Game Preview: Breakers v Taipans

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans will open their NBL Ignite Cup campaign across the Tasman against New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena.

Wednesday night’s match-up is the second match of a three-game, nine-day road stretch for the Taipans, and Head Coach Adam Forde is excited for the challenge.

Cairns started the road trip with an 83-69 loss to the 36ers in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, but Forde believes this road trip will bring his new-look team closer together, but it’s a balancing act.

“There's an element of spending as much time with the guys as we can and almost a crash course in how you get to know each other,” Forde said.

“There's a lot of connections and personal relationships with these guys that go beyond this season.”

Forde said his side will take growth from the loss in Adelaide and will concentrate on some key areas heading into the Breakers battle.

“It's not on Jaylon (Brown) to have to tell the other four guys where their positions need to be. You know, so it's something we've got to keep drilling and enforcing,” Forde said.

“The good thing is we're on the road, but we're going to be able to get on court between now and when we play New Zealand. So we've just got to keep drilling those final things to help him out.”

Jaylon Brown has already battled MVP frontrunners Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis, now he has the opportunity to go head-to-head with Breakers star man Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

New Zealand Breakers head coach Gordon Herbert insists his own MVP candidate can't do everything, and he is assessing whether Jackson-Cartwright needs some assistance.

Jackson-Cartwright scored 30 points, dished eight assists, hauled in four rebounds and had three steals in last Saturday's 97-93 loss to Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena.

"We've worked on stuff where he doesn't have the ball to initiate the offense," Herbert said.

"We're not very good at it right now and, but obviously, you know, we have one import missing (Josiah-Jordan James) so I don't know … we'll have to see what we do there."

Former Taipan Mojave King has been signed as an Injury Replacement Player for James and has fitted in quickly, scoring 18 points against the Wildcats.

Wednesday night will be headlined by the marquee match-up of two former Taipans in Sam Mennenga and Keanu Pinder.

Mennenga was recruited to Far North Queensland by Forde for the 2023-24 season and the 206cm big man has taken his game to the next level playing in his home country.

The Pinder-Mennenga match-up looms as the catalyst for either side and both players will be looking at exploiting their advantages on both ends of the floor.

Pinder restarted his Taipans career with a huge performance against the Kings in Sydney and will be looking to rebound after Sunday’s loss in Adelaide.

Both big men can step out and shoot the three, both ca attack the rim with power and dominate the rebound count. This is worth admission alone.