Forde wants composure after Kings loss

Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde has called on his side to remain calm and trust their game plan after admitting emotion and frustration contributed to Sunday’s 111-90 loss to the Sydney Kings.

The Taipans showed plenty of promise throughout the opening half at Afterpay Arena, trailing by just six points (59-53) at the main break before Sydney took control with a 31-20 third quarter.

For Forde, the biggest lesson was not allowing difficult stretches of a game to dictate how his side performs at both ends of the floor.

“We let our emotions get the better of us,” Forde said post-match.

“We are a confidence team and it’s important the guys back themselves, even during the dry parts.

“We let the offense determine what we were defensively and defensively was bad and it made offense that little bit more worse.”

Cairns’ ball movement proved effective early, particularly as the Taipans looked to involve boom off-season signing Keanu Pinder.

Pinder responded with a game-high 27 points, five rebounds and four assists in his first game back in Cairns colours since NBL23, but Forde felt the Taipans moved away from what had served them well early in the contest.

“The ball moves and we get good results from it. We moved away from rhythm threes to bailout threes,” Forde said.

“It was disappointing and frustrating, but it's a lot of lessons for guys. Guys were getting frustrated with officiating, guys were getting frustrated with themselves, the shots.

“Sydney did a good job keeping the pressure, and we just failed to respond.”

Getting Pinder involved from the outset was a focus, with his presence around the basket creating opportunities not only for himself, but for his teammates.

“We wanted to get KP (Pinder) going early, and also, being our only real roll threat, we knew how much attention he can generate by those roll assists,” Forde said.

“By getting him going early, it helps generate some points for everybody else, especially again when that ball moves.

“But then we started settling for some shots, and then it stops moving and we don't get as many paint attacks.”

Forde also pointed to Jack McVeigh’s ability to attract defensive attention as another avenue the Taipans can better capitalise on moving forward.

“The unselfishness of Jack, as we moved him to the wing and wherever we get the ball, we draw a double team, the ball gets reversed and we get points off of it,” Forde said.

“Another guy that can generate opportunities for others by the gravity that he brings.”

With Cairns now preparing for its first home game of the season against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Wednesday night, Forde said the focus would be on learning quickly and remaining committed when momentum shifts.

“We panicked, where we go on a little bit of a run, something goes against us, and then we don’t stay committed to it, we move away,” he said.

“That’s on me. We've got to keep that message going with the guys and get better for it.”

Grab your tickets for Wednesday night's fixture HERE.