For the Breakers, the answer was their worst performance of the campaign, crumbling to an embarrassing 83-59 defeat in Cairns tonight.
The Breakers' key men were quiet, they suffered a heavy defeat in the rebounding battle and, pivotally, they just couldn't put the ball in the basket, spending the entire encounter completely bereft of offensive rhythm.
Mika Vukona was the only Breaker to enjoy any kind of output on offence, coming away with a game-high 18 points, while none of his teammates was able to join him in double figures.
Cedric Jackson endured an up-and-down night, filling up his stat sheet in every category, good and bad. The American finished with eight points, six rebounds and five steals but he was often a liability at the offensive end, turning over the ball five times.
Corey Webster had perhaps his worst performance of an impressive campaign, going one-of-13 from the floor to contribute just four points. Tom Abercrombie was similarly ineffective in chiming in with six, while Ekene Ibekwe fouled out with just two points and two rebounds to his name.
It all added up to an ugly night and one that could have larger ramifications. The Taipans now lead the season series 2-1 and their comprehensive victory leaves the Breakers with a real challenge to overhaul the points differential and claim the season series.
Which, judging by the first half of the season, could be important, with the Breakers (12-5) only barely leading Cairns (11-5) on the standings. Perth (10-5) are also right in the mix and the trio of sides have enough separation to suggest they will fight it out for the minor premiership.
The Breakers will need to quickly forget about this one if they hope to emerge triumphant from that fight. Like Friday night's win over another North Queensland opponent, the Breakers started slowly and spent much of the opening half on the back foot. Unlike the victory over the Crocs, however, there were no signs of a potential fightback.
After a minute's silence to mark the eight children stabbed to death at a nearby suburban residence, Cairns embarked on a 12-2 run to create a gap they would never cede. The Breakers went to the first break behind by six and things got worse in the second quarter as they were being beaten up on the boards, providing Cairns with plenty of second chances.
Their own shots weren't falling and their profligacy saw the deficit at 11 heading to the third quarter, a deficit that remained in that range throughout the period. The Breakers rarely looked like hauling in the Taipans' 12-point lead in the final quarter but the nature of their surrender was surprising.
The Kiwi club managed just seven points in the period to eventually be blown out in ignominious fashion. The game against Sydney on Boxing Day can't come soon enough.
Taipans 83 (Gliddon 18, Wilbekin 13, Burston 12), Breakers 59 (Vukona 18, Jackson 8, Wesley 8). HT: 44-33.
- Kris Shannon
