Snakes must keep playoffs fire rolling

Cairns Post NBL columnist Rodney Anderson says the Snakes face a danger game on Saturday night against the struggling 36ers.

Phoenix's Adam Gibson shouts instructions at his teammates in the National Basketball League (NBL) New Year's Eve match between the Cairns Taipans and the South East Melbourne Phoenix, held at the Cairns Convention Centre. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

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The Taipans play Adelaide tonight in a game that may not seem important.

The visitors have a playoff spot locked in, but I guarantee you this one is a danger game.

Momentum heading into the playoffs is a wonderful thing.

Cairns have that in spades now, especially after last week’s win over Illawarra, which turned into something that looked like a celebration for the home fans in the last home regular season game.

But, all it takes for momentum to be halted is one bad game.

The 36ers’ playoff hopes may be gone but the guys on that roster are playing for contracts; for their next pay cheque.

Taipans' Scott Machado completes an easy lay up in the National Basketball League (NBL) New Year's Eve match between the Cairns Taipans and the South East Melbourne Phoenix, held at the Cairns Convention Centre. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

They won’t be mailing in this game.

Guys like Harry Froling, Anthony Drmic, Jack McVeigh and others, are all using these last few games as a tryout of sorts and given the way Adelaide play offensively, this could be a dangerous situation for the Snakes to walk into if they aren’t fully focused.

I’m sure coach Mike Kelly has been talking all week about it being business as usual and finding ways to improve.

Breakers' Jarrad Weeks fouls Taipans' Scott Machado in the National Basketball League (NBL) match between the Cairns Taipans and the New Zealand Breakers, held at the Cairns Convention Centre. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

There is no room for complacency in this Taipans team and given the leadership that has been shown so far this year, especially from Scott Machado, DJ Newbill and Mirko Djeric, I doubt this team will be taking their foot off the pedal.

All of the Taipans last three games are on the road, which may not sound ideal, but I believe it’s quite the opposite.

A team on the road trip takes on an “us vs. the world” mentality which is what they are going to need in the first playoffs round.

With a current road record of 4-7, the Orange Crush can tick a number of boxes this weekend and continue to surge.

Rodney Anderson is a two-time Townsville QBL championship-winning coach.

Originally published as Snakes must keep playoffs fire rolling