Rise over the Phoenix: It was history for the pride of Adelaide as the first NBL team to defeat an NBA franchise in a history going back to the World Club Championships of 1995 - Photo credit to The New Daily
4-Minute Read
NBL ROUND 3
Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpers
When: 7:00pm (ACST), Thursday October 13
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum
Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN, www.nbl.com.au
SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY
NBL X NBA 2022: PHOENIX SUNS VS ADELAIDE 36ERS
It might have been only last week but we have to swoop back on the moment in history that changed the landscape – and nearly cost us our imports…
For the record I was flying home from the FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup and decided I might just tune into the match just to check on the progress of our team – you haven’t seen that many mini fist pumps in the middle seat of a plane but definitely would’ve not been the only one acting like twitter had melted.
24 of 43 from beyond the perimeter did the damage uncorking the piping shrike genie of SA that CJ Bruton has been building in this team but for one day it all clicked and showed the scary NBL proposition the Sixers could be. The master DJ set the tone from the start with 8 points in the opening stanza and again just defies logic how a player his quality can go for a donut in an NBL1 game then perform on the world stage – but everyone knows he can flick that switch on and off at will now. It lit the spark as every player from Dech to Drmic even Sotto got in on the three point party – it was the imports however that worked like clockwork.
Randall, Franks and Cleveland contributed 35, 32 and 22 for a total of 89 of their 134 and is the kind of production offensively the state has been crying out for since the combination of John Gilchrist and Adam Ballinger in the late 2010s – yes we’ve had some brilliant scoring imports but not with that consistent combo point per game production.
Key Matchups
Antonius Cleveland vs Milton Doyle
The Sixers went hard after Cleveland in the off-season and won out on his services. The 28 year old guard averaged 14.2 ppg shