The question on Taipans contender status

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Derek Rucker says Cairns' inability to keep a roster of fully-fit players has made it impossible to gauge the Taipans against the rest of the NBL.

The Cairns Taipans have endured more than their fair share of injury issues this season, and Derek Rucker believes the inability for Adam Forde’s side to stay on the court means it’s impossible to evaluate if they are contenders or not.

Patrick Miller has been missing with a back injury following a heavy fall in Round 5, while a hip injury is currently keeping highly ranked Next Star Bobi Klintman sidelined.

Taran Armstrong has played just three games, and illness restricted Sam Mennenga’s NBLxNBA tour and limited his impact immediately after.

<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/nbl-now/nbl-now-nov-15-the-fall-out-from-jackomas-sacking/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="NBL NOW | Nov 15 | The fall out from Jackomas sacking and who is the NBLs premier big man"></iframe>

Tahjere McCall was also absent for the birth of his child, while Lachlan Anderson and development player Kian Dennis have experienced injury issues of their own.

“Part of their problem is they can’t get a full lineup out there, they can’t stay healthy, it’s this, it’s that.” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“They can never get the continuity with their lineups to allow us to evaluate what they can do as a full-strength team.

“I think if you have a full strength Cairns and a full strength Perth, the Taipans are a better team. There’s not much in it, Cairns is slightly better fully equipped.

“How do they handle Perth? Perth are hot right now, they’re cooking.”

Perth’s three-game winning run has been sparked by a resurgence in form by star guard Bryce Cotton.

Over the three victories the three-time MVP has registered tallies of 29, 24 and 37 points.

Cotton has connected with just under 90 per cent of his free throws across his career with the Wildcats, and has hit 20 out of 21 in his past two games combined.

Rucker says the Taipans need to find a way to keep Cotton off the line if they want to keep him quiet.

“Somebody better get on Bryce Cotton. Tahjere McCall, that is your duty," Rucker said.

“Please, please stop fouling Bryce when he shoots three-point shots. It was three times in the first half the other night, it’s inexcusable.

“Just get a good contest but don’t foul him – you build his confidence when you do that.”

The Wildcats and Taipans face off on Thursday night at 9:30pm AEDT.