Hoops

Taipans Awards Night

Surely on the way out. Hawks as well. At least the Cairns faithful turned up to games.

Ouch... "very Townsville-like feel" is harsh, but Trigger is right... It doesn't take much to start sliding down that slippery slope of lack of fan engagement, especially when they can't afford to be losing any...

Seems like a pretty big gaff from a team that usually is pretty on the ball, doesn't it? Someone let go? Last minute leave?

"Ever". Sad indictment Paul.

Loughton Unshackled due to contract expiring??

In press conferences this year both Fearne and Loughton talked about how he was playing loose because it might be his last year. Well done to him, best he's played in years, possibly ever.

"Am I missing something or was there zero communications about this on the night on their social pages? No pics, congrats with images on their Insta, Twitter, etc?"

Cairns' budget does not allow even for a free instagram account nor a 2 megapixel camera to take snaps.

"Wednesday seems a strange night to have an end-of-season celebration."

It was the only evening the public park BBQ was available.

Not sure it'd be about going out with a bang. Surely some of it is a mixture of confidence shown by the coach, and then performing in those minutes to justify more of the same? In past years, they presumably got the veteran role plus toughness/D from Worthington and so Loughton was a little less crucial.

I do wonder if he went into this season thinking "this might be my last roll of the dice, nothing to lose I'll try and go out with a bang". He's stayed injury free and issues with other players have given him lots of court time so that went in his favour too.

He's also looked a LOT better the past few years when he's kept playing through the off-season in the QBL or similar.

Seriously, Gordon.

You need to compare Loughton's performance this season against his own in years past. You don't compare it to others.

Hope you can understand this

Players generally step up in a contract year, that's not a new thing, but if you paid any attention to Alex this season in post-game interviews when his improved form was brought up and the fact that his body wasn't carrying any niggling injuries was a huge factor...

Wednesday seems a strange night to have an end-of-season celebration. Was it a team-only thing or something? I thought the Taipans used to have a big gala night.

"It was a contract year for everyone except Jawai and Kuany. Your point is invalid."

GordonG your lack of logic is woeful.

"Loughton was heading into this season with the thought this could be his last. I doubt hos thought process was "jeez, I better have a huuugee season so I can get another contract"."

Of course he was. I read in an article a while ago that last year he finally stopped renting and purchased a house in Cairns. Contract year + now entrenched in Cairns with his young family it is human nature to look after yourself.

"Gordon any chance you could paste the Post's article about the evening as it is subscriber only?"

Sorry, not a subscriber.

Loughton was heading into this season with the thought this could be his last. I doubt hos thought process was “jeez, I better have a huuugee season so I can get another contract”.

Provide that evidence then please

"Because it was a contract year for him. Funny that."

It was a contract year for everyone except Jawai and Kuany. Your point is invalid.

Is it wrong to think that Scoochie Smith couldn't get back to America quick enough, he seemed like a good kid but he didn't adapt well to the NBL and made Weeks look like a quality point guard by comparison... look forward to seeing/hearing how both men's careers develop

Lol I was thinking the same thing haha

Did anyone attend other than Mitch, Cam, Alex and Nate?

Because it was a contract year for him. Funny that.

I think Alex Loughton has had a fantastic year

Still looking at replacements for Patty though...


http://www.nbl.com.au/tigers/news/article/2011/november/tigers-promote-lang/