From what I learnt last season - never doubt the Taipans.

yeah, hard to fault them until they actually screw up, I think I've learned that lesson too... Fearne has really done wonders and wo't be doubting them this season... From memory, Trigger had a couple of blocks in one of his pre-season game against the Kings? I think it might have been the first otherwise I would have seen it.. Not sure if the Kings players went up lazy, but still, nice change to hear his name on the defensive end in a positive light ;)

Perhaps a little but the key principles will still be there I think?! Given they are a much more potent & mobile offensive unit this season I wouldnt expect them to play as slow as they have in the past so their defence may alter a little as a result of that? If rumours are true and Trigger has dropped considerable body fat and got himself fit he may be a little more nimble defensively than he has in the past? Its all a guessing game at the moment but as others have said, I wouldnt be writing Cairns and Coach Fearne off. They should finish Top 4.

Definitely don't doubt them, because Fearne is a great defensive mind, but something had to be done. I would have liked them to keep Crosswhite (who for my money is vastly underrated, and the best defensive big in the league) and add the scoring elsewhere, but you can't have your cake and eat it too, I guess.

Cairns was just atrocious at times on the offensive end last season. Sometimes you'd watch them during a particularly dry offensive stretch and think "you know what? I don't see a way for them to actually score another basket during this ball game, outside of a contested jumper dropping".

Can they get Tragardh to buy in? Is it a mental/effort thing or is he actually not well conditioned enough to be an effective two-way player?

Or will the whole focus of the unit shift and offset the defensive holes with a magnificent offense?

Who said that the best defence was a good offence? ;)

I interviewed Mark Beecroft on radio last week & he says you'll see a very defensive minded Tregarth this season!

Taipans will go deep in2 the playoffs this season...

Taipans will miss crosswhite this year,forcing the opposing guards to go around that big body at the 3 line was an absolute bonus to the taipans defence.

1/ you can't win the NBL championship by limiting the amount of plays in a game,it will work alot through the season.....but not in game 3 of ANY final series.

2/ Taipans need 20 extra points to be serious contenders, have they got that?......Loughton is still the key to it,if he has a good year and forces the opposing 4/5 out of the key way/early rotation ....Trigger will have a cracker.

the mobile Loughton/Trigger combo can win it all for the Taipans this season.

You might find Trigger is doing all he can to be focused this season. He has deleted Twitter, is in the gym daily, his skin folds are down to career best and working very hard at being a leader. Expect big things from the great man

Brad Hill's penetration is a massive factor to the Taipans success also, no one really sees that. How many guys can really get to the rack apart from Wilson?

brad hills role as a slasher is very much a luxury role, when the going gets tough(bit like the other brad with the boomers)sure his penetration is good/great at times, but you've gotta bring other stuff to the table.

Skull, I'm talking about success at success (beating the top teams) *Kobe system reference. Of course the Taipans do well without production from Hill, but when he does produce, the Taipans step up another level.

spursfan - success at success ?
anytime cairns beat a top team it certainly didnt have much to do with brad hill.
a great slasher must also have a very good perimeter shot and a punishing first step.
brad has his best games against the lesser teams and ok games,mainly from broken plays against top teams....this is a reflection of his skill set as a true slasher.