Triple threat awaits in Taipans assignment

Adelaide 36ers will be looking to make it three wins in-a-row when it travels to Far North Queensland to battle Cairns Taipans on Saturday night.

The 36ers will go to Cairns full of confidence after winning the past two home games in front of record-breaking sell out crowds, while the Taipans have been waiting to reverse a 103-86 loss in Tasmania all week.

Cairns have produced some stunning basketball during NBL24 but sit with a 9-12 win-loss record and fighting for that top six play-in berth.

Adelaide can take huge faith from the past two performances, a 100-96 win against Melbourne United and a 95-82 victory against Sydney Kings, but now have to prove themselves on the road, where the 36ers have won only one match from nine starts this season.

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THE KEY
Brought in during the off-season to be the understudy to young gun Taran Armstrong, import point guard Patrick Miller has quickly become one of the premier players in the competition.

Miller has been leading from the front for Cairns, averaging 18.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds per match, and is now the closer for head coach Adam Forde.

The 185cm point guard is a real barometer for the Taipans, and alongside good mate and fellow import swingman Tahjere McCall, the Cairns pair will look to get their side back on track.

McCall had a franchise-high 15 assists when the Taipans defeated Adelaide 116-101 at the Entertainment Centre on December 9, while Miller had a team-high 26 points.

Expect Nick Marshall to get the first look at containing Miller, while Trey Kell and McCall looms as one of the match-ups of the contest.

THE SECRET
Cairns head coach Forde has the complete faith in his entire roster, and can spring a number of surprises from game to game.

Forde has used his import power forward Josh Roberts sparingly, but when he inserted him into the starting line-up, Roberts produced a match-winning performance against Melbourne United.

A similar result was achieved, also against United, when Forde gave the license to big Sam Mennenga to shoot from the perimeter against the NBL24 league leaders on New Year’s Eve.

Mennenga responded with six three-pointers and the big man stretched the floor and disrupted the United defense.

The 206cm centre only played three minutes against Adelaide last time, but expect Mennenga to play a lot more on Saturday, especially with the recent rich vein of form from Isaac Humphries.

DEPTH CHART
PG: Miller / Armstrong / Mudronja
SG: McCall / Antonio /
SF: Kuol / Mayen
PF: Waardenburg / Klintman       
C: Mennenga / Roberts / Gak

THE FINAL WORD
Adelaide has a great opportunity to prove its recent form at home can transfer to on the road against a fired up Taipans team.

The 36ers will be backing up less than 48 hours after their impressive win against Sydney, but Adelaide should take a wave of momentum to Cairns.

Cairns have won five of their 10 games at home so far in NBL24 and will be desperate after last round’s loss in Tasmania to the JackJumpers.

Adelaide need to continue and should build on the past two victories and Saturday night looms as a huge test for the new-look Sixers.

There is a tough road schedule ahead, but all the focus must be in Far North Queensland on Saturday night.