Preview: Cairns vs Melbourne - Round 13, NBL24

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Can United waltz up to Far North Queensland and round out the year with a win? Cairns will have other ideas.

Sunday, December 31 at 7:30pm AEDT | Cairns Convention Centre

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Cairns has already suffered a loss to Sydney in Round 13, and the Taipans’ last three losses have come by an average of 17 points.

Sam Mennenga called for his side to “do the little things” on and off the court in an attempt to continue to fight for a post-season position.

Adam Forde has said his side will enter this clash as underdogs, in front of a sellout crowd.

It’s been a week since Melbourne’s last game – a thrilling open-air encounter that has been hailed as the game of the season.

United have established plenty of breathing room at the top of the ladder. They’re currently three wins clear of second-placed Perth and have played one less game.

One of Melbourne’s three losses so far this season came against the Taipans in Round 9. Patrick Miller had 32 points and 10 assists as Melbourne was restricted to just 17 points in the first quarter.

Cairns
82-101 loss to Sydney
102-105 loss to Perth
94-75 win over South East Melbourne

Melbourne
109-103 win over Perth
107-96 win over Adelaide
106-78 win over South East Melbourne

Sam Mennenga
Cairns big Sam Mennenga was pensive in the Taipans’ post-match press conference following their loss to Sydney, and he has the perfect opportunity to practice what he’s preached against the front-running team in the NBA.

Mennenga called on his side to make a point of making effort plays and fight when the game isn’t going their way. He’s certainly built for the fight and battled well against the Kings, however where the Kings bounced back after an indifferent third quarter, the Taipans crumbled.

Mennenga himself was outbattled on the boards by Jordan Hunter and the Kings, and now that he’s staring down the barrel of a brutal physical contest against Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ariel Hukporti, he can set a real tone for his side.

It’s usually the likes of Tahjere McCall or Bul Kuol the Taipans tend to look to for energy and inspiration, but could it be this first-year local center who provides a point of difference for the Snakes?

“I think we’re searching for an answer and we need to come together more to understand some days you’re not going to make shots, and some days you’re not going to make threes, so you have to come together and fight and do the little things and the effort plays. If we do that ... we’ll be smiling and enjoying things a lot more – because losing isn’t fun.” – Sam Mennenga following the loss to Sydney.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bul Kuol is out here playing hot potato with that touch pass to Sam Mennenga?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/eiZ7DZTfpK">pic.twitter.com/eiZ7DZTfpK</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1740669326888247573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ian Clark
If Chris Goulding doesn’t get you, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr will. If JLA doesn’t get you, Luke Travers will. If LT doesn’t get you, Ian Clark will – and that’s not even mentioning Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Ariel Hukporti, or any of United’s other weapons.

Depending on your feelings towards Melbourne, that depth is either the beautiful thing or the terrifying thing, and it was Ian Clark’s turn to stand up on the biggest stage of the season, against Perth in the open-air game.

Clark scored a team-high 25 points off the bench in the overtime win, and with Dean Vickerman citing a lack of “pop” from star local Dellavedova, Clark was called upon alongside Shea Ili and Chris Goulding to form the brutal backcourt that forced the game to overtime and eventual victory.

Like every season, Melbourne is approaching a January period filled with tough road games, due to the Australian Open in Melbourne. Their depth will be tested, and Clark’s status as Best Sixth Man contender and multi-layered offensive threat will prove crucial as United search to continue their winning ways and manage tiring bodies late in the season.

“I just try to hunt good ones, there’s not really much more to that. CG’s a tough shot-maker and he draws that attention, and especially in the second half – specifically tonight – when Shea is coming downhill and being aggressive, Jo can get it on the block and go one-on-one, it makes my job easier.” – Ian Clark following the win over Perth.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ian Clark hits three GIGANTIC threes in OT, and Melbourne takes the win against Perth in an instant classic! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL</a> <a href="https://t.co/wuAMaiZmyk">pic.twitter.com/wuAMaiZmyk</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1738522983268786570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Taran Armstrong vs Matthew Dellavedova
Given Taran Armstrong and Matthew Dellavedova’s links outside of sharing the same position on the court are minimal, hailing this as a ‘student vs master’ type matchup would be overselling it, but what this game will present is an opportunity to see one of Australia’s greatest ever floor generals have his mettle tested by one of the nation’s best up-and-coming stars.

Although the Taipans offence faltered for large swathes of Friday’s clash with the Kings, Armstrong was at his confident best and dishing around the back assists, taking on defenders and showcasing exactly why Adam Forde is fielding calls about his NBA-level potential ahead of the 2024 Draft.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matthew Dellavedova and Ariel Hukporti combine for their third alley-oop of the game ? <br><br>Watch live and free o nESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach & 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/eKybB1jaQG">pic.twitter.com/eKybB1jaQG</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1731170561714192867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Australian basketball’s ultimate team man in Dellavedova is – much like his last stint in Melbourne – fine with not being United’s main man despite his exceptional resume, and he’s even taken a something akin to a backseat to the likes of Ian Clark and Shea Ili at different points this season, given their strong form - that being said, he is currently third in the NBL for assists per game.

Much like labelling this clash as ‘student vs master’ would be incorrect, labelling it as ‘past vs future’ would be incredibly disrespectful to the (hopefully) years of good basketball Dellavedova still has left in him, but nonetheless it’s exciting to see a young upstart match-up with someone who’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come for Bul Kuol's third made triple of the quarter, stay for Taran Armstrong's around the back dime ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/0AplPIOOb4">pic.twitter.com/0AplPIOOb4</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1740656747705151662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>