trio as a whole.
Onto Game 3.
If Cairns can continue to find the basket and keep the scoreboard ticking over, the Wildcats won’t be able to win this one.
When Perth keep teams under 80 points in the Perth Arena they are 9-0.
I know the guys in Orange won’t be scared of the moment.
Rodney Anderson is a twotime Townsville QBL championship-winning coach.