By Roy Ward
A war of words has broken out between two NBL clubs after accusations a star player was injured after being “targeted” by opponents.
Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said he was “asking for protection” for Keanu Pinder, claiming Melbourne United’s defensive tactics didn’t give Pinder the opportunity to land safely after jumping.
But the Victorian NBL outfit has issued a strong rebuttal, arguing that stars of the code were subject to “extra defensive attention” and suggestions by an opposition coach that there was an intent to cause injury were “disrespectful and plain incorrect”.
Cairns coach Adam Forde isn’t happy with how Melbourne United defended against one of his key players. Credit:Getty Images
The comments stem from the Cairns v Melbourne clash on December 23 when Pinder, an Australian representative, injured his ankle.
Forde fumed about United’s defensive help scheme which he believed placed his Australian Boomers forward/centre at an added risk of injury as players were “sliding under him”.
Pinder was injured after he landed on United forward Mason Peatling’s foot during the game. Forde also described Peatling as being out of play before moving to go underneath the player.
Pinder was left in a moon boot, has a lateral ligament strain and remains out of the side.
Keanu Pinder.Credit:Getty Images
“It’s one thing to send a double team, it’s another thing to have guards sliding in at all different angles to try and draw, whether it’s a charge, a block, or a no call, regardless of what the officials call it, the result is Keanu is picking himself up off the floor. That’s jeopardising his ankles, that’s jeopardising his health,” Forde told media in Cairns on Thursday.
“I’m asking for protection for Keanu out there because they [United] make no secret about him being targeted, they make no secret about him being a key focus of their defence, but the reality is he’s so dynamic, he’s so athletic and so gifted that they don’t have anybody necessarily capable of defending him one-on-one.”
Forde also made a not-so-subtle reference to the financial power of clubs like United and the Sydney Kings as he doesn’t believe the Taipans have the budget to find a replacement for Pinder if he is out for a long stint.
The Kings signed Golden State Warriors NBA championship winner Ian Clark midway through last season, and he played a key role in their NBL title win.
“We will see how he pulls up in the next couple of days,” Forde said.
“This jeopardises our season because we don’t have the luxury to bring someone else in, [like] an NBA champion, mid-season.”
United issued a statement on Saturday rejecting Forde’s claims.
They aren’t expected to complain to the league after his comments.
“Every team’s best player is subject to extra defensive attention, however for an opposition coach to suggest an intent to injure by our players is disrespectful and plain incorrect,” the statement read.
“Melbourne United’s players and coaches pride themselves on playing the right way and have a clear history of doing so.”
United are attempting to keep their finals hopes alive with a 9-12 record starting with a win over the Brisbane Bullets in Brisbane on New Year’s Day at 4pm AEDT.
