Game Preview: Cairns vs Brisbane

Basketball is back, and it returns with a thrilling sunshine state showdown as the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans host the Brisbane Bullets, facing their Queensland rivals for the first time since early October. It’s hard to forget what happened the last time these two teams met, and both return from the FIBA break desperate for a win.

Brisbane are on a three-game losing streak, while Cairns have dropped their last two games. Most recently, the Taipans lost to the Jackjumpers in overtime on the buzzer, in a rare loss at the Cairns Convention Centre. The loss spoiled their winning home streak and also sent them to seventh of the ladder with a 4-9 record.

The Bullets also fell to the Jackjumpers earlier this month before subsequent losses to the Kings and the Wildcats for their 5-7 record and sixth position on the ladder.

Entering Round 9, Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde said that despite losing 4 of their last 5 games, the December 1 match-up against Brisbane begins the most important month of the year for their 203-24 campaign.

“We’ve got ten games in 30 days. Guys are frustrated because we're not where we feel like we should be. But that's good frustration to have.

“And so, you know, the message is [getting back on track] probably isn’t going to happen today or tomorrow. It's a progression and it’s how the next ten games looks in December, that set us up for the rest of the season.

“I've always said it from the start - you couldn't do this in a top four format but at top six, you just need to be peaking at the right time of the year. We just need to make sure we don’t leave it too late.”

The last time they met, Cairns defeated the Bullets 89-86 as Patrick Miller found his form in just his third NBL game, scoring 21 points, five assists and three rebounds while Bobi Klintman impressed with 19 points and six boards off the bench.

Both sides have since battled with injuries to their starting line-up, with former Taipans guard Shannon Scott back from a hamstring injury sustained on October 21, setting up a dramatic return to Cairns in opposition colours.

The Taipans are yet to play a game at 100% full strength, with the Taipans missing Miller and Tahjere McCall for a significant stretch already, and Klintman only returning to the active roster following a hip complaint. Forward Lachlan Anderson has been ruled out for the next fortnight, due to a recurring back injury.

Forde said now that the squad finaly fit, he is looking forward to improving the team’s offensive rating, and potentially leapfrog the Bullets to sixth position on the ladder.

“Our offence has been lagging. Defensively, we tick in a lot of boxes. But when you go back and review the film, we have to go through a lot of actions on the defensive end to get stops and it's very rewarding seeing the guys do that.

“But, then we go down the other end and we're very easy to defend.

“Shot selection, not a lot of ball movement, multiple things. So, if we can really start to focus in on that, we should be good.”