After a touch up on the glass in the "Jungle", the former King must reclaim his throne for the Sixers tonight - photo by The West
When: 4:30pm (ACDT), Sunday, 10th December
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: NBL TV, Fox Sports, Sky Sports
Last time they met:
Round 18 (2016/17): Adelaide 36ers 87 (Johnson 19, Randle 16, Hodgson 14) defeated by New Zealand Breakers 88 (Penney 21, Dillard 20, Loe 15) at Titanium Security Arena
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE FLASHBACK:
ROUND 7, 2007/08: ADELAIDE 36ERS VS NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
We flashback to one of the matches where the season for the 36ers was a changing of the guard as they finished the time of being at the top of the ladder and the Breakers after some lean years were beginning to emerge as the basketball powerhouse of the 2010s in the NBL. The match featured players on opposite sides of their original clubs in Oscar Forman now a Breaker and little did we know then he’d be on his way to be a 400 plus gamer. The other Mike Chappell who we know at full fitness would have been a powerhouse in a case of the 36ers having missed many imports just in their prime.
The kiwi sharp shooter Phill Jones made life difficult early for the 36ers but there was some others that were making it harder for the Breakers. In an entertaining opening quarter, the 36ers led by three 26-23. Adelaide continued to utilise the original pick and pop man in import Adam Ballinger who constantly found space despite close monitoring by the “Bear” Tony Ronaldson. Ronaldson too was finding his nasty habit of doing anything on the scoring front in black, teal, blue and white since 1995. The 36ers led 49-39 and had a healthy margin heading into the third.
Again Jones and after missing many shot early from beyond the perimeter, Tall Black international Kirk Penney begun to find his range. Add the inconsistent but highly skilled Wayne Turner and Adelaide were being charged down but through the usual suspects of Brett Maher, Ballinger and their tenacious guard Brad Davidson the men in dark blue and red held the margin at ten, 69-59. The last quarter was dominated by Ballinger again and the Sixers as they ran away with it by 17 points.
Adelaide 36ers 87 (Ballinger 26, Maher 19, Davidson 14) defeated New Zealand Breakers 70 (Jones 14, Ronaldson 12, Turner 9) at the Distinctive Homes Dome
Key Match-Ups:
Shannon Shorter vs. Edgar Sosa
Shorter had his first taste of the “Jungle” on Friday night and now he would know what intensity he needs to play at week in, week out for the Sixers to go with the premier guards in the competition. Part two of the dual doesn’t come much tougher than the next opponent who is still vastly underrated.
Sosa is one of the new imports on the scene and while there are plenty of “MVP” established ones, he is quickly coming into people’s conversation. Sosa has taken the Breakers from bottom contender to out right favourite for the championship and the Dominican guard can take another step forward by getting the Sixers scalp on their home court. Here’s hoping Shorter can contain his influence in the game.
Josh Childress vs. Mika Vukona
With Creek likely sidelined with injury it is time for the former King to retake his throne and dominate the game tonight. Everyone knows what Childress is capable of and that will have Breakers coach Paul Henare worried about his match-ups for the swing-man.
After getting a pant-sing from Lucas “Sky” Walker and the Wildcats on the rebounds Friday night, coach Joey Wright will be reinforcing the absolute necessity of keeping the physical players off the glass including the kiwi veteran Vukona.
You really feel like if these two match each others aggression then this will be a contest worth watching down in the low post.
RAMONE MOORE VS. SHEA ILI
As a basketball lover you have to really enjoy the work Moore has done for the Sixers this season as the bench spark. He’s played the perfect role for the Sixers giving them what they need at any point of the match. Watch out for his pull-up jumper if his feet get set either on transition or finding the ball off cuts through the key-way. He also has an important defensive assignment.
Ili is no doubt the raging favourite for most improved player highlighted by his ability to play such productive minutes late in games. His last few minutes in Perth a few weeks ago were class and the Sixers will need to watch out for the momentum he creates while the two import guards sit.
The Last Play
Sadly the Sixers failed the first real test of the season falling to the Wildcats but they weren’t far off compared to other sides. The Sixers should be stung by the fact that the last time the Breakers came they got a one point win and Wright was ejected from the game in controversial circumstances. Another test despite being at home looms for Adelaide with the “travelling” Breakers flying on the road.
Henare knows what he needs to do to win this one but both teams having only met once are very different to the unsettled groups that met last month so Wright has aces up his sleeve as well. For me there is one player that makes the difference in this game of pretty even match-ups, Childress. If he dominates the small forward and power forward position against the Breakers, then Adelaide can protect their home floor with a crucial victory.
A tight one it will be but Adelaide simply have to win if they want to stay with the top two teams heading towards Christmas.
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 