Shutting down superstar duo on top of Snakes’ to-do list
It is easier said than done but Cairns coach Mike Kelly says stopping the superstar duo of Chris Goulding and Jock Landale will be key in this weekend’s double-header against Melbourne United.
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It is easier said than done but Cairns coach Mike Kelly says stopping the superstar duo of Chris Goulding and Jock Landale will be key in this weekend’s double-header against Melbourne United.
Both players are averaging more than 16 points per game, while Landale is also averaging 7.56 rebounds, and loom large as the Taipans aim to back up Round 11’s confidence-building win over Adelaide.
Cairns lost five straight before turning a corner at home against the 36ers last Sunday and now come up against a high-flying Melbourne outfit shooting for a fourth straight win.
“I think you basically stick to your principles defensively and not worry too much,” he said.
“You know Goulding’s going to shoot it once he gets across half court, and Landale’s so tough inside and can shoot the three as well — so it’s knowing your personnel but just sticking to the game plan as a group.
“They’re very talented across the board so you need to take away personnel.”
United were dominant on both sides of the ball against cross-town rivals South East Melbourne in Round 11, shooting at 50 per cent from the field and restricting the Phoenix to just 23 second-half points to claim a 20-point victory.
Goulding showed a hot hand as he put on a shooting clinic, going 9-of-13 from the field for his 25 points, while Mitch McCarron racked up 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
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Landale finished with just seven points in what was his only single-digit outing from 18 games this season, and will be looking to bounce back against Cairns.
“They get up and in and play really tough defence so we need to be composed and take care of the ball and get good shots offensively,” Kelly said.
“Defensively, they’ve got a lot of weapons so it’s just staying in front of them and contesting as best we can and then fighting for that rebound.
“They wore South East Melbourne down last game and they couldn’t get into their flow offensively, especially in the second half
“I think it’s us continuing to play well and play through toughness, having some grit and just going on to the next play if something doesn’t work out.”
Kelly said the team trained well during the week following their crucial win against Adelaide.
“Guys came in competing and that’s all you can ask for,” he said.
“There was still some tangle ups and that’s a good thing I think, the guys are wanting to go at each other and they’re hungry to play.”
The Taipans play United twice this weekend, in Melbourne on Friday and in Cairns on Sunday.
Taipans must ‘take advantage’ of their time on the court
Cairns coach Mike Kelly will not rule out making a change to the starting five that snapped a five-game losing streak against Adelaide, when the Taipans take on Melbourne United this weekend.
Tall Blacks player Jordan Ngatai was put in the starting line-up for the injured Kouat Noi last Sunday, and while he had an off night shooting, going 1-of-9 from the field, he grabbed six boards and two assists in a strong defensive outing.
Kelly said Ngatai was solid in the starting role, but he would not rule out tinkering with the line-up again ahead of their trip to John Cain Arena.
The Taipans will likely be down two of their regular starters, with Majok Deng still nursing a left knee injury.
“It’s an opportunity for Jordan, Mirko (Djeric), Mojave (King), Tad Dufelmeier, who played really well on the weekend, Jarrod Kenny — all these guys are going to get a few more minutes and we need them to take advantage of those minutes for us to be successful,” Kelly said.
“I thought we played a good game against Adelaide and we did the things that would help us win, but I think that, of all those guys I mentioned before, any of them can start and they’re all going to get opportunities, so it doesn’t really matter who starts the game.
“I think it’s about taking advantage of those minutes and giving us what we need at that position when you’re out there.
“We need all those guys to step up, whether they start or come off the bench.”
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Ngatai said filling the void left by injured players Noi and Deng would take a team effort.
“They’re both big key players and they bring a lot to the table, but they’re on their own journey right now off the court, trying to get better so they can make a comeback,” he said.
“We have to focus on the guys that are active to play and it means everyone has to step up because we’ve got a big weekend coming up with the next two games.”
Ngatai said he wanted to make the most of his additional minutes on the floor.
“I feel like I bring a big presence on the defensive end, whether that’s communication or just being physical,” he said.
“Coach and my teammates are always on me to keep shooting the ball and stay aggressive, but also not give up on the defensive end.
“I see myself as someone that can stick up for the team and do what needs to be done.”
Noi is expected to miss up to 12 weeks with a torn posterior cruciate ligament sustained in the Taipans’ Round 10 clash against Sydney.
It is unlikely he will require surgery, provided his rehabilitation progresses as expected.
The Taipans play United twice this weekend, in Melbourne on Friday and in Cairns on Sunday.
Ngatai hopeful win can be turning point
Taipans forward Jordan Ngatai is hopeful Sunday’s 14-point win over Adelaide can be a turning point in his team’s stuttering season.
The Taipans stormed home in their return to the Snag Pit on the weekend to break a five-game losing streak and breathe a little bit of life into their faint post-season hopes.
While the victory did not get Cairns off the bottom of the ladder, it was an important win in the context of the season, according to Ngatai.
“This season is all about momentum,” he said.
“Whether it’s early on in the year where you rack up the wins or whether it’s later on going into the playoff situation when you need it most, I think any momentum you can get this season is perfect.
“That win for us at home in front of our home crowd really helped us chug along.”
Coach Mike Kelly said the win helped to relieve some of the pressure on the players and was the result of a change in team attitude.
“It does make it a little bit easier to sleep,” he said.
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“We have to take those victories and run with them and enjoy them, even if it’s just for a little bit.
“I think the change in attitude, or at least the feel, was good for a few days before we played.
“So we’re just trying to build on that and keep controlling those things like energy, attitude and playing for each other.
“The attitude is there in a positive way and the win I think helps that, but we need to keep getting better.”
Cairns face a tough task if they want to keep their winning ways, with a double-header against second-placed United this weekend.
“They’re a tough team,” Ngatai said.
“They’ve got a lot of talent, but I feel like, for us, we still have to focus on ourselves.
“We’re our biggest enemy. If we try and focus on other teams a lot then we kind of get in our own heads, but if we stay focused on what we have to do, our missions and our goals, I think it will all take care of itself.”
Kelly said he was impressed with the resilience his side showed against the 36ers,
“We didn’t play error-free basketball, but we played through the mistakes,” he said.
“We had 11 turnovers at half time but the guys kept playing through, and that was something we haven’t always done well, play through to the next play.”
He said he wanted the side to backup the win with a pair of gritty showings against United this weekend.
“I think it’s about doing some of the things we did well on Sunday, which is just coming out with great energy and taking care of what we can – playing hard all the time, fighting through screens and making their shots as tough as possible. They will still make some, but it’s just playing it down one possession at a time for every possession until the last possession,” he said.
The Taipans will travel to John Cain Arena for the first clash on Friday, before hosting United at the Snag Pit on Sunday evening.
Originally published as Shutting down superstar duo on top of Snakes’ to-do list
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