November 27th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

After 2 good wins over the Breakers and Tigers and one loss to the Breakers over the ditch puts our record to date at 6-9. This year was always going to be tough but it would be more satisfying if we could string a better than 6-9 record. Thursday night over in Auckland I witnessed the Breakers in one of their zones especially Oscar Forman who couldn’t miss from beyond the arc. The Breakers rely so heavily on their 3 point shooting and when they are on they are hard to stay with but live and die by the 3 as well. I’m not sure if that will get it done playoff time but they were lights out on Thursday. I don’t know if it was our lack of putting a hand up or were they that good?

Anyway we have two tough road game coming up vs the Crocs and then down the coast to face the Blaze. Both teams are hitting high notes at the moment and playing some good ball so we will have to be on our “A” game to produce wins.

I now know what my Minnesota Timberwolves feel like as they are in a worse postion than we with only 1 win all year. Never a good feeling when you are getting beat by more than 10 points. You can handle losing when you put in a fight and know that you could have won the game but the other team on that given night was just better. With 15 games already under our belts the season is more than half way done and before we know it this season will have been a statistic and another season will be starting. Still time to turn things around but how long will it be before we have zero chance of getting into the playoffs. Somehow, someway we have find within ourselves to string out some games and play more consistent winning ball.

That is it for now. Let’s get those wins!

November 19th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Finally it has happened again! We won! with 12 games under our belts we are still trying to find our way on offense and get some wins. We have already set our identity that we are a defensive team. We have been holding teams lower than their season averages but if you can’t put points on the board it doesn’t matter how good your defense is.

Earlier today we had shoot around and soon after were asked to head down into the locker room where we were all asked if we have been giving it our all. I think that hit home for a lot of guys and we came out blazing. Not shooting the lights out but mentally it seemed that everyone was ready to play this game. If we all come out like tonight switched on I can guarantee more results just like this. This win puts us at 5-8 and we still have a chance at the top 4 if we can string a nice winning streak together.

Happy with this win but you gotta put it behind you and concentrate on the next team and game. Dwelling on loses or celebrating wins too long can have a negative affect. We have to build from this and take it up another level on the road. There is an added difficulty winning games on the road and we have 4 in a row so we have plenty of time to figure out how to get it done on the road.

I would also like to thank the Cairns fans tonight. Thanks for continuing to support us through the wins and loses it’s much appreciated.

November 19th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Here are some Cairns Taipans pictures, and yes they are all of me sorry.

November 16th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Losing is never easy but it does get real old and frustrating quick. Who ever came up with the phrase that sport is like life is so correct. Sport can be so rewarding and great but it can also be so frustrating and difficult too. Right now it’s real frustrating losing. All my career i’ve been on teams that win or are close to 50-50. So losing isn’t what I’m used to and it sure isn’t something that I like doing.

Over the weekend Perth took it to us by 15 in front of their home crowd. No one has one there all year and it’s a tough place to play with their their rowdy crowd but that still no excuse for not working as hard as you can.

we have 17 or so games left in the season and we can either lay down and accept losing and feel sorry for ourselves or we can stand up and be accounted for! I’ve seen teams in the past just accept losing and it becomes apart of their nature. They go into games thinking that a lose is already going to happen and if you mentally think that well then your body is going to play like a loser. I don’t want the ladder part of my career to be known as a player on losing teams. I prided myself on being on teams that win or at least play hard.

Losing makes you over analysis and act in funny ways. Everyone hates losing and when you lose a few it seems as everyone has a fix but most times its just a little change that makes a world of difference. That fix for us is still unknown but it’s there I can feel it. I know one thing, I’m not going to give up! I want wins and our crowd deserves wins so we gotta deliver wins. Or a hard fight to get those wins. They don’t come easy and no one is laying over handing them out.

New Zealand Breakers this Wednesday be there! Be loud!

November 7th, 2009 by Dusty Rychart

Finally got that win tonight over the Wollongong Hawks! After going through a few weeks of loses things were getting tight in Taiapan country. Practices have been rough and long simply because when you’re on a losing streak no ones happy or enjoying basketball and life. That was the case over the last two weeks. It’s never fun losing games especially getting beat by 38 on our home court. That was probably the most embarrassed I’ve ever been. The only other time that was even close was wheN I was in college my Sophomore year playing in Michigan State on ESPN in front of a national audience and getting whipped by 30 but the cherry on top was the ESPN switched us off a little after half time to air a women’s game because ours was so bad. They did go onto win the NCAA National Championship later that year so I didn’t feel that bad hahaha.

I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out tonight and supporting us even after the ass kicking we got from the Sixers. It’s a good feeling when your community and home crowd stick behind you through the good times and the bad.

We’ll especially need that atmosphere this Wednesday night when the Townsville Crocodiles come to town. Looking forward to another home game and getting the crowd and community behind us!

See you at the game!