Adelaide 36ers vs. New Zealand Breakers
When: 4:30pm (AEDT), Sunday 24th November
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Broadcast: NBL TV, SBS On Demand/Viceland, Twitch TV
Last times they’ve met:
Rd 23 2019/2020: New Zealand Breakers 107 (Long 28, Richard 24) defeated by Adelaide 36ers 114 (Sobey 27) at Spark Arena (Wave City)
In Adelaide- 4 Jan 2019: Adelaide 36ers 96 (Sobey 23) lost to New Zealand Breakers 104 (Long 28, Wesley 19) at Titanium Security Arena (The Fortress)
SIXERS SHOT BACK INTO HISTORY
Rd 21 2009: Maher stamps himself literally into 36ers History
This one was probably the most memorable 36ers match against the New Zealand Breakers barring that club’s first NBL game many seasons ago. The night had all the fanfare and farewell of a club legend with the court the superstar 36ers point guard Brett Maher had graced for many years being unveiled as his very own, the Brett Maher Court.
The most famous story of the night was not the 17pts he dropped in his final game as Adelaide outlasted the Breakers 102-91 but it was the NBA distance shot that brought the house down that sealed the match in his final home game for the 36ers. This shot wrote history so much that the Brett Maher Court insignia unveiled on the night was simply replaced in emphatic sentimentality with the signature of the great champion in the very spot he knocked down that shot.
Key Match-Ups:
Jerome Randle vs. RJ Hampton
Randle has been running hot last couple of games averaging 23 points per game and contrary to many people’s opinions, he’s been getting those points through good ball movement at the offensive end of the floor. Enter probably the most important player for the Breakers defensively in Hampton who will need to shutdown Randle so Corey Webster can go to work against the Sixers back court. He has had a quiet last couple of games but if Breakers are any chance, he needs to fire to help Webster combat the firepower of the Sixers.
Anthony Drmic vs Sek Henry
Can finally say it Frank who? Anthony is now making a name for himself and we are finally seeing the potential in him come to fruition consistently week in and out. That was highlighted by a sneaky hops dunk against the Bullets Friday night. He’s been super consistent as one of the best defenders all season and also averaging 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg in an all-round performance in the NBL this season. Add his ability to light up beyond the arc and he’s a threat to the Breakers big time. That’s also the kind of player that can get off the chain for the Sixers, last year it was Patrick Richard this year it’s Sek Henry that holds that potential. Although only shooting at 25 percent if given space he’s the kind of player that can hurt the Sixers traditionally from the 45s and the corners.
Jack McVeigh vs. Finn Delaney
The one match-up I’m really look forward to is when the two energy guys match-up on each other. Both are the teams spark plugs and Delaney has given the Sixers headaches before but McVeigh is starting to get to his level and with the home court advantage I expect “jumpin” Jack to win the enthusiasm battle on and off the court.
The Last Play
They are all big games as coach Joey Wright has stated but this is a big one in terms of staying in touch with the teams above. The Sixers were desperately unlucky on one hand not to down the Bullets in the armoury but shot themselves in the foot on their rebounding giving their opponents multiple opportunities to score; They now must make amends by taking care of the Ken Cole-sseum. A loss here sees them slip away from the vastly improved Cairns Taipans and Jekyl Hyde Bullets and with desperate Breakers trying to reverse their form on and off court, this is a danger game. I do expect the Sixers to address the defensive rebounding issues and shut down the Breakers front court from getting those boards and closing out the key perimeter shooters.
It’s city round so as the City of Churches we better say some prayers for the Sixers defensive rebounding as if those issues from Friday night are not addressed, it might be more than 40 days and 40 nights the Sixers are wandering through to get to the NBL finals.
36ers by 12pts
*This article is a duplicate of an article written for publishing for And The Foul.net and may appear before or after publishing
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 