NBA on radar for Cairns’ Oliver

In the first two games of the semi-final series against Perth, high-flying Taipans import Cameron Oliver has played out of this world.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 01: Cameron Oliver of the Taipans warms up before the start of game two of the NBL Semi Final series between the Cairns Taipans and the Perth Wildcats at the Cairns Convention Centre on March 01, 2020 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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If high-flying import Cameron Oliver can rebound the ball at this high a level during the heat of a semi-finals series, it begs the question, why didn’t he do it in the regular season?

NBL coach of the year Mike Kelly was just joking when he posed that question post-match on Sunday night, but it does point towards the serious impact Oliver is having on the series.

Still just 23 and in his first pro season in Australia, the all NBL second team member has contributed 41 points and 36 rebounds in the first two games.

And, if you compare that to his season average of 17 points and nine boards per game, the numbers tell the tale of just how important the bustling big man has been in the opening two contests.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 28: Cameron Oliver of the Taipans looks on during game one of the NBL Semi Finals Series between the Perth Wildcats and the Cairns Taipans at RAC Arena on February 28, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

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“If he could have rebounded like this the whole year, I do not know what is going on right now,” Kelly said with his tongue in his cheek about Oliver’s influence on the boards.

“But, he has lifted, and a lot of the guys have.

“As a team, guys are trying to do their best and Cam’s best is very good and he has shown that the last couple of games,” Kelly said.

“We talked about hitting bodies and boxing out and we have done a solid job of that and we want to find more ways to team rebound and Cam is a part of that.”

Oliver has been getting it done on both ends of the floor also, keeping Wildcats’ former NBA centre Miles Plumlee’s influence to a minimum so far.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 01: Cameron Oliver of the Taipans warms up before the start of game two of the NBL Semi Final series between the Cairns Taipans and the Perth Wildcats at the Cairns Convention Centre on March 01, 2020 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Plumlee landed a few big dunks early in Game 2 but overall he barely impacted the game, despite Perth coach Trevor Gleeson declaring post-match that he played well, finishing the game with a minus 16 rating in just 18 minutes on the floor.

Oliver has made no secrets of his NBA dreams and looks forward to match-ups against the best big men in the NBL.

“He’s an NBA veteran, he knows how to start his own motor as well,” the 23-year-old said of his game two run-in with Plumlee.

“I’ve got to match his intensity. I’m ready for any match-up.

“Of course, that’s the dream to get to where he was. But I’m just here to do what I can for the team.”

The Taipans depart FNQ headed for Western Australia for Game 3 on Tuesday morning.

GAME 3 SEMI-FINAL

Thursday 5 March, 8:30pm

Cairns Taipans @ Perth Wildcats

RAC Arena

Watch: SBS Viceland

Originally published as NBA on radar for Cairns’ Oliver