Hoops

Cairns Taipans easy start to schedule

Any chance Venom and The King will indulge me with a little more debate?
Paul, you still thinking about this?
See, I dont't need to be right. I don't even want to pretend I am. I just want to learn from the exchange.
If I'm over in Old Shakey, sussin out the form ahead of the Next Encounter, I watch all the Taipans games to date. I even tab the media reports, all the way down to andthefoul..
What I find is all contradictions. Bottom line, Taipans, in 2 games, have gone from Out to Outright Contenders. They're lock-down legitimate.
Well, I don't buy it, but I feel lonley because a lotta other people do.
Breakers won't. Here's why.
3/4 Craig comes off the bench, hasn't scored worth a dam in the last 3 games, is nothing like Mc Rae in the same spot, will not bounce Vik for any rebound, especially the D ones. Make him try the shot; punish him when he fails. Repeat. Pressure all his shots, 3 included. Unsuccessful at the line.
1/2 Wilbekin only interested in playing with ball in hand, knows Craig poor option, Gliddon presumtptive beneficiary of all half-hearted attemps and all dish outs on drive. Had to be reminded to 'create' and make a move in last Melbourne game. D effort good but won't foul out trying. If he makes second pass, slag and apply ball pressure, 5 on 4. He'll still be standing: does not cut, does not commit on screen ; opportunistic rebounder at best.
And the rest? Same old role players with the exception, this year, of The Lout. When their imports falter so will the confidence. They will realize they are doing it on their own again.
Summary: just play. Stat sheets confirm it all.

an easy start? what exactly are you insinuating?
what even makes it an easy start? they've played away and at home. last time I looked it was harder to get away wins. and they've played well and have noticeably changed their game.

prior to the start of the season, nobody said they had an easy run to begin with. or is it wildcats who aren't on top that has many frightened?

NBL Fan - wasn't capacity but it's was close to it. The only empty seats were in the nose bleeds.

"Podge, it's in the stats" haha yep... it is indeed...

Venom well said.

The good people of Cairns will have to believe you are right, Venom.
You make some good points.

On a side note, does anyone know the crowd that the Taipans got for their fist home game?

As a diehard Snakes fan/member from day 1, I am very pleased with a 4-0 start with 1H/3A games to start the season. The fact that the last 2 games the imports haven't had to have 20+ games to be in the game and win it speaks for the the way the team plays and reacts. If everyone is hitting 50% etc etc then the margins would be even bigger - but give some credit to the opposition marking these guys and blunting them - they just didn't count on the other 8 players stepping up and making plays. Wilbekin's off ball D was big yesterday - I am quite sure without him causing trouble G$ and Carson would have stolen that game in the 3rd and never looked back. Lets also remember that the 2 imports are rookies - wilbekin is a past first defensive PG who has been tasked by Fearne to be a shoot first D PG. But when you get marked for lots of attention, you find your teams mates - the assist count is useless as the snakes will always make a 2nd pass after getting it from wilbekin. We know Dmart is the best D PG in the league and his stats dont show that at all or his organisational skills on O

Hawks are unlucky to be 1-3, but I see them shaking the 36ers and taking the W. In the 4th they dictated the tempo and were able to break open the taipans D with sheer speed and aggression - the taips O just missed a few shots to keep them away - those 2 FT's from Burston were an example: but its a learning process.

Podge, it's in the stats.
They're right there, incontestable even by you, regardless of what your professional eye saw in the games.
Scottie was out there for 35 minutes against the Hawks, and in that time he took how many shots at 27%?! While running the show, as you say, he managed to rack up a staggering 2 assists and jag one rebound.
Torry's shooting was no better and in 20 minutes he pulled just 2 boards.
In the previous game their shooting was OK but what other stat could you take comfort from? Just compare with Gliddon's numbers, and imagine the results if your stars had performed at the same level.
And no, I didn't say the imports were woeful. I said their stats were. For 2 games.

Wilbekin and Craig were woeful???? Are you sure you watched the games?

Craig's work off the ball on offense and on D has been outstanding.

Wilbekin runs the team, it's composure in the clutch and during opposition runs has a lot to do with him having the ball in his hands. He didn't set the scoreboard on fire on the weekend, but he didn't need too.

'Woeful'....... that's about the worst piece of amateur keyboard statsheet analysis I've ever seen....

Other teams will catch up when they get some more time on court under their belt, but a 4-0 start to the season is a hell of a thing in a league this close.

NZ beat Perth so are they shit Anon?

If Alexkrad is right it's because neither import performed in their last 2 games.
Their stats are woeful.
Craig has been active (to phrase it gently) but Wilbekin has just looked lost. No point suggesting he has been heavily guarded.
And where was his touted defensive form against Ervin?
Unless these guys have an oustanding game against NZ the Taipans' time at the top of the ladder may be brief.

Cairns look as good as anyone in the league so far imo.

Yet the great SA experts were predicting Adelaide to finish on top and Melbourne to finish top 3, with Cairns somewhere around 8th. So hardly giving credit to where it is really due by saying that the Taipans are only 4-0 because of an 'easy draw', which by the way included 3 away games.

True, but you can only play who you are scheduled to play. I have been surprised by them, but pleasantly so, it is great for the competition is it not...?

From BA:

Mills will dial in from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, where he recently concluded his sophomore season with the Gaels, averaging career highs of 18.7 points, 4.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

Has Patty employed an agent? Will he test the pro-league waters to gauge the temperature? What would that mean for his inclusion in the Boomers' 2009 campaign? Will he ignore the hype and stay in college?