Taipans slither away from the Kings, steal one-point victory in final minute
NORTH Queensland witnessed a theft last night as the Cairns Taipans snatched a Round 1 victory last night against reigning grand finalist Sydney Kings, 87-86, at the Cairns Pop Up Arena. The result was decided thanks to a last second miss at the buzzer by Casper Ware which bounced off the back of the rim. […]
Hawks make statement win over Bullets, Goorjian finds instant results
AS a part of an entertaining twist to the start of the season for last year’s wooden spooners, The Hawks toppled the Brisbane Bullets, 90-84, and consolidated their first win on their first attempt in hostile territory, thus ending a losing streak that dated back to middle stages of the 2019/20 campaign. In front of […]
NBL21 Round 1 preview: Taipans, Hawks and 36ers to double up in opening round
A FIVE-game opening round which features seven of the nine teams was eventually indicative of what became of the 2020 season. Just when it looked like 2021 was going to be a better version on its predecessor, the global pandemic reared its head once again, and the National Basketball League (NBL) was forced to make […]
NBL21 season previews: Cairns Taipans
AFTER a successful season which saw the Cains Taipans snake their way up the ladder, the North Queensland team is ready to build on that stepping stone and go all the way in NBL21. The Taipans finished third on the NBL20 ladder, but were knocked out by Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals. Prior to that, […]
NBL Free Agency update: 36ers, Bullets and Taipans
IN the first of a three-part series this week, Draft Central looks at the Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets and Cairns Taipans Free Agency moves thus far ahead of the delayed 2020/21 National Basketball League (NBL) season. ADELAIDE 36ERS: Adelaide is certainly undergoing a change after a tough end to the season saw coach Conner Henry […]
Young Guns in the NBL: Cameron Oliver
IF you had to pick one player under 25 to be a bona fide superstar in the National Basketball League (NBL), not based just on natural talent or an impressive rookie year, but based on what they are producing right now and their projection, Cameron Oliver would definitely be up there. What Oliver has accomplished […]
NBL Free Agency – May: How each team stands after contract opt-outs
LAST month the National Basketball League (NBL) announced it would need to reduce player payments across the board, slashing contracts by up to 50 per cent and reducing the maximum amount of imports to two per club. This had a ripple effect on the clubs and we take a look at who has fared best […]
Draft Central’s NBL 2020 Top 10 #2: Scott Machado
THIS season’s main facilitator and the second Cairns Taipans player in Draft Central’s top 10, Scott Machado takes out second spot on the countdown after an impressive 2019/20 campaign. His journey goes all the way back prior to the season’s opening tip, following the signing of Cameron Oliver to bolster the Taipans’ frontcourt. Mike Kelly […]
Draft Central’s NBL 2020 Top 10: Seeds 5-4
AS we move higher up the list of Draft Central‘s National Basketball League (NBL) Top 10, we delve into the league’s top five. Here we look at two of the NBL’s most productive big-men and two of the biggest figures in the Queensland basketball scene, showcasing why both these players had seasons deserving of a […]
2019/20 NBL season review: Perth Wildcats
IN the final instalment of the NBL season reviews by Draft Central, we look at the journey of the Perth Wildcats’ 2020 season and the rather unfortunate way that they would secure their fourth title in five seasons and their fifth in seven. Here we go again From the beginning, the kitchen sink was thrown […]
