Cairns and Brisbane brace for battle over a month on from the NBL’s ugly halftime altercation
It’s the fiery NBL rematch which has been tipped to ‘go off’ – a month after Boomers star Aron Baynes was whacked with a five-match suspension for an ugly altercation.
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October’s fiery NBL clash between the Brisbane Bullets and Cairns Taipans dominated conversation for weeks – now Friday’s rematch of Queensland’s Sunshine Stoush is expected to “go off”.
That’s the view of former MVP Derek Rucker, who believes Bullets big man Aron Baynes will be out for revenge after receiving a five-game suspension for his actions during the hostile round 2 loss to the Taipans.
The rivalry match was marred by a physical altercation between Baynes and Cairns coach Adam Forde in the tunnel at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena during the halftime break.
The Bullets big man pushed Forde into a wall after the pair came together and had words. Brisbane officials originally blamed Forde for inciting Baynes by deliberately waiting in the tunnel, however conclusive audio and footage exposed the truth.
The ugly incident was sparked when Baynes copped an elbow to the throat from Cairns forward Lat Mayen, prompting the ex-NBA big man to confront the referees in a rage.
Forde was cleared of any wrongdoing after it emerged he was waiting in the tunnel for his halftime stats.
Code Sports also obtained the CCTV footage of the ugly halftime clash, which clearly showed the pair coming together before Baynes pushed the Taipans coach into a wall.
Over a month on, Brisbane and Cairns will resume their rivalry and Rucker is anticipating fireworks.
“I know if you’re Aron Baynes, how you would respond in a similar situation and you’d be looking to get some back,” said Rucker, who will be on the sideline broadcast at the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night.
“We know what is really under all of this – it’s the Baynes situation with Adam Forde and Lat Mayen.
“That (Cairns) is a volatile place to play as it is, and with that simmering underneath, I’m expecting something to go off.
“It’s going to be a hostile environment. We know what Friday nights look like in Cairns. There will be a lot of beverages flowing, people are off work and ready to see the Taipans win.”
Brisbane welcome back former Cairns guard Shannon Scott from a hamstring injury, but Rucker is leaning towards the Taipans to get the job done at home.
“I think it’s going to be a real challenge for Brisbane,” he said.
“The Bullets get Shannon Scott back and he is going to have to provide some offensive punch and some poise down the stretch at critical times.”
Cairns defeated Brisbane back in round 2 – and NBL legend Shane Heal is tipping a repeat performance from the Taipans in Friday’s home clash against the Bullets.
“This is going to be exciting for Cairns,” Heal said.
“It’s their first game with a full team. They’ve got a really exciting roster and they’ve only shown glimpses of what their potential is.
“I think going off and playing those NBA games to start the season really derailed them for a period of time, but this FIBA break has come at a good time for them.
“They’ve got healthy bodies and I think they are going to win this game and I think they are going to win it easily.”
NBL CLUBS TIPPED TO SNUB NBA GREAT
NBA champion and eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard is testing the NBL market, but the polarising big man appears to have a struggle on his hands.
It has emerged Howard, who is currently playing for the Taiwan Beer Leopards, is reportedly exploring career options in the EuroLeague and Australia with the view of returning to the NBA where he has played 1,367 games for seven clubs.
However, the Logue Down column understands there is little NBL interest in the 37-year-old centre who was one of the NBA’s finest players in his prime.
The Adelaide 36ers recently declared they have no plans to pursue another player, despite having a roster spot for another big man.
The 36ers have been floated as a potential landing spot for Howard, but it’s understood the club won’t move in that direction.
New Zealand Breakers also need help in a number of areas, including in the big man department, where the 211cm specimen would fit the bill – if he is still capable of playing at the level.
But a source close to the organisation, which is understood to be still looking for at least one replacement player with both Zylan Cheatham and Will McDowell-White on the long-term injured list, told Code Sports “that’s not the name I’m hearing.”
Howard has enjoyed a love affair with Australia, having visited several times, including in 2014, where he was spotted paddle boarding in Manly before a stop in Cairns and in 2017, when he was seen around Perth.
The 2020 NBA champion is a three-time Defensive Player of the year and was the most-dominant centre on the planet through an eight-year stretch in Orlando.
Howard turns 38 in early December, but he still commands the type of big dollars that most NBL teams can’t afford.
He is reportedly earning over $1 million in Taiwan – and unless he is prepared to take a pay cut, it’s unlikely we’ll see the ex-NBA centre in the NBL anytime soon.
