Taipans searching for spark ahead of NZ clash

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans were left searching for consistency after an 83-69 loss to Adelaide 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Marquee big man Keanu Pinder admitted his side struggled to build pressure when opportunities presented themselves, especially after falling behind by 20 points in the opening half.

Pinder felt the Taipans showed glimpses of their best basketball, but too often a positive defensive stop or score was quickly answered at the other end.

“I just don't feel like we could catch any momentum. There are so many ups and downs in the game,” Pinder said.

“One minute we're up and excited, we get a stop and we get a score. Next thing you know, someone comes down and makes [a shot].

“So many ups and downs just deflated us and some loose balls got away from us that we could have got and just didn't go our way.”

Head Coach Adam Forde identified offensive spacing and ball movement as areas the Taipans need to sharpen as the group continues to build cohesion.

Forde said the Taipans had drifted away from the quick decision-making and movement the side showed in their home opening win against Tasmania JackJumpers.

“We're still finding ourselves where we're sort of above the break rather than the extreme corner,” Forde said.

“We're not hitting the dunkers spot. We're floating in these no-man’s land, and we're running into each other.

“The ball stuck a lot and there was not a lot of point five [reads] out there.

“There was a lot of, like, five dribbles before [the ball] moved on. So, it's a work in progress.”

Cairns will be back in action this Wednesday night when the Taipans travel across the Tasman to face the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena, tip-off at 5.30pm AEST.