"I ain't afraid of no Sixer" as Caspar Ware Jnr drives his way to 23 on the opening night of the NBL season - Photo by SMH
Nathan Sobey opened the game with a bang knowing full well some NBA staff scouting United before their clash would be watching from the Oklahoma City Thunder and led the relatively fresh looking line-up to an early lead. SA born Peter Hooley got one on the board for his first basket to snap United out of their slow start but new Adelaide imports Shannon Shorter and Ramone Moore were impressing early with their high basketball IQ and calmness under the pressure of Caspar Ware Jnr and Casey Prather on the perimeter shining through. The 36ers led at the first change 27-18.
Sobey continued his work slashing his way through the Melbourne defence, landing long bombs and setting up his teammates with some solid defence on the turnaround. United player Tai Wesley started to channel his grunt work and found himself open for a couple of open shots as United took the momentum midway through the second quarter as the 36ers struck foul trouble. The Sixers before the match were down one tall import with the club releasing import Ronald Roberts after not meeting the requirements of coach Joey Wright in the past month according to a pre- interview with Corey “Homicide” Williams prior to tip-off. United took advantage of the situation as Ware Jnr banked in a triple to have his team trail by just 2-points at half time, 45-47. Sobey led all with 16-points at a staggering 87 percent to signal his 2016/17 season was no fluke.
United then came out and blitzed the 36ers but it wasn’t all one sided as fans could be forgiven for thinking Melbourne had knocked down that many points. Several triples were dropped from Ware Jnr, the veteran David Barlow and even Hooley got in on the act. The 36ers not to be outdone saw a much-improved Anthony Drmic drop a few in transition himself as Shorter started to insert himself into the game making some great passes and helping the 36ers get their player movement happening in which Mitch Creek and Drmic took advantage. The 67-point total quarter from both teams was scary for opposition teams to watch with the firepower both teams had shown but despite the long range fireworks, United led 85-74 heading into the final quarter.
United found foul trouble early in the fourth quarter as the 36ers began to make a charge. Shorter made some key plays as Sobey found his way back into the game and the 36ers were rolling again. Enter Ware Jnr and Prather the new dynamic duo as they produced play after play in the open court and on the perimeter as the 36ers big men couldn’t get their game going in the final five minutes. Drmic tried to rescue the 36ers with hustle and some more big shots down the stretch but luck seemed to be on United side as they end up with the ball three times off turnovers caused by the 36ers swarming late match defence. Quiet most of the night Captain David Andersen iced the game from the stripe and United would have plenty to celebrate on the plane to the USA as they pinched the close one, 99-97.
Sobey led the scorers for the 36ers with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in a brilliant opening performance for the season, Drmic was next best with a quality 17 points, 5 rebounds and shot 63 percent from the field in 21:01 minutes of court time. Shorter was the best of the imports on debut with 14 points and 5 assists in a tidy debut.
Ware Jnr was the man for United with 23 points with 55 percent from the perimeter, 6 assists and for his size a whopping 8 rebounds while Prather quietly snuck his way up to 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Josh Boone came from the clouds late and nearly stole a double double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
The 36ers head to Sydney Saturday Night hopefully ironing out a few issues in the second half taking rushed shots and settling down a couple of big men popping the open jumpers instead of trying to create under pressure off the dribble. United are off to the USA to face off against possibly Russell Westbrook and most likely former 36ers import Terrance Ferguson of the OKC Thunder and should give a reasonable account of themselves given the Kings effort against the Utah Jazz. The 36ers will be looking to take advantage of the long trip for the Kings and make it 1-1 by the time we reach the end of the weekend.
Adelaide 36ers 97 (Sobey 21, Drmic 17, Creek 15, Shorter 14, Johnson 13, Moore 10) defeated by Melbourne United 99 (Ware 23, Prather 20, Boone, Andersen, Wesley 10) at Titanium Security Arena
Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 