HEAL NOT SOLD ON POSITIONLESS AWARD CHANGE
The NBL has followed in the NBA’s footsteps and introduced All-NBL Teams based on a positionless format.
The All-NBL First Team and Second Team will become positionless, meaning any five players can be selected regardless of what position they play.
League officials believe the best player will now have a greater chance of being recognised, but NBL great Shane Heal doesn’t agree.
Heal believes the NBL didn’t need to go positionless to reward the finest players.
“I don’t like it,” Heal said on this week’s Basketball Show.
“How is it positionless? So if five guards make that team, are you happy?
“I think it would have been a better move to be more flexible with the positions. You don’t have to have a one, two, three and a four, but as long as you are roughly in that vicinity, I don’t care.
“When you talk about basketball being a positionless game, we don’t have five point guards playing at the same time.
“They’ll say we’ll never have five guards, but when it happens you watch everyone jump up and down.”
The NBL’s move to introduce positionless All-NBL First and Second teams has received significant support.
CJ CALLS ON JEKYLL AND HYDE SIXERS TO ‘WAKE UP’
Adelaide’s fast finishes have made for several thrilling NBL24 clashes but the 36ers’ penchant for slow starts is a worrying trend coach CJ Bruton wants his elite talent to fix – beginning with this round’s tough road double to NZ and Tasmania.
In eight of 11 games so far this season, the Sixers have found themselves in halftime holes before coming home with a wet sail to either snatch victory or close the gap significantly.
Across those eight games, the Sixers have scored 85 more second-half points than they have in the first.
Giving chase makes for an enthralling spectacle from a fans’ perspective but being behind the eight ball from the get-go is not conducive to winning basketball.
Adelaide coach CJ Bruton wants it fixed, pronto, calling out his starting group after a lax training session ahead of their departure for New Zealand.
“We haven’t had great starts,” Bruton said.
“Being on the road, winning that first four-minute patch is key.
“Our starting group weren’t great again today and I keep harping on them: ‘hey, I’m relying on you guys to get us off to a great start’.
“While we haven’t been great, (we’re) trying to find what’s best for that unit to wake them up and be prepared to play a great game for us.”
The Sixers, in this weekend’s potentially season-defining trip, get a massive chance to prove a recent uptick in results isn’t just a flash in the pan.
Adelaide went 3-2 before the FIBA break, claiming the scalp of South East Melbourne Phoenix in a rousing come-from-behind (they were 21 down) three-point victory that has them in a position to leap into the top six – if they can handle the trip across the ditch against the injury-ravaged Breakers on Thursday night and back it up against the full-strength JackJumpers in Tassie on Saturday.
Health won’t be an excuse with Bruton to have a full roster at his disposal. The return of versatile import wing Trey Kell from a calf strain adds an elite scorer and facilitator alongside emerging star Dejan Vasiljevic, while both Jacob Wiley and Jason Cadee at peak fitness after they were struck by a bout of gastro.
Off-contract Bruton remains under pressure with a 4-7 record and needs results in the second half of the season to secure a new deal.
KEY POINTS:
-Shaun Bruce’s 300th NBL game on Friday night when Sydney travel to Perth to take on the Wildcats.
-Melbourne United touching wood but guard Ian Clark is trending toward a return against Cairns. Still has testing to go through this week, but Sunday is the goal. Matthew Dellavedova is already cleared for a return. United could have a full squad for just the second time this season.
-Looking like Daniel Johnson will play one more game for the South East Melbourne Phoenix this weekend against NZ on Saturday.
Gorjok Gak is close to full training and is targeting a return against Sydney next week.
Gary Browne, Will Cummings and Owen Foxwell had niggles last week but all are set to play.
NBL ROUND 9: (All games live on ESPN and Kayo)
Thursday, November 30:
New Zealand Breakers vs Adelaide 36ers at Spark Arena from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Friday, December 1:
Cairns Taipans vs Brisbane Bullets at Cairns Convention Centre from 7.30pm (AEDT)
Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings at RAC Arena from 9.30pm (AEDT)
Saturday, December 2:
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs New Zealand Breakers at John Cain Arena from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Adelaide 36ers at MyState Bank Arena from 8pm (AEDT)
Sunday, December 3:
Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans at John Cain Arena from 2pm (AEDT)
Brisbane Bullets vs Illawarra Hawks at Nissan Arena from 4pm (AEDT)
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