Game Preview: 36ers v Taipans

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans will look to turn a winning start into early-season momentum when they head to Adelaide to face the 36ers on Sunday afternoon.

Cairns claimed their first win of NBL27 in style on Wednesday night, holding off the Tasmania JackJumpers for a thrilling 93-87 victory.

Now the challenge shifts to the road against an Adelaide side looking to respond after suffering a heartbreaking 98-97 loss to the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Thursday night.

For Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde, the clash presents an early opportunity to see how his new-look group measures up against one of the league’s more settled teams.

“We're playing against a team, Adelaide, that's kind of already established and building on some consistency from last year,” Forde said.

“And so for us to go to their joint and see where we're at is going to be a good challenge and looking forward to it.”

There will be no mystery surrounding one of Cairns’ biggest defensive priorities on Sunday: slowing down Bryce Cotton.

The six-time NBL MVP has produced some huge performances against the Taipans, including a 53-point outburst last season, and remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

“They have got the best wildcard in the league in Bryce Cotton, who will make reads and plays off however the defence is aligned,” Forde said.

The Taipans have multiple options to throw at Cotton, with Malique Lewis having previous experience guarding the star during his time with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, while defensive specialist Sunday Dech could also be handed the assignment.

Containing Cotton will take a collective effort, but Cairns will be determined to make every possession difficult.

Forde knows exactly what to expect from new Adelaide coach Trevor Gleeson, having previously worked on his coaching staff at the Perth Wildcats.

Gleeson’s systems may be familiar, but Forde knows that does not necessarily make them easier to stop.

“One thing I like about Trev, he's always been super consistent,” Forde said.

“I think the play calls are the same and the playbooks are the same. But you can scout that flex offense, and they find ways to counter it.”

While plenty of preparation will go into Adelaide’s threats, Forde wants his side to remain confident in the basketball it is building in Cairns.

“We have to back ourselves with the belief and we're going to roll into Adelaide and prepare for them,” Forde said.

There’s plenty of player movement across the NBL, but it’s rare to see almost half of a visiting roster with a history in the opposition’s colours.

That’s exactly what the Cairns Taipans will bring to Adelaide on Sunday, with five former 36ers set to run out in Taipans colours.

Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder, Kyrin Galloway, Sunday Dech and Shaun Bruce have all called Adelaide home at different stages of their NBL journeys.

McVeigh spent three seasons with the 36ers before taking the next step in his career as the inaugural signing of the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Dech, meanwhile, suited up 138 times for Adelaide and, alongside Galloway, was part of the memorable 36ers team that defeated the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 2022.

Pinder played 35 games for Adelaide before making the career-changing move north to Cairns in 2021, while Bruce joined the 36ers as a mid-season replacement in 2018.

Sunday marks the beginning of a demanding three-game road stretch, with the Taipans also set to face New Zealand and Melbourne away from home.

It forms part of a challenging opening to NBL27, with six of Cairns’ first eight games on the road.

For a roster featuring 11 new players, Forde sees the tough schedule as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

“I enjoy the challenge where you can play the teams that are picked to be the championship contenders,” Forde said.

“To get them early in the season and to really see where we sit in the areas that we need to work on. Because Adelaide's pretty much retained their entire lineup, where out of our 15, we've got 11 new guys.”

After passing their first test against Tasmania, Sunday presents another early measuring stick for a Taipans group determined to establish its identity quickly.