Taipans to make a point
Finals future on the line
The Taipans might be standing on the outside and looking in on the NBL playoff picture, but Cairns’ only national sporting franchise holds its post-season destiny in its hands.
The Taipans travelled to Hobart on Friday ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash with the fellow post-season contender JackJumpers at a venue which has been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons.
Cairns has won two of their three games against the JackJumpers in Hobart, and hold the record for most points scored in a game at MyState Arena with 106 points (October 2022).
While they will need their offence to fire again if they are to keep the heat on the NBL’s top six, Taipans assistant coach Kerry Williams said defence remained the primary focus.
The Snakes boast the second-best defensive rating in the league, behind only league leaders Melbourne United, and it will again be key against a JackJumpers side which sits third despite dropping their past two games.
“Our defence is most important, we have the secondbest rating in the league and it’s been the strength all year, but we want to score the ball and put that scoreboard pressure on teams, which we’ve struggled at times,” Williams said.
“We’ve just got to go through the process, find easy baskets. Our main focus is on defending.”
Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford hold the key to the JackJumpers’ hopes of inflicting a second defeat on Cairns after their come-from-behind win in overtime at the Snakepit earlier this season.
Williams said winning was crucial for the Snakes at least with six teams fighting for four play-in spots.
“Crawford is their leading scorer, he got us late in game I back in Cairns,” Williams said.
“Doyle is a high-quality player that can get it going and we’ll prepare for those two, their leading scorers.
“They’re coming off two losses so they’ll be ready to go.
“That middle of the ladder is really bunched up – anyone from eighth to third can finish in that position. It’s important to win games, so they’ll be just like us trying to win as many games as possible.”
The Snakes sit outside the top six but are coming off their second straight win against league leaders and championship favourites Melbourne United on New Year’s Eve.
Sam Mennenga had another breakout game, with his six threes – the most by any player at Cairns Convention Centre since November 2018 – helping him to career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Star imports Tahjere McCall and Patrick Miller also had big outings, and will be out to maintain the winning form.
“It’s no surprise to us, both Mennenga and Tahj are in every day at 7am doing the reps,” Williams said. “Put in the work, you get the results.
“That’s what they’ve been doing, constantly through the pre-season, the season, regardless of what’s going on, that’s what they’ve done.”