Less than four minutes and the refs are letting them play, I'm a fan of the new refs style

The refs, yes. But early on this one is looking like a div 4 socials game

the NBL may have a new website but it's still shit

the website that is, not the NBL

Although on the basis of this game...

Settled down now, taipans still no import point guard, even till taipans bench came on. Brown in running for defence player of year. Gak playing very well, taipans just to small. Early days but I could see a blow out.

John Brown is literally a defensive savant.

Yeah, Taipans in dire need of a PG

Yikes. Brown amazing but Cairns doing everything they can to give him the ball

Is it just me that thinks Hooley has no idea, just talking for sake of it and half it rubbish. Blow out on way.

No Alir that I can see ?? Any ideas ?

Andrew Andrew is going to need to be LBJ, McVeigh can bring points but he no defensive anchor in this side. SEM 12 steels, Brown has 5. Ok game just wish Cairns can improve in second. Still can't get live stats from nbl web page.

Aliir is out for personal reasons, SEM don't need to say any more

incredibly poor for the stats to not load on the NBL website

Cairns have no PG but they do have a million dollar man (apparently). I expect him to earn that, especially when the times are tough. Come on Jack. Your shooting alone isn't worth that much. So far, you have been good. That's an insult, you should never be less than very, very, very good, at the very, very, very least!

SEM by 20+ at the half.

The one positive for Cairns is Reyne Smith looks legit.

McVeigh defence is like his Sixers days, Brisbane should have sacked Sobey years ago as he's a fantastic player and he delivered them garbage. Copeland said he didn’t realise that Brown was this good, nba might be best league in the world but euro league is one super tough league and they play D, Brown was the defensive player of the year, there is more than the nbl.

The money spent on mcveigh is hopeless. He's a high level role but def no marquee

Hard to judge SEM on this game. Some nice pieces but look aimless much of the time

King really knows his stuff, SEM now got them a nice percentage buffer, I'm looking to see SEM against better opposition. Cairns are still Cairns despite now spending big money, you can be down on players but Forde certainly hasn’t put in any defensive strategy into them. Early days but Cairns got find a defensive leader, where, I don’t see any available in this country. McVeigh has to lift, certainly defensively.

The money spent on mcveigh is hopeless. He's a high level role but def no marquee

Hard to judge SEM on this game. Some nice pieces but look aimless much of the time

Hard to tell whether Cairns are really bad or SEM really good based on this!

Hard to tell whether Cairns are really bad or SEM really good based on this!

Forde should give Sam McKinnon a call, certainly needs help on the sideline.

I think I've found my new favourite NBL player- John Brown III.

Hooley or whoever got it right when they said this was the worst team for Cairns to play without their PG.

There point guard is going to have to be Stef Curry at his best, lol. It was a very poor performance and there D was abysmal, there is no excuses for that. Now losing Waardenburg was a big loss but he's not making that much of a difference. Why start spending big coin and not having the side set and ready to go, I just don’t think the team make up is balanced.

SEM should get another guard to help with ball handling and outside shooting, and they might be the surprise packet of the season.

"Why start spending big coin and not having the side set and ready to go, I just don't think the team make up is balanced."

A fairly common practice among new/emerging pro sports' teams. Helps to attract the right pieces around your (future) stud. It does send a positive message to available and future free-agents.

And, of course, You don't get the benefit of having a McVeigh available whenever you may be ready for one.

Hooley just spins himself in knots sometimes, I don't even think the guy is fully cognisant of the stuff he dribbles. Cairns were always going to be crap this season, 2 of their 11 are promoted DP's, when is the last time a team promoted two DP's at the start of a season? Some others on their roster would struggle to get games anywhere else hence why they had to spend $1M to lure McVeigh. The Hagans visa issue thing was just amateur hour stuff.

Totally agree re Hooley, yes McVeigh is good signing but go and find a John Brown to go with him, in all leagues everywhere, you want to win, start at the D end. I'm hopefully proved wrong but imo Fordes coaching of Tiapans isn’t better than Kelly’s.

Forde's a good recruiter and pump up man to lift his players but falls down as a game day coach.

Go and get a decent assistant then and listen to him, what is McKinnon doing.

Most commentators / anchor hosts are pretty knowledgeable on the broadcasts, but Hooley & Felix are only spinning what the NBL wants them to say to sell the league re next stars & so called million dollar players. Both of them don't really provide any insight into the game of where it’s being won or lost

Taipans weren't destined to be terrible, but they do lack depth just like some other teams, which means staying healthy is critical.