Taipans urged to show their fangs after NBL drubbing
Murray Wenzel |
Cairns coach Adam Forde has pleaded with is embattled squad to play “like your life’s on the line”, lamenting a lack of edge after another NBL whipping in Brisbane.
The Taipans (2-8) led by five approaching halftime before the wheels fell off in a 113-85 Thursday night loss.
It was a seventh-straight defeat for the Taipans and their fifth by at least 27 points.
Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison feasted around the rim, scoring 21 points and collecting eight rebounds while Casey Prather (21 points, 10 rebounds) was well-supported by Jaylen Adams (20 points, seven assists) and import Dakota Mathias (11 points) in his NBL debut.
The victory was Brisbane’s (4-6) first in four home games this season and followed a heavy defeat to South East Melbourne on Saturday while the last-placed Taipans sunk to 2-8.
There was flow to the Taipans’ offence in the form of 30 assists but Forde was critical of his team’s lack of urgency and desperation in defence.
“It was too easy; Brisbane were able to get what they wanted,” he said.
“What we lack is that edge. We’ve got a lot of nice guys … they don’t like losing by 30, you can feel it.
“But you can play hard without talent and get wins. There was a loose ball and no one went for it.
“Take some skin off the knees.”
Forde’s roster looks different to how he drew it up preseason, with import guard Andrew Andrews (11 points, 10 rebounds) a late addition and in-form big Sam Waardenburg out injured for the first half of the season.
Big-money recruit Jack McVeigh returned from a wrist injury with 23 points and six assists but it was practically a lone hand.
Forde said a broad-brush approach to the team’s defensive mentality was needed.
He used former Taipan Ben Ayre, now with Tasmania, as an example of a player who took their chance by playing “like their life’s on the line”.
“This is not great, this is bad basketball … we have to address it right now,” he said.
“What’s your edge, what’s your desperation? I can’t want it more for you.
“It can be a moment in someone’s career to establish themselves.”
Bullets coach Stu Lash was pleased with his side’s ability to move Cairns’ defence around and allow his key men to rest ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Sydney Kings.
“The 21 (team) assists is a big one,” he said.
“When we move the ball and shift the defence, that’s when I think we can be dangerous and that’s not even mentioning the big fella (Harrison) inside, who can create so many advantages for us.”
AAP
