The Jekyll and Hyde Taipans proved once again they are much more comfortable in the confines of their own lounge room easily accounting for the hapless Tigers at home just one night after a disastrous road trip.

Townsville went into Friday’s game against the Snakes knowing they had to back up against Gold Coast, who, like the Snakes, are a big threat to their playoff chances.

The local foe took care of business beautifully, smashing us on Friday and picking up the crucial road win on Sunday. They kept us to 43 points (I remember a certain ‘Andrew Gaze’ who would often score more than that on his own) and helped themselves to third spot with authority.

Cairns were lucky to hold onto fourth spot with the win over Melbourne but must address their low scoring in a non-Cairns gym.

Coach Fearne might have to pluck out the old measuring tape and measure up the court and rings and show his troops they are the same size on the road as the ones at home! Surely it’s psychological.

The rumour mill and betting agencies have point guard Jamar Wilson at good dough to win MVP this season and I reckon if Cairns make the playoffs and his form stays strong he’ll certainly be right up there. 

This round both FNQ clubs take on a top two opponents and Gold Coast have the much improved Wollongong – twice. These three clubs are still fighting for two spots so the run home will be exciting!

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In other basketball gossip local crowd favourite Deba George had his contract ripped up this week due to a code of conduct breach.

The breach reportedly was not alcohol or drug related but just a good old fashioned spray at the coach for lack of court time.

Coach Fearne saw nothing ‘good’ about it however and Deba must now sit on another sort of bench. George, who is a wonderful athlete and great scorer, might be a bit undersized to attract an offer from another club but let’s hope his hoops dream is not over yet.

The lesson is simple Deba – when you’re a fringe player on a good team let your game do the talking as the guys who do the paying will do the saying.

Jeremy Lin’s winning streak with the Knicks came to an end during the week but the ‘Linsanity’ is still strong in the Big Apple and all over the USA.

The Taiwanese (not Tibetan as I reported last week) Harvard student has been the most talked about sports story of the year and continues to trouble the statisticians.

Every move he makes is now followed and scrutinised and he keeps answering in the best possible way – put the ball in the hole!

But while all are bedazzled by the Lin show everyone seems to have forgotten about Lebron James and the Miami Heat.

They are slowly ripping through this condensed schedule and in my opinion are well on their way to Lebron’s first championship... More NBA next week.