Brisbane Bullets vs Cairns Taipans NBL Round 17 Game Preview

Jan 17

2 min read

Tip-Off is at 7:30pm AEDT on Friday 17th January at Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Brisbane Bullets vs Cairns Taipans Expert Analysis

The Brisbane Bullets and Cairns Taipans square off for the third time this season in what’s shaping up to be a high-scoring encounter. Both teams are outside the playoff picture, but with Cairns looking to salvage some pride in the Sunshine Stoush and Brisbane desperate to keep their slim postseason hopes alive, expect a spirited contest.

Brisbane are dealing with a mountain of injuries and it came in to play in their most recent matchup against the Wildcats where they lacked depth behind Casey Prather and Josh Bannan to pick up the scoring.

Cairns let their most recent game against the Phoenix slip away from them but despite being on the bottom of the ladder half of their games have been decided by 9 points or less signalling they are right on the cusp of matching it with their opposition.

Key Matchups

Casey Prather & Josh Bannan vs. Cairns' Defence

Prather (32 points) and Bannan (20 points) accounted for over 60% of Brisbane’s scoring in their loss to Perth. Cairns will need to focus on limiting these two offensive threats, as Brisbane lacks secondary scoring options due to injuries.

Rob Edwards vs. Brisbane’s Perimeter Defence

Edwards has torched Brisbane this season, scoring 27 points in both prior meetings. With the Bullets allowing the most points in the paint (46 per game), Edwards’ ability to slash and finish at the rim will be key.

Sam Waardenburg vs. Brisbane’s Frontcourt

Waardenburg is coming off a stellar 22-point performance and will look to exploit Brisbane’s soft interior defence. His versatility in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking adds a dynamic threat for the Taipans.

Key Stats

Brisbane’s Defence: The Bullets rank last in points allowed in the paint (46 per game), making them vulnerable against Cairns’ interior attack.
Cairns' Defence Slump: The Taipans allow 99.1 points per game over their last 10, 9th in the NBL.
Brisbane’s Three-Point Shooting: The Bullets lead the league in three-point percentage (38%) but shot just 34% in their last outing.
Rob Edwards’ Scoring: Edwards has scored 27 points in each of his two games against Brisbane this season.

Why Brisbane Will Win

The Bullets boast elite three-point shooting and have a capable scorer in Casey Prather, who is one of the league’s best at creating his own shot. If Brisbane can limit turnovers (20 against Perth) and improve their defensive rotations, they have a chance to outscore Cairns in what could be a shootout.

Why Cairns Will Win

Cairns has more balanced scoring options and a frontcourt advantage with Sam Waardenburg in form. Their ability to attack the paint, combined with Rob Edwards’ stellar history against Brisbane, should allow them to exploit the Bullets’ defensive weaknesses. With Brisbane heavily reliant on two players for scoring, Cairns’ deeper rotation gives them the edge.

Conclusion

This game promises to be an offensive showcase between two teams struggling on the defensive end. Cairns’ balanced scoring, interior dominance, and Rob Edwards’ hot hand make them the favorites to take this matchup. Brisbane’s hopes hinge on standout performances from Casey Prather and Josh Bannan, but without more support, they’re unlikely to keep pace.