Preview: Cairns vs Illawarra - Round 7, NBL24

Friday, November 10, 2023

Can a well-rested Cairns buck the trend and take a much-needed win at home, or can Illawarra silence the doubters?

Saturday, November 11 at 5:30pm AEDT | Cairns Convention Centre

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

The Taipans have experienced a full week without games for the first time this season as the club has contended with an injury crisis over the season so far.

Taran Armstrong and Tahjere McCall both returned in the loss to the Phoenix, but they were still without Patrick Miller following a back injury to the import guard.

Jacob Jackomas stated his side should be favourites for the clash despite being bottom of the ladder, due to the victory the Hawks picked up last time they met Cairns.

Jackomas also alluded to likely change within the starting lineup and rotation as he continues to search for a winning formula.

Mason Peatling has been confirmed as returning from a cheek injury by the Hawks.

Cairns
78-91 loss to South East Melbourne
81-91 loss to New Zealand
87-80 win over Sydney

Illawarra
83-103 loss to Sydney
84-96 loss to Melbourne
84-83 win over Cairns

Sam Mennenga
After commencing his NBL career with an exceptional 17-point performance in Cairns’ Round 1 loss to New Zealand, Sam Mennenga has found recent weeks tough, with Adam Forde implying the Kiwi big has been playing through injury in recent games.

Forde said no Taipan would benefit from the side’s full week off more than Mennenga, following the defeat to South East Melbourne, where he scored just three points in a season-low nine minutes of action.

Mennenga is in the strange position where his two best performances in his young career so far both came in defeats to the Breakers, but that Round 1 masterclass in modern post play showed enough to set tongues wagging.

If Round 1 Mennenga was the only time he’s been well-rested and injury free this season, Round 7 could see another strong performance.

“He’s got everything going on at the moment. He’s tough as nails, but without going into too much detail on it we’re relying on him unnecessarily at the moment, just as we’re trying to get everyone else going. He’s tough, but he probably needs this week more than anyone.” – Adam Forde on Sam Mennenga following the loss to South East Melbourne.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam Mennenga finishes a slick move ?<br><br>? Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> LIVE on ESPN! <a href="https://t.co/Su7WlW1txS">pic.twitter.com/Su7WlW1txS</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1718199705333809637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Justin Robinson
The return of Justin Robinson to Illawarra's active roster this season was supposed to be the catalyst for their rise up the ladder, but it hasn't worked out like that for the beleaguered Hawks this season.

Robinson has shown flashes of the brilliance that convinced five NBA sides to offer him a position between 2019 and 2022, but he's struggled to pair well in the backcourt with fellow import and heavy usage guard Tyler Harvey.

He put in one of the individual performances of the season when he scored 26 points in Illawarra's win over South East Melbourne in Round 2 and was one assist from a 20-point triple-double in the Round 5 loss to Melbourne, but in four of the other six games he's played this season he's shot below 40 per cent from the field and registered 10 or fewer points three times - including a disappointing three points against Adelaide, where he hit just one of 15 shot attempts for the game.

At his best Robinson is one of the most electric and threatening guards in the competition, but he has to find a way to make it work. Derek Rucker challenged him by saying he believes the guard could be more impactful from the bench for Jacob Jackomas' side. Let's see how he responds.

"We hate seeing imports go to the bench, but something’s got to give with that pairing. Robinson and Harvey aren’t getting it done and I don’t lnow who’s more to blame ... I think Robinson was supposed to be the catalyst, the real talent, the guy that took them to being a competitive play-in team and he just hasn’t got it done. We don’t like to be this harsh but it might be time for a permanent change in that position." – Derek Rucker on NBL Now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come for the Justin Robinson handle, stay for the Gary Clark jam ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/1Tap1eB5ai">pic.twitter.com/1Tap1eB5ai</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1713088595899134161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tahjere McCall vs Tyler Harvey
Two of the NBL’s most entertaining offensive threats will face off in Far North Queensland, and each have struggled to get themselves going so far this season.

In Tahjere McCall’s defence he’s played two games this season and only recently returned to the country following the birth of his child.

For Tyler Harvey though, the opportunities to impress have been there, and he’s shooting NBL career lows in points per game, field goal percentage and three-point percentage.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> is too clutch ?<br><br>Which Tyler Harvey game-winner was better? ? <a href="https://t.co/mr8sp8sOYC">pic.twitter.com/mr8sp8sOYC</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1717731805296783664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The pair scored a combined 12 points on 2-19 shooting in their side’s most recent games. McCall scored eight on 1-8 shooting against South East Melbourne, while Harvey added just four points after going 1-11 from the field against Sydney.

Both players have equity in the competition and runs on the board though, and to expect them both to continue in the vein they shot last week would be foolish.

Whoever can re-find that scoring touch fastest might just provide the edge in this contest.

Gettyimages 1711632572 (1)
Tahjere McCall made his NBL24 return in Round 6.

Illawarra has lost 17 of its last 18 away games. The only victory in that run came in Round 16 last year, when a Tyler Harvey game-winner sank New Zealand hearts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TYLER HARVEY TO WIN THE GAME. HE IS MAGIC ?<br><br>UNRIVALLED DRAMA<br><br>WHAT A GAME OF NBL BASKETBALL ? <a href="https://t.co/218UNw8XkS">pic.twitter.com/218UNw8XkS</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1615989417155637250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>