One of the biggest storylines of Round 2 of the 2025-26 Hungry Jack\u2019s NBL season was the Cairns Taipans.<\/p>\n
After a tough opening round loss, Adam Forde\u2019s troops responded in a big way, chalking up wins against Brisbane and Sydney.<\/p>\n
During Monday\u2019s episode of NBL Overtime, expert Damon Lowery praised the response of the revamped Taipans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love what Fordey did,\u201d 2001 NBL champion Lowery said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter they got the brakes beat off them by 37, he said, \u2018nah, we\u2019re not doing this\u2019, you guys need to step up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole \u2018underdog\u2019 tag, we\u2019re better than that, and you guys didn\u2019t play up to the standard, so he put them on blast.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo they came out and responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Jack McVeigh, who has more heart than the average man, led from the front, with everyone else around him stepping up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a whole new mindset that Fordey is talking about, and they now approach every game like they belong and ask themselves, \u2018why shouldn\u2019t we be a top four team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Echoing his colleagues sentiment was NBL expert Derek Rucker, reiterating how former Houston Rocket McVeigh is living up to his $1 million price tag.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Jack] is generating a lot of shots for his teammates, while hitting big shots himself, which is his identity,” the 1990 NBL MVP said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat [the big shots] is what you pay the big money for.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of guys talk about doing it, but when the moment comes, they shy away from it, but not Jack, who embraces the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201c[In my eyes] Jack McVeigh is more than a $1 million player.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Taipans will look to secure their third straight win this Thursday when they host Bryce Cotton and the Adelaide 36ers at the Cairns Convention Centre.<\/p>\n
The Round 3 fixture tips off at 7.30pm AEST, broadcast live on ESPN.<\/p>\n
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