Cairns Taipans players admit to missing their professional spark

Struggling Cairns Taipans players admit to missing their professional spark in beat down at hands of the Perth Wildcats. The loss was their tenth straight this NBL season.

• Taipans slither to miserable new low
• Cairns drop ninth straight game
• Melo heads back to future for a win

Energy and effort.

It was obvious to see those two fundamental parts of the game were lacking for anyone watching the Cairns Taipans 22-point loss to Perth on Sunday night, their tenth on the bounce.

And, straight after the defeat, rookie coach Mike Kelly and experienced point guard Jarrod Kennyacknowledged as much.

“It was more so the fact that we did not bring the energy, being professionals, that is your calling card,” Kenny, who has 12 points in the defeat against his old club, said.

“Mike can’t motivate us to play hard every game, that is on us.

“That is just something we spoke about and something we need to work on.”

The struggling playing group held a lengthy discussion in the rooms straight after the game, which started with the players before the coaching staff arrived.

Head coach of the Cairns Taipans, Mike Kelly speaks to his players during the Round 8 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans at Perth Arena in Perth, Sunday, December 9, 2018. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

With the New Zealand Breakers, who are 4-8 and are second last on the NBL ladder, on the way to the Far North this Sunday afternoon, the first-year mentor challenged his players to display more energy and effort if they are going to get back on the winners list.

“Energy solves a lot of things, and effort,” Kelly said.

“This group has been great all season, even through some tough losses.

“This is disappointing, so to shoot from the hip after a disappointing loss is not smart.

“That’s why we don’t have too many team meetings after a tough loss but today there was a real feeling that we have to be better at some things.

“It doesn’t say we have answers, but I want to digest it again.

“The obvious things are energy and effort, from all of us, we can be better at that.”

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA — DECEMBER 09: Devon Hall of the Taipans passes the ball during the round eight NBL match between the Perth Wildcats and the Cairns Taipans at RAC Arena on December 09, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Import point guard Melo Trimble had the quietest game of his NBL career, recording season lows in points, just eight on 2-9 shooting, and minutes, just under 26.

The Breakers will travel to Cairns for the first time this season in Round 9 following a 71-70 defeat at the hands of Sydney on Sunday.

Former Snake Jarrad Weeks top scored for the Breakers with 19 points off the bench, including 12 in the final quarter.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans players admit to missing their professional spark