Hoops

Sixers @ Cairns Dec 7

They may simply have underestimated the problem.

The Taipans would be scary under someone like Lemanis.

Run and Gun with Wilson, McCamey and Gliddon.

Ervin's stat line is pretty rough reading, but on a positive note, the FT shooting improved for Adelaide.

"Adelaide , and not as previosly published Cairns, have won. We are experiencing problems with the demerger" Cooper said;"Things around here are getting pretty corrupt." But he changed the subject everytime money came up.
It was just about the break of dawn and the three refs were tumbling along the road. All three were blowing horns. "I've never been so happy in all my life!" sang the one carrying all the money.

Yeah, Ervin back, Frye and Creeks ankle, wouldn't be easy 2 games in 24hours, assuming box score is correct. Fresh here at home we should be pretty good
Don't try to follow on live stats, it's not pleasant

After starring on today tonight, hamish and andy and now this mornings safm gotcha does opals lover benny kid vegemite hodge have a media career in waiting

Geordie may have lost a battle last week but has he revealled a strategy that might win the war against the "Sixersnation".

So I guess we'll find out whether Joey is a student of Churchill or a George W.

Great win for the Taipans and just shows how close the league now is.

Did the Sixers peak early and drop off or just a little blip on the road to the playoffs?

Mate...

BTW, the reffing was terrible, just like last weekend. Letting ridiculous amounts of contact go. Cairns still managed 98 though.

The game was closer than the score reflected. Cairns had no answer for BJ Anthony but luckily Joey kept taking him off. DJ didn't turn up to play, he seemed to be getting upset at everyone while he was on the bench. Good all round performance by the Taipans though.

They have those in Cairns?

iiNet definitely are not sponsors - the NBL doesn't have a naming rights sponsor this year.

@Jamie I was just pointing out that I don't think it's time to panic yet. I'm very happy with the way this season is going. At the start I was predicting to just scrape into the finals (which still might happen)and am pleasantly surprised to be 2nd on the ladder. We have had some very lucky wins and could have easily been down the bottom of the ladder,but the guys have shown guts and determination this season and I think they will bounce back.

I don't share your confidence "bk".

Hope they prove me wrong over the next few games.

I know home-court makes a huge difference.

Would have been acceptable to have got 1 from 2 on the road though.

Sixers still not competitive from the three point line and every team has worked out how to slow down their running game and guard them inside. We are not versatile enough as long as our shooting from range stats are weak.!!!

So I raised some questions about the road form of the 36ers at the start of the weekend when it was 3-2; now that it is 3-4, I can't help but feel that I was on to something...

@Jamie It's not that bad yes we just lost 2 games in a row but we still retain 2nd spot on the ladder with 3 wins ahead of syd 3rd on the ladder and 4 wins ahead of towns 4th on the ladder. 6ERS now get to rest till next Sunday and extract revenge on cairns at home.

98 - 78 (FT) ...

Sixers season has hit a major road hump.

Very ordinary weekend.

Undone all the good work.

I'm not sure they can get it back on track.

Thoughts ???

NBL reports 98-78 final score, Cairns break their streak with a 20-pt pasting (largely a 4th quarter blow-out) of the 2nd place team.

Adelaide go 0-2 on the sunshine swing, the second team to do so this year.

Sixers definately experiencing technical difficulties

Cairns 20pts up 1.18 to play

Yeah the only reason that I haven't purchased nbl.tv is because i'm waiting until a better product can be produced. I refuse to waste my money on inferior products

Cairns 16 points up 2.26 to go

Outta order league should merge with basketball australia really

Cairns 81 sixers 71 6.00 to go

Ervin gets a layup on a one-on-one break to cut the deficit from 10 to 8.

Couple fouls already against Cairns, both of them on the lighter end of the greyscale.

Cairns by 9, 74 to 65

thanks for the updates I watched the live stats for the syd woll game without a hiccup then the game I really want to know the result crashes so frustrating

And Jamar Wilson gets the basket and the foul to start the 4th

68-63 at 3QT after a crucial 3pt shot from Cairns.

Still anyone's game, but in their 8th quarter in 2 days with a 5pt headstart to the locals, will be hard to tip Adelaide over Cairns from here.

Taipans 68 - 63 (end 3rd) ...

Cairns 68 Sixers 63 at the break.

thank you

Cairns 57 Sixers 52

dam live stats frozen at 9 min 23 sec to go in the third quarter any one got a score update please

Cairns for the spoon.

Was hoping the 36ers would beat the Crocs so they'd be a little complacement tonight. But they'll be out for blood now, here's one nervous Taipans fan hoping the snakes can pull it together.

Weighed down

Yes, the appealing stench of desperation hangs over most of the games this week, adds a nice spice to proceedings :D

Surprising for so early in the season though...

My full take on Cairns is up over at The Roar - http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/12/06/its-now-or-never-for-the-cairns-taipans/

There's definitely been some underlying positives for the Taipans in recent weeks, but the fact is they haven't been able to convert that into a W. Having the 36ers on the second night of a back-to-back, on the road, is a perfect opportunity for them.

But at the same time, if the losing streak blows out to eight, that's pretty much their season. Stakes are high.

Out of all the unusual things to happen so far this year, Cairns having an 0-7 run must surely rank as the least predictable.

Shawn Dennis made some good points here:
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/will-the-real-cairns-taipans-please-show-up/story-fnjpuwrj-1226776844706
"To me it comes down to chemistry they may not be sure how to work together and a lack of identity," the Crocs coach said.

"They are trying to play at speed, but traditionally Aaron likes the slower, grind it out, style. That can contribute to uncertainty."

He compared this season's Taipans with the Adelaide of old, who for the past three seasons failed to convert talent into wins.