Shawn Dennis made some good points here:
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/will-the-real-cairns-taipans-please-show-up/story-fnjpuwrj-1226776844706
"To me it comes down to chemistry they may not be sure how to work together and a lack of identity," the Crocs coach said.

"They are trying to play at speed, but traditionally Aaron likes the slower, grind it out, style. That can contribute to uncertainty."

He compared this season's Taipans with the Adelaide of old, who for the past three seasons failed to convert talent into wins.

Out of all the unusual things to happen so far this year, Cairns having an 0-7 run must surely rank as the least predictable.

My full take on Cairns is up over at The Roar - http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/12/06/its-now-or-never-for-the-cairns-taipans/

There's definitely been some underlying positives for the Taipans in recent weeks, but the fact is they haven't been able to convert that into a W. Having the 36ers on the second night of a back-to-back, on the road, is a perfect opportunity for them.

But at the same time, if the losing streak blows out to eight, that's pretty much their season. Stakes are high.

Yes, the appealing stench of desperation hangs over most of the games this week, adds a nice spice to proceedings :D

Surprising for so early in the season though...

Weighed down

For the sake of the remaining two seasons we've got him, I hope Steven Weigh pulls it together tomorrow..

Was hoping the 36ers would beat the Crocs so they'd be a little complacement tonight. But they'll be out for blood now, here's one nervous Taipans fan hoping the snakes can pull it together.

Cairns for the spoon.

dam live stats frozen at 9 min 23 sec to go in the third quarter any one got a score update please

Cairns 57 Sixers 52

thank you

2:45 left in the 3rd, Cairns lead 59-57

Cairns 68 Sixers 63 at the break.

Taipans 68 - 63 (end 3rd) ...

68-63 at 3QT after a crucial 3pt shot from Cairns.

Still anyone's game, but in their 8th quarter in 2 days with a 5pt headstart to the locals, will be hard to tip Adelaide over Cairns from here.

And Jamar Wilson gets the basket and the foul to start the 4th

thanks for the updates I watched the live stats for the syd woll game without a hiccup then the game I really want to know the result crashes so frustrating

Cairns by 9, 74 to 65

Couple fouls already against Cairns, both of them on the lighter end of the greyscale.

Ervin gets a layup on a one-on-one break to cut the deficit from 10 to 8.

Cairns 81 sixers 71 6.00 to go

Has NBL.tv just gone down like the NBL live stats?

Yes what a joke, I could run the nbl better than it is now.

Unfortunately its not the NBL. Its the company that BA signed to do their stats and NBL.tv who is the problem.

The NBL sadly are pretty powerless to do much about it until the contract runs out.

Outta order league should merge with basketball australia really

I think the nbl need to take a good look at themselves. Nbl live stats down, nbl tv down, tell me, this never happens in afl, rugby league and union, cricket, soccer, afl etc. cannot find anywhere a live score. Nbl are a shambles of an organisation

Just saw the score with a little over 2 minutes left

Cairns 91, Adelaide 73

Cairns 16 points up 2.26 to go

Who won?

Yeah the only reason that I haven't purchased nbl.tv is because i'm waiting until a better product can be produced. I refuse to waste my money on inferior products

Cairns 20pts up 1.18 to play

NBL reports 98-78 final score, Cairns break their streak with a 20-pt pasting (largely a 4th quarter blow-out) of the 2nd place team.

Adelaide go 0-2 on the sunshine swing, the second team to do so this year.

Sixers definately experiencing technical difficulties

We lost 98-78

Two nights in a row we let the opposition score 98 points.

98 - 78 (FT) ...

Sixers season has hit a major road hump.

Very ordinary weekend.

Undone all the good work.

I'm not sure they can get it back on track.

Thoughts ???

nbl tv down, nil stats down, umps back down to last years standard..... Maybe Coles could sponsor …… Down down, Standards are down….

The Perform Group really do need to get their act together. First live stats go down with 9:23 left in the 3rd, then with half of the last period still to play NBL.tv goes down.

I think the NBL will be glad when Perform's contract is over. I doubt it will be renewed. The league's major sponsor is iinet, they should work out a deal with them to run NBL.tv

Anyway, Wilson scored 30 for Cairns, Loughton 20. For Adelaide out best was Gibbo with 20 and DJ with 12. Any more than that is anyone's guess right now.

@Jamie It's not that bad yes we just lost 2 games in a row but we still retain 2nd spot on the ladder with 3 wins ahead of syd 3rd on the ladder and 4 wins ahead of towns 4th on the ladder. 6ERS now get to rest till next Sunday and extract revenge on cairns at home.

So I raised some questions about the road form of the 36ers at the start of the weekend when it was 3-2; now that it is 3-4, I can't help but feel that I was on to something...

Sixers still not competitive from the three point line and every team has worked out how to slow down their running game and guard them inside. We are not versatile enough as long as our shooting from range stats are weak.!!!

I don't share your confidence "bk".

Hope they prove me wrong over the next few games.

