Cairns Taipans push to halt run of foul play

THE Cairns Taipans have become known for putting their opponents at the foul line to often over the last three games. Coach Mike Kelly and guard DJ Newbill have a plan to stop the fouls.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 28: Kyle Adnam of the Kings competes for the ball during the round three NBL match between the Sydney Kings and the Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena on October 28, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

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SNAKES coach Mike Kelly has a simple catch cry about how his team should play defence — be physical without fouling.

SNAKES coach Mike Kelly has a simple catch cry about how his team should play defence — be physical without fouling.

While his group are trying to live by that mantra, they have not got it quite right in their first four games of the campaign.

Over their last three games, the Taipans have been called for 33 more fouls than their opponents, which has led to a staggering 61 more free-throw attempts, giving up 46 more points from the charity stripe in games they lost by a combined 27 points.

With the reigning champions coming to the Far North on Saturday night, off-guard DJ Newbill says keeping their hands out against Melbourne will be critical.

Mike Kelly (centre) head coach of the Cairns Taipans is seen during the Round 3 NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Sunday, October 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

“We want to make an effort to be aggressive but we cannot control the fouls,” the former NZ Breaker said.

“We cannot control how the game is called, we just need to play hard and this week we have made a real emphasis on showing our hands on defence just so we cannot get too many.”

First-year coach Kelly, who will face his old club for the first time on Saturday, says he is in constant conversation with the NBL about how referees are calling games.

“We have been called for a lot of fouls so we need to do a better job of realising what a foul is,” Kelly said.

“That is an ongoing thing.

“Some of it is adjusting to how games are called, being disciplined and not having our hands in,

“But it has been a focus for us.

“I like to have an open dialogue with the league and getting clarification on calls all the time.”

Originally published as Cairns Taipans push to halt run of foul play