CONSTANT PUSH TO IMPROVE

QCairns’ Tamuri Wigness (pic

tured) is on the verge of going pro and bypassing college basketball. Do you think this is a path many other athletes may take and is it one you think is a positive?

AThe beauty of the modern game is that there are so many different opportunities and avenues for players to experience the sport. So long as young players are making informed decisions about their future, I think it’s exciting that someone of Tamuri’s age can call himself a professional athlete. The Australian Basketball stage has never been as bright, so it’s a good time for him to make his mark in a league that continues to produce, and attract, NBA-level talent.

Q AHow do you see the Cairns Taipans going this year?

They are going to rely very heavily on their imports and without announcements for all three positions just yet, it’s very hard to say how they will go at this stage. I was an early advocate for the signing of former Adelaide 36ers forward Majok Deng and was very pleased to see that got done. I like the potential of Australian forward Kouat Noi and am intrigued to see how his game transfers as a rookie in the NBL. Hopefully, there is enough continuity from 2018 that they can benefit from some of the chemistry they developed in the second half of the season. Q Your QBL club Gladstone played in Cairns last night. We are obviously having this conversation midweek and this will be printed just as the game is being played. What would have people seen from your side last night, not so much the result but how does your team want to play?

AOffensively, I really value the purity of the rhythm and how we share the ball among each other. I expect that our team plays in a collaborative manner that allows every member to feel like they have an equal opportunity to contribute to the way we score. That doesn’t mean every player gets equal number of shots, but it does offer everyone a meaningful role that leads to a successful outcome for our team. Defensively, like any coach, I want my team to look organised, disciplined and working towards a clear plan. A huge part of that is how willing we are to get dirty and physical, which unfortunately, has probably been an inconsistent theme for us this season. In our best moments, we have shown we have great point of attack, ball defenders, good rim protection and effective rebounding, which are the pillars of good defence.

QGladstone are a smallish budget QBL team. How tough is it at times to compete with the biggest associations with more money?

AIt’s tough. In many ways, it’s not dissimilar to the challenges that the Cairns Taipans face when being asked to contend with Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings, the big spenders of the NBL. Unfortunately, in a competitive league, you aren’t offered any sympathy and have to try to find yourself a point of difference, a style that gives you a chance. The losing is difficult, but the more challenging element is trying to continue to motivate players each week to prepare as professionally as we need to in order to give ourselves an opportunity to win. Being a salesperson is a big part of the art of coaching though and we remain aspirational with what we can do with the program going forward.