DENG HAS FAITH IN SNAKES
DON’T read too much into Tuesday night’s 10-point loss to South East Melbourne Phoenix: this Taipans team can beat anyone.
That’s the message from Taipans forward Majok Deng, as FNQ’s only national team prepares for its first game in Cairns since New Year’s Eve.
The Taipans returned to the court for the first time on Tuesday after enduring schedule changes then a Covid-forced break from training and games in a long 25-day stretch.
And they have learned a lot about what Adam Forde’s team is made of.
Without three regular starters – star import Scott Machado and sharpshooters Mirko Djeric and Kouat Noi – the Taipans were brought undone by themselves, a NBL season-high 23 turnovers ruining any chance they had of victory.
For that reason, Deng believes this Taipans team can beat any other.
“I still think we are a better team,” Deng said. “If we take care of the ball, we would’ve won the game.
“Like any other team, if you give them the ball, give them too many possessions and keep turning the ball over, you don’t give yourself a chance of winning. Once we take care of that, minimise the turnovers and execute, I think we’re going to be a tough team.”
The Taipans returned to practice on Thursday, as Forde ran his troops through an intense session in which the key focus was on how they executed on both sides of the ball.
Cairns can’t afford to give up the ball, nor give up easy shots, and if they can get those right it will go a long way to securing victory when Illawarra swoops into the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Taipans assistant coach Sam
Gruggen described the Spalding as a “pot of gold” the players simply could not afford to let go, as the turnover issue reared its head after dominating much of their preseason talk.
“That ball is like a pot of gold, we have to make sure we value the possession, and if we do that we put ourselves in position to win any basketball game,” Gruggen said.
“Executing our plays, setting great screens, passing the ball, moving it with purpose and not trying to force the issue, and that will help with the score, minimise the turnovers and make that quarter much more reasonable and put us in a position to win the game.
“We feel good about every game. “Our prep has been great, athletes are receptive to every scout or information we give them. We do feel confident heading into every game, we trust what Fordey has put in place. It’s a matter of coming in, executing, and playing the four quarters.”
Regardless of whether the injured trio will return on Saturday, Deng has grown into a leader of this team and will play a big part in their success.
But the 28-year-old won’t be doing much too differently, instead driven simply to deliver a dub for home fans.
“Nothing changed really, just trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win, whatever they put me in,” Deng said. “I’m still confident.
“I didn’t do enough of what I like on the weekend but I’m looking forward to Illawarra.
“They’re a great team, they can shoot the ball. We have to lock in, we have to do everything a lot better than we have been to give ourselves a chance. It comes down to shutting down turnovers. We don’t want to give them a lot of chances.”
Tip-off is at 4.30pm.