Snake Eyes – Taipans vs Bullets

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans return home for the annual Blackout Game for IFYS Foster Care on Saturday night against the Brisbane Bullets, and the Snakes will be looking to mark the occasion with a win in front of the Orange Army.

The Snakes return to the Cairns Pop-Up Arena for a first home game since ANZAC Day and it's just the second last home match for the NBL season so everyone involved will be looking to make it a winning evening against the Bullets for a whole host of reason.

First of all the annual Blackout Game is always a memorable occasion and the Snakes are going to look striking in the black uniforms out on the court while also trying to raise much needed funds and support for IFYS Foster Care.

The team also won't be lacking in motivation to get back on the winner's list and to start to build some momentum to finish these last nine games of the season strongly.

The Snakes can also put a dagger in the playoff hopes of the Bullets with a win over their Queensland rivals so there are plenty of things to look out for on Saturday night, and here's five of them:

1. EMBRACE THE BLACKOUT GAME
One of the highlights of every Cairns Taipans season is the now annual Blackout Game and for #NBL21 it takes place this Saturday night and not only do the uniforms look striking, it's for a tremendous cause

For a lot of reasons, the annual Cairns Taipans Blackout Game is one of the events all Snakes fans look forward to every season and the time has come for it this Saturday night against the Brisbane Bullets at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena.

Whether it's because of the striking black uniforms that the team wears or because it's for such a good cause with the partnership with IFYS Foster Care, it's always an occasions every Taipans fan looks forward to.

The special edition Blackout uniform is a highlight in the Cairns Taipans calendar every NBL season with the home uniform being stripped of the iconic Taipans orange in favour of the black for the club's charity partner, IFYS Foster Care.

This year's uniform might very well be the best and most striking design yet with the black standing out more than ever. 

All partners have agreed to monochromatic orange versions of their logos to be featured on the uniform including NBL naming rights partner Hungry Jack's and apparel partner Champion. 

They are all pulling together to be able to make this extremely limited edition design able to be worn on Saturday night.

But the whole point of the evening ultimately is to support IFYS Foster Care and the wider cause of promoting foster care services across Queensland for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

The Taipans have proudly supported IFYS Foster Care for over five years, with the partnership continuing to grow as the club endeavours to raise awareness and proceeds for this important organisation, and the imperative services they provide.

IFYS continues to expand their services particularly in their search for Aboriginal carers – indigenous children are 10x more likely to be taken into care than other Australians and there are simply not enough Aboriginal carers to support them. For more information, please visit: fostercare.com.au.

The Taipans would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of this cause and special edition uniform: IFYS Foster Care, CQUniversity, Sea Swift, Kenfrost Homes, the Hungry Jacks' NBL and Champion.

2. BETTER START KEY FOR THE SNAKES
It might sound like a broken record, but there's only so often the Taipans can keep playing catch up and expect to pull off remarkable comeback victories this NBL season

You can't question the way this Cairns Taipans fights their way back into games if they fall behind early. So often this season have they come back from slow starts to make themselves competitive to either have a chance at snatching a win or pulling off some thrilling fightback victories.

But there's only so often you can keep putting all your energy into fighting back and the Snakes need to start finding a way to start games better, and there'd be no better time to do that than on Saturday night at home to the Brisbane Bullets.

Taipans coach Mike Kelly was disappointed in his team's defensive performance early on Tuesday in Adelaide that saw them again fall behind by a big margin in the first quarter. 

He's hoping to not be again playing catch up on Saturday night against the Bullets.

"We did struggle offensively. We got the ball into Nate some in that first quarter and I thought he did an OK job of playing through some contact that wasn’t called, but it was just at the defensive end," Kelly said. 

"We didn’t get through some screens and they knocked down some open jumpers. They also got to the basket at will, and then when they missed shots they were able to get into us and rebound the ball. 

"I think they had five offensive rebounds in the first quarter. Then we settled and did a better job in the second quarter. It was really at the defensive end for us where they took control and we walked the ball up the floor, and walked into our sets and didn’t get great offence going."

3. MAJOK RETURN BOOSTS THE TAIPANS
The Cairns Taipans' morale bank got the boost it was needed on Tuesday with Majok Deng's return and now he'll get to play in front of the home fans on Saturday for the first time since February 8

The Cairns Taipans received a significant boost on Tuesday night against the Adelaide 36ers with the successful return from a knee injury of Majok Deng.

The biggest positive to come out of the game on Tuesday in Adelaide for the Taipans was the return Deng, and coach Mike Kelly was as happy as anyone to have him back out there.

"It was really cool to see Majok back with the group," Kelly said.

"He's been kind of busting at the seams to get back to play through training and work outs so we're really happy to have him back with the group. He got going in that first game back after getting used to playing basketball again."

Deng had been a frustrated man to sit out the 16 games with the knee injury he sustained at the start of the NBL Cup. 

So to not only come back out and play again on Tuesday, but to knock down some shots and finish with 16 points and six rebounds gives him plenty of confidence to take into his home return now on Saturday against the Bullets.

"It's been a while since I played a game of basketball so you're always a little bit itchy to get out there," Deng said. 

"It was good to get that first one out of the way and I'm just happy that I get to play out there again."

4. NO EXCUSES FOR TAIPANS
No matter who is available for the Cairns Taipans, or who is or isn’t still with the team, coach Mike Kelly is always going to be confident going into any game his squad has enough to win

If you are looking on at the Cairns Taipans in #NBL21 from the outside, you might be able to find reasons and excuses for the way the season has panned out.

There are no excuses for reigning NBL Coach of the Year Mike Kelly though. 

No matter who is or isn’t available or still with the team, he will always back his squad in to have enough talent to be competitive and to win games of basketball. 

And Saturday night at home to the Bullets is certainly no different.

"I think we've shown that with the group we have right now that we can be competitive and put ourselves in a position to win games. But we have to do it consistently," Kelly said.

"It has been the same message when we had everybody at the beginning of the season, and it's the same message now. We have enough to keep ourselves in games and win games. We just need to stand up and match our opposition in the fight."

5. BULLETS TO UNLEASH NEW IMPORT
It seems to be an on-going trend now that teams are unveiling new players or welcoming back others from injury for games against the Cairns Taipans, and that's again the case with the Brisbane Bullets

Teams seem to like bringing in new players for the first time or welcoming back players from injury against the Cairns Taipans, and that will continue with the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday night.

The Bullets are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive and having played recently without imports Vic Law and Orlando Johnson, they welcome their new import out of quarantine for the trip to Cairns on Saturday night.

New Brisbane import BJ Johnson himself is happy with the way his Bullets teammates have already welcomed him into the group, and he's looking forward to making an impact over these last 11 games.

"I'm just thankful for the opportunity. Since day one the guys have welcomed me and thrown me in the group chat, and made me feel like I'm one of them. I'm thankful for that," Johnson said.

"Getting in shape is one of the main things I'm focused on right now and the basketball part is probably the least of my worries. 

"Once I get in shape and get comfortable knowing where these guys want to be at on the court and how they play, and they get comfortable knowing what I like to do on the court, then I think we've got a good group that can really measure up.

"For me I've been playing basketball for about 20 years now so I think I'll be alright. I've just been the underdog guy my whole life. I worked my way to the NBA and I'm trying to work my way back, and I'm just trying to make the most of it."