Nelson Weidemann had just one practice with the New Zealand Breakers before playing, and Gordon Herbert sees a role for him once he settles: "maybe be a defensive stopper for us on the defensive end on the perimeter."
"for 38 minutes they didn't call 3 seconds in the key or moving screen, and then they called 2. A minute 30 to go. What's that about?" — New Zealand Breakers coach Gordon Herbert on the loss to Tasmania. He also asked why the same three referees from 16 October worked it again.
No timeline for Parker Jackson-Cartwright or Josiah-Jordan James, both out for the New Zealand Breakers. Gordon Herbert: "hopefully we get James and Parker back at some time." With Jackson-Cartwright out, "we're asking a lot" of Sam Mennenga: "Sam's a workhorse."
"Yeah, we ran out of gas." Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said his players have had 4 days off in the last 32. So despite giving up 27 offensive rebounds, he'll keep the 4 practices before New Zealand lighter: "I'm not going to smash them with rebounding drills."
Jack McVeigh and Keanu Pinder are "very ill" and being isolated from the group, Cairns coach Adam Forde said. Neither got out of bed for 48 hours, yet both played about 20 minutes. He said they "shouldn't have played." Illness has also hit Forde and the team manager.
Shaun Bruce needs managing, Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said, so 17-year-old Luke Paul faces "an increased expectation" to run point. About half a dozen players have nagging issues Forde called nothing major, which he wants to stop turning into "big things".