Cairns by 20, Tony Mitchell on 45 pts as per his China stats ☺️

My money is on NZ, with Tony Mitchell fouling out in 3 minutes for boxing out and contesting shots.

I'm looking at the games throughout this round and round 18 and just going wow! So many huge games.

Taipans have looked pretty good recently but beating a rolling Breakers team is going to be tough. Breakers should get this one at home.

If Breakers scalp Taipans, they are a genuine contender for the title.

Don't rub them out for any reason.

If Wortho's shoulder up to it and Mitchell can start to fit in, I'm tipping Cairns by 7.

Dillard looks good for most parts but still haven't solved NZ turnover problems yet. The Cats exposed that weakness last week. Fearne would have looked at the tape very closely.

Fearne can look at all the tape he wants it won't matter. It's been 10 games since Taipans won back to back outings. Trice is letting his opposite score more than he is himself(Dillard will get 25+),Weeks just runs around in circles until there's 3 seconds left every play, and Wortho is cooked.
Breakers by 8+

Abercrombie set to play some minutes tonight finally.

NZ to continue their run of wins for me, NZ by 7.

NZ have a really strong squad, just need to everything to click. Loe and Pledger do the best job of anyone in the league defending Jawai.

Taipans will try hard but Breakers should do it easy. If they don't get too sloppy should get the W.
Interesting to see if Taipans try that double team up the court with Dillard. If he gets rid of it before the double we should be able to attack.
Also want to see how we play Trice. Up and in or passive and stop drive?
Also want to see Carter being aggressive offensively. Maybe keeping the ball off the floor.
Can this guy Mitchell play? How did he manage 3 fouls in 2+ minutes?

Christ... first scoring play the refs get Mitchell on the foul. He's gotta know who's boss in this league.

Mitchell is complete trash. Not sure what Cairns saw in him.

Is Carter out for the rest of the game? Cairns seem to be turning it on with him off.

I'm wondering why people think it's spelled 'Cairn'.

That's the thing about us... when we're having a great offensive game, we generally don't back it up on the other end

Horrific

Oh my god! That's the most messed up thing I have ever seen.

Seriously just stop the game.

Just tuned in, what has happened to Mitchell ?

Stop posting cr@p & lets hope he's going to be okay.

Eyeball popped out

I cannot believe what I just saw. Thoughts with Akil Mitchell.

Pretty horrific thing to happen. I hope the poor guy is ok.

What's happened?

Hope he is going to be ok .

Did he get gouged,?

He did smash into an opposition player and flex his muscles to their bench, but surely the poke in the eye wasn't on purpose, not something that bad I wouldn't think. Would be hard to do. Thoughts are with Mitchell for a full recovery.

Where has this taipans unit been for the last 4 months?!

haha peaking at the right time..... I hope :)

@Thunder Jam

"Fearne can look at all the tape he wants it won't matter. It's been 10 games since Taipans won back to back outings. Trice is letting his opposite score more than he is himself(Dillard will get 25+),Weeks just runs around in circles until there's 3 seconds left every play, and Wortho is cooked.
Breakers by 8+"


You were saying?

I honestly thought it would swing the breakers way after Mitchell went out and the breakers would come back in fired up and playing for their mate. Taipans put on a masterclass though, kept the lead at 10 and then pushed it out when they tired out.

Hope Mitchell's okay.

Wow was that a career outing by Glidden. We were worse than sloppy and we were handed a spanking. Well done Cairns.You deserve a break. 4-0 who would have thought.
Henry started the 4th with the worst possible 5. Dug a hole that kept getting bigger.

From the NBL's Facebook page:

UPDATE: Akil Mitchell is being released from hospital tonight. We have been advised that the eyeball has been relocated into its socket and that he can see with that eye. The long term impact on his vision, if any, is yet to be determined. Further tests will be conducted tomorrow.
Akil has been a credit to his team and to the NBL in his first season in the League and we wish him a speedy recovery.

His eye popped out?

Holy fucking shit

We're equal fourth but we still ain't shit.