Game Preview: Taipans v United

The Cairns Taipans have touched down on the Gold Coast to complete their sixth week of the 2024-25 pre-season and are ready to line-up against their first opponents of the 2024 NBL Blitz.

The Taipans arrive at the former home of the Gold Coast Rollers - Carrara Indoor Stadium - which will host the opening games of the NBL Blitz before games move to the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre for the second week of the pre-season.

Waiting for them on the glitter strip is Melbourne United, the 2023-24 NBL runners up who have already competed in pre-season games.  

Where and When

Saturday, September 7 at Carrara Indoor Stadium, Gold Coast (7:30pm AEST)

How to Follow

Watch: Live on Kayo

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score

What’s Already Happened

This is the first time that the new Taipans squad hits the hard court for a match, after spending their pre-season focusing internally and developing in the confines of Cairns Basketball.

United enter the Blitz after completing two pre-season games in Melbourne - against the Brisbane Bullets and the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Their first matchup resulted in a 15-point loss against the Bullets, during which United conceded 22 straight points in the third quarter, before they bounced back and won a double overtime thriller against the Phoenix.

Player to Watch

Eyes across the league will be on Taran Armstrong as he prepares for a bigger role in the NBL season. Whilst it is only a pre-season game, this marks his first step out of the shadows and into a key role on a team that Head Coach Adam Forde has built around him.

What’s Been Said

“We’ve been focused on ourselves so far, but we’re just keen to play somebody else right now. We’ve been trying to get some of the guys that haven’t been in the league used to it and some of the players,” said Taipans assistant coach Kerry Williams.

“We want to win games, and we want to get that feeling within the group, but the main thing is how we play, the process, and the defence and offence.”

“Forde has taken full control of the pre-season. Taran’s our point guard, and Forde’s our leader, so we need both of them in those positions to make sure that we’re ready for the season. And Taran’s done a great job in the off-season, building his body, and he’s in elite shape right now, so he might be able to play 35 minutes per game.”

Ins and Outs

Taipans

Ins – Alex Higgins-Titsha, Kody Stattmann

Outs – Kyle Adnam (knee), Jackson Makoi (personal leave)