HERE WE GO
Cairns Taipans’ NBL fairytale finals run begins tonight
FROM a 14-game losing streak.
To an eventual wooden spoon last season.
And, then a 0-3 commencement to the 2019-20 campaign.
Which turned into a 2-6 start to the second season under Mike Kelly.
So, how did the Taipans turn all that mess into a 16-12 record, good enough for the third spot on the ladder, as they stunned the NBL with their sparkling turn-around of fortunes?
When did it change?
When did the 6-22 first season under Kelly become just a memory and the Snakes quickly become considered a force around the league?
Well, many on the team feel it started in Western Australia on the night of October 18.
But, also November 25, away at Illawarra, was crucial, according to the NBL coach of the year.
That night in Perth, the 0-3 Snakes pumped the Wildcats in one of the most surprising upsets in recent memory, as they were given zero chance by the bookmakers to give the defending champions a shake.
“That was the first time that we did 40 minutes of an awesome job,” rookie forward Fabijan Krslovic recalled.
“We took that game and ran with it. We had confidence and we could see where we were all going. That first win showed me exactly what we were capable of doing.”
Even after the Taipans set a record at Perth’s home court, defeating the Wildcats 99-76 on that night, it took them a little while to completely click as a group.
They would pick up a couple of wins here or there, but would fall twice to the hapless Illawarra soon after, who would collect the wooden spoon.
That is when Kelly realised something needed to change, going 0-3 to the Hawks, a team every other club was beating comfortably.
“On the flip-side, losing to Illawarra, the third time, we were kinda like we need to take a bigger review than what we normally do after a game and really dig into what we are doing,” Kelly said.
“We kind of reaffirmed the things we wanted to do and simplify things where we thought we were doing a little too much. We got back together as a group.”
Since that third defeat to Illawarra, the Snakes became arguably the hottest team in the NBL, going on a 14-4 winning run.
The Snakes head back to the scene of their team-defining win tonight for the first game of their semi-final series.
NBL fans MVP Scott Machado believes winning in the raucous environment that is RAC Arena showed him his fresh squad was legit.
“When you have a bunch of new guys that came to this league and new guys to the team, they all would say there is tough teams to play,” Machado said.
“We played a tough team on the road early on and that was the Perth game.
“We realised we had the capabilities of being a really good team.
“After that win, it allowed us to understand and be confident in ourselves to solidify a good season.”
As one of the returning players from the dismal 2018-19 season, elite two-way guard DJ Newbill says what the club has overcome since Aaron Fearne’s departure two seasons ago can only help through the post-season.
“We just had stretches where we showed flashes of being a finals team and then it happened for us,” Newbill said.
“We are continuing to work on our small things and our habits, as well as jelling as a team with our camaraderie, that is what has been helping us through this stretch.
“And, it will be big through the finals.”
Winning in the first month of the season in Perth is a much easier task then doing it under the bright lights of the post-season.
High-flying import Cameron Oliver, who starred in that breakthrough victory in Perth, says they did not feel the pressure that night and does not expect the team to crack under it this time, either.
“That Perth game really showed us who we are,” Oliver said.