Taipans can overcome "mental hurdle"

Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde is confident his team can bounce back from the disappointment of a big opening round defeat to Illawarra, when they take on Adelaide at home on Saturday night.

“The loss is probably more of a mental hurdle that we need to get over rather than a basketball side of it,” Forde said on Thursday.

“So the basketball is the easy fix, the guys just have to back themselves, believe and more importantly shoot that open shot.”

A 27-point loss was far from the ideal start for the Taipans, who have been hampered by injuries and unavailability among their guard rotation, particularly the player dubbed “the head of the snake”, Taran Armstrong. 

The young gun is expected to be sidelined for “a few more weeks”, while Jackson Makoi faces another week out due to suspension. Kyle Adnam could make his club debut this week, adding some valuable experience alongside injury replacement player Tad Dufelmeier.

“It is important to not rush him back, it is a long season,” Forde said of Armstrong.

“The schedule works for us, that it is one game weeks at the moment.

“If we run the risk of bringing him back too soon, when all these double headers start rolling through, then it only does more damage than good.”

Imports Tanner Groves and Rob Edwards made promising starts for their new club in Round 1, with 19 and 17 points respectively, but will need to step up even further in the absence of key players.

The Hawks host Adelaide on Saturday night at the Cairns Convention Centre, with tip-off from 5.30pm AEST.