Basketball On The Internet.

FIVE games in and on a losing skid, expect the Cairns Taipans to react ruthlessly this week, especially as we near NBA tip-off and clubs clear out the extra bodies.

More than a few Taipans officials will be keeping a close watch on comings and goings at Philadelphia 76ers, Scottie Wilbekin looking the man to again lead Cairns for the rest of this NBL season.

Markel Starks was right when he got here and said he would be a "stark" difference to Wilbekin.

When he somehow co-won the Ray Borner Medal at the preseason Blitz with Melbourne's Steve Holt, many of us were prepared to cut him more slack because comparisons with Wilbekin were inevitable and, possibly, unfair.

But trust this. If Wilbekin (above in last season's Grand Final) springs loose this week, and my (e)mail is he will, Starks' time will come to a very abrupt halt.

In five games so far, he is playing more than 26 minutes per outing for returns of 6.8 points at 31 per cent, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds.

It's not as if he hasn't been getting opportunities and with an NBL season as cut-throat as this one and the NBA starting on Wednesday - our time - rosters are finalising now.

Look out. I'm tipping Scottie is coming back.