Basketball: Cairns' goal spree breaks the Breakers

Adrian Majstrovich of the Breakers puts the ball up in a game in which his team displayed a noticeable lack of cohesion on defence. Picture / Dean Purcell

Taipans 126 Breakers 104

Last season seemed to be repeating itself when the Breakers conceded 40 points to Cairns in a disastrous third quarter that resulted in a first-up loss to the home team at Trusts Stadium in Waitakere City yesterday.

But captain Paul Henare and coach Andrej Lemanis were as up-beat as possible afterwards, saying improvement would come, the attitude and the effort were there and results would follow.

Despite a noticeable lack of cohesion on defence, Lemanis refused to use the very short pre-season preparation as an excuse.

"We have to deal with the cards we've been dealt," he said.

"The effort was there. We never quit. Individually each guy was trying his best on his man, but once that guy got burned we weren't picking up on the rotations."

The Breakers played a lot of man-on-man defence, but little press or zone. And their shots kept falling short rather than coming off the back-board, generally regarded as a sign of a team lacking confidence.

In the first half the Breakers looked as though they were enjoying the new game plan under Lemanis. Centre Ben Pepper worked and scored inside, and new imports Rich Melzer and Brant Bailey produced hoop-swinging dunks.

But the home side couldn't score from outside the arc, notching only one of six three-point attempts by the break, while Taipans shooting guard Gary Boodnikoff continually put himself into position to receive good looks at the basket and shot six of seven for 18 points in 17 minutes of play.

The Breakers worked back from a 27-35 deficit at the first stop to 50-51 at the long break, but Cairns ran away with the third quarter thanks to good combination between Martin Cattalini, Boodnikoff and Darnell Mee. And the Breakers started getting frustrated.

They finished with 30 personal fouls to the Taipans' 19. Lindsay Tait and Melzer were restricted in the latter stages as they sat on five fouls and the Breakers' top-scorer, Aaron Olson, fouled out with four minutes to go.

"We were a half a step behind in defence," Lemanis said. "We were reacting and in that situation you look like the team committing the fouls."

Henare dismissed the suggestion that the Breakers were in for another long season. "The team is up-beat, the attitude of this group is a mile better [than last season]."

The offence wasn't a problem for them and they were happy with the 104 points. The defensive cohesion would come with experience and a better understanding of individual and team play.

The Breakers now face Wollongong, West Sydney and Brisbane away. The road trip will give them time to gel and to build collective confidence.