Taipans coach in push to improve Blitz series

AARON Fearne wants to see the NBL Blitz shortened so teams play just two games across three days next year.

The Taipans coach remained at the preseason tournament until Sunday to watch the final two games after his side had opened the proceedings in Townsville on Wednesday night.

It was hardly worth it as a listless Sydney were pummelled by Melbourne United in a result that stole the LogginsBruton Cup away from Cairns.

Needing to win just one quarter to ensure Cairns stayed ahead of Melbourne on points, it was too much for the Kings in a performance that visibly unimpressed Fearne.

Cairns won all three of their games to cap a busy preseason climax that included five contests in eight days.

“I’d prefer to play the two games; any more makes it tough on the players and five days makes it a long trip when you factor in all the behindthe-scenes clinics and meetings as well,” he said.

“In terms of the organisation of it all though it could not be faulted, it was very professional and we were all very happy with that.”

While Fearne got minutes into all his players other sides, like Sydney with star Josh Childress and Perth with Damian Martin, preferred to rest their main men.

Perth took it one step further resting their coach, Trevor Gleeson watching from the corporate area while his assistants ran the show.

“Each to their own I guess; I don’t know if I’d be doing that (not coaching) here,” Fearne said.

“For us it was about making improvement and we did some good stuff and I’m happy we got through unscathed.

“Melbourne were the only team at 100 per cent so it’s a false bottom really; New Zealand, Melbourne and Perth will all be very deep this season but there are plenty of contrasting styles.”

The Taipans are yet to win any NBL silverware and Fearne said it would have been nice to break the drought on Sunday.

“We want to win at the end of the day, no doubt about that,” he said. “But we had a few quarters where we weren’t very good.”

The Taipans’ next game is their first-round clash with Illawarra Hawks at the Cairns Convention Centre on October 8.