I know home-court makes a huge difference.

Would have been acceptable to have got 1 from 2 on the road though.

Sack Joey!

You might be right anon.

@Jamie I was just pointing out that I don't think it's time to panic yet. I'm very happy with the way this season is going. At the start I was predicting to just scrape into the finals (which still might happen)and am pleasantly surprised to be 2nd on the ladder. We have had some very lucky wins and could have easily been down the bottom of the ladder,but the guys have shown guts and determination this season and I think they will bounce back.

iiNet definitely are not sponsors - the NBL doesn't have a naming rights sponsor this year.

They have those in Cairns?

Nathan, you do realise Cairns is the biggest tourism city per capita in the country, right? Don't you go dissin my city boiiii. Carn the Taips! Champions baby. Champions!

Champions?

Whilst I applaud positive thinking and supporting your team, the home record of 2-4 needs to be addressed I think.

The game was closer than the score reflected. Cairns had no answer for BJ Anthony but luckily Joey kept taking him off. DJ didn't turn up to play, he seemed to be getting upset at everyone while he was on the bench. Good all round performance by the Taipans though.

BTW, the reffing was terrible, just like last weekend. Letting ridiculous amounts of contact go. Cairns still managed 98 though.

Haha I know, Marcus. I was just f***ing around because I'm so happy we finally won a game.

A win like this kinda shows that there is in fact a coaching problem. The guys need to be this motivated and consistently focused every night. This shouldn't be a fluke for this team--they are so talented. It took intense fan and media scrutiny just to get up for a game.

Yes, they were up for the first 15 minutes of the Wildcats game, but then they lost their concentration and willpower.

As good as a game plan is, guys need to be motivated to put it in place.

"Joey has made it compulsory that they team bond at a club tonight and forget about the poor weekend". That explains why I literally bumped into Gary Ervin outside the elevator at Rydges on Grafton Street aboout 90 minutes ago. Hope he stays clear of Gilligans. The 36ers don't need their PG out with debilitating herpes.

Mate...

Great win for the Taipans and just shows how close the league now is.

Did the Sixers peak early and drop off or just a little blip on the road to the playoffs?

Geordie may have lost a battle last week but has he revealled a strategy that might win the war against the "Sixersnation".

So I guess we'll find out whether Joey is a student of Churchill or a George W.

Perspective please. Coming off 6 wins, all not easy, hitting injury time where niggles affect not only physical but also psychological wellness and a virus hitting Gibbo who seems flat for the most part. If it's the virus most of my friends have had, it is hanging around creating a lethargy that is in peaks and troughs impressed you can even get out there at all. Its possiible others are brewing it too. One player out of sorts can have a domino effect on the entire team and not only on the bench. Climate too on the road. I can't imagine how a long flight went for Ervin's back, noticed him stretching a lot. Some teams are hitting the home games and the right teams at the right time so the results can be scewed and not reflect the true potential of a team matchup either way. There is an element of luck of the draw and timing for all teams. Yes, umpiring is hit and miss and I am frustrated at the inconsistency swinging between last season and early this, and the variability between the 3 on court. But all I am concerned about is hitting the finals in what ever fashion then praying our team The Sixers are all fit and well, have learnt from the good, the bad and the ugly of the season and play with heart. Win or lose I AM LOVING THIS SEASON AS A GLIMMER OF WHAT THIS NBL CAN BE AND THE POTENTIAL TIGHTNESS OF THE COMPETITITON MAKE IT ALL THE MORE EXCITING. GO ALL TEAMS AND MOST OF ALL GO SIXERS, PARTY TONIGHT, GO EASY THOUGH AND BE KIND TO YOUR BODIES AND GOOD TO YOUR MINDS. I'M LOCKED IN AS A SUPPORTER WHAT EVER THE RESULT.........

Yeah, Ervin back, Frye and Creeks ankle, wouldn't be easy 2 games in 24hours, assuming box score is correct. Fresh here at home we should be pretty good
Don't try to follow on live stats, it's not pleasant

Bets for this game were Cairns head-to-head and Cairns by 11+ (paying $6+). Taipans were too desperate for a win and Adelaide backing up after they should've won in Townsville.

"Adelaide , and not as previosly published Cairns, have won. We are experiencing problems with the demerger" Cooper said;"Things around here are getting pretty corrupt." But he changed the subject everytime money came up.
It was just about the break of dawn and the three refs were tumbling along the road. All three were blowing horns. "I've never been so happy in all my life!" sang the one carrying all the money.

Ervin's stat line is pretty rough reading, but on a positive note, the FT shooting improved for Adelaide.

I wouldn't get too worried about an 0-2 weekend with so much of the season remaining. Only Perth has a winning road record. Adelaide will be there at the end of the season

The Taipans would be scary under someone like Lemanis.

Run and Gun with Wilson, McCamey and Gliddon.

I hope the above is not true.

But if Ervin's back is that bad, why was he allowed to play 2 games back to back?

They may simply have underestimated the problem.