Taylor Mullenax is enjoying a rich vein of form to start the season.
MANDURAH Magic American import Taylor Mullenax has started the 2012 State Basketball League season in fine form.
Mullenax has been the league’s top scorer in the opening two rounds with an average of 33.7 points per game.
Mullenax hit 38 points in the teams season opener against the Hawks, backed it up with 26 in the rounds’ second game against the Buccaneers and kept the momentum going in round two with a further 37 points added to his tally against the Senators.
Mullenax takes little credit for his fine form, giving his team mates the greatest praise.
“The guys around me make my job easy,” he said.
“Being a big guy I sit under the ring and because of their hard work I can just flip it in.
“It’s a team effort.”
He said the team had undertaken a hard preseason which was showing on the court.
Mullenax personally was unable to take part in much of the pre-season due to a severe ankle injury sustained mid-way through last season.
“With the injury I know what I can and can’t do,” Mullenax said.
“It’s probably at around 70 per cent.
“During the game I don’t notice it but the next day I can pull up sore.
“Double headers will be tough.”
Since coming to the club in 2010 Mullenax has been unable to complete a full season due to a number of injuries.
In 2010 he played just 11 matches and in 2011 it was a similar story with Mullenax taking to the court just 10 times.
“My goal is to get through a healthy season and see what happens from there,” he said.
“By the end of the season I should be 100 per cent.”
Mullenax said he was enjoying the opportunity to play with the Magic’s new import Taylor Land; the two were team mates while playing college basketball in the USA.
“I’ve always wanted to play senior basketball with him,” Mullenax said. “We work really well with each other; we know what we are going to do.
“We graduated in 2009 so the last time we played together was March 2009.
“It’s really cool.”
Mullenax said the team had started in good fashion but would look to build on the momentum and win more games early.
“Last year we were 0-5 to start the season, we’re already 2-1,” he said.
He said this weekend’s game against the Perth Redbacks would be a good test for the team.
“They beat last year’s finalist so they’re playing really well.”
“We need to test ourselves to show our weaknesses and strengths.”
He said the team needed to play consistently night in and night out to build confidence.
“We should win games by 25 points and if we lose it should be by three points.
“By the end of the season we can look back and say we won X games.”
Mullenax said the only reason to play basketball is to win the championship.
“You can say you want to play finals or win so many games but deep down inside you want to win the premiership.
“There is only one winner and if that’s not you, you haven’t succeeded.”