Game Preview: Taipans v Breakers

Looking to setup themselves well as they enter the two-week break, Cairns will be seeking a win with starters Taran Armstrong and Tanner Groves returning to the court. Also looking to bounce back after their loss last week are the Breakers, who struggled with momentum to go down in Tasmania by 19 points.

Where and When

Saturday, 16 November at the Cairns Convention Centre (4:30pm AEST)

How to Follow

Watch: Live on ESPN

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score

What’s Already Happened

Round 8 Results

Cairns Taipans (74) v South East Melbourne (97)

New Zealand Breakers (64) v Tasmania JackJumpers (83)

Returning home to Far North Queensland, the Taipans are eyeing up their last chance to add to their win total before entering the two-week FIBA break.

After running without their full lineup since Round 3, the locals will appear in front of the Orange Army only missing Pedro Bradshaw, with point guard Taran Armstrong and center Tanner Groves returning to help inspire their teammates.

Whilst not facing the Breakers since December last year, Cairns will enter the battle as the underdogs – a title that they’ve relished when facing New Zealand with the Taipans winning the last five games against them when holding that title.

They’re returning home after facing a sharpshooting Phoenix lineup, who hit eight shots from deep in the first quarter alone to blast themselves out to an early lead with Cairns unable to catch up.

Despite not catching fire themselves from deep themselves, the Taipans have set themselves up as an accurate team from range. Across the opening eight rounds of the season, they’ve scored 38.5% of their points from behind the three-point line and have three players in the top 10 most efficient three-point shooters in the league – whilst New Zealand has none.

Rejoining the lineup is Rob Edwards, who will be looking to continue his own shooting performances. The American only trails Chris Goulding in three-point makes across the league – trailing the guard by 11 makes – however has made three less appearances and 58 less attempts, and is 12.7% more efficient than his fellow guard.

WARNING: We have a sniper in the building 🎯

📲 @cairnstaipans | 📷 @espn pic.twitter.com/aRxdbkEOPy

— Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) November 2, 2024

Entering the round leading the league for least opposition rebounds allowed, the Breakers are also cleaning up the least boards themselves and will be facing an improved Taipans rebounding side from when they last saw them in December 2023.

It’s a side that’s improved from 31 rebounds in their last appearance against New Zealand to now average 42.2 this season but will face a lineup who’s ranked second in the league for ability to restrict their opponents rebounding.

Co-ordinating their performances on the offensive end is Parker Jackson-Cartwright, with the MVP favourite standing as the only player in the league to average over seven assists a game. Flying north to Cairns after coming off a nine-assist performance against Tasmania, the guard is also ranked third in scoring and steals, and will be a major focus for the Taipans to shut down.

Player to Watch

As his second season under Adam Forde continues, AK Gak has taken advantage of the available court time and is on track for his best year in the league. The forward has already scored twice as many points this season as he did across his three years in Illawarra despite only being 11 games into the season, and has pushed himself into the starting lineup across five of the last six games.

Gak has consistency provided Cairns with an easy opportunity to score in the paint, with the forward registering over a dunk per game since Round 4 and only one of his field goals this season coming from outside the ark. He’ll line up opposite Next Star Karim Lopez, who has seen his own rise into the starting lineup this season and is currently averaging 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds so far.

AIRTIME AK ✈️

📲 @cairnstaipans | 📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/jMPWFn8QsP

— Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) November 2, 2024

What’s Been Said

Taipans assistant coach Kerry Williams:

"If you were around the group this week, you couldn't tell that we'd lost seven in a row. The group has been really good, high-energy, and having Taran and Tanner back in the group has been a big part of it. But it's been high energy, and the guys have been really competitive this week.

"Taran's our leader. We've built most of our offence around him, so he's got to lead it and run it. We've built this thing around him being able to get guys in positions and make plays, and get guys the ball where they need it.

"Jackson's playing his role perfectly. He's coming in and run the team, and defended - that's been the big thing that he's been able to be disruptive in the on balls, defend, and get us organised."

Taipans guard Taran Armstrong:

"We've had a really good week of practice. The guys are really united now that we've got some guys back - Tanners back, Robs back - so we've got a few more of our guys and I think we've really got something to prove and we're really excited for it.

"DT is fitting in really well. Obviously it's been a kind of a crazy little spurt and he's had to come in and learn a lot quickly, but he's done a really good job. He's very experienced, he's been in the league before, so that helps him out. But he's been good and he's fitting in really well.

"New Zealand are sort of the team to beat at the moment. Obviously they lost of Tassie last week, but I'm sure that they'll bounce back from that really well. They're a really good side - PJC is a big part of that, and if he's not scoring then he's finding someone for a shot, so he's going to be a massive job for us."

The Lineups

Taipans

PG – Taran Armstrong / Jackson Makoi / Kyle Adnam

SG – Rob Edwards / Jonah Antonio / Deshon Taylor

SF – Kyrin Galloway / Alex Higgins-Titsha

PF – AK Gak / Dillon Stith / Kody Stattmann

C – Sam Waardenburg / Tanner Groves

Breakers

PG – Parker Jackson-Cartwright / Mitch McCarron

SG – Matt Mooney / Kaia Isaac / Alex McNaught

SF – Karim Lopez / Sean Bairstow

PF – Grant Anticevich / Carlin Davison

C – Sam Mennenga / Freddie Gillespie / Dane Pineau

Ins and Outs 

Taipans

Ins – Rob Edwards, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Kody Stattmann

Outs – Pedro Bradshaw (ankle)

Breakers

Ins – Kaia Isaac, Alex McNaught, Carlin Davison

Outs – Max Darling (groin), Mojave King (calf), Jonah Bolden (calf)