Right time for Mee

Emma Greenwood

Friday, December 5, 2008

TAIPANS veteran Darnell Mee says Cairns is determined to fight its way out of an NBL rut and has not given up on its season.

Ahead of tonight’s crucial match against blue-collar battler Sydney Spirit, Mee has ensured no one in the team is happy with the Taipans’ position and there is a resolve to turn things around.

The starting point guard, who has required pain-killing injections for ankle and groin injuries in order to stay on court in recent weeks, said while his own form had been frustrating, he understood he was an "important cog" to the team and would keep fighting to help the side.

But Mee said the Taipans could not rely on just one player to reignite their season and escaping the mire would be up to the entire team.

"It’s not going to be one or two guys to pull us out of this, it’s got to be a total team effort," Mee said.

"We’re not losing to one or two guys, we’re losing to other teams and that means our team’s (not going well), it’s not an individual thing."

Mee said the Taipans had not adjusted well to a tough November stretch which included seven games in 21 days but had to keep battling.

"We’re disappointed but we’re not down, we understand that we’ve still got half the season left," he said.

"The first half didn’t go the way we wanted it to but we have to be ready to try and turn the second half around."

Mee acknowledged his shooting had been below his best this season and while he has been frustrated by consistent niggling injuries, he was not willing to use them as an excuse.

"Obviously shooting the ball has been pretty disappointing for me," said Mee, who is averaging 7.5 points per game this season, just over half his career average.

"I just can’t get healthy at the moment. If you’re frustrated when you’re out there and … you’re not comfortable in what you’re doing because you haven’t been able to put in the work, it’s a bit frustrating.

But Mee agreed with captain Martin Cattalini’s assessment last week that the Taipans’ problems were not due to a lack of effort.

Mee: Hoping to shrug off niggling injuries in the second half of the NBL season.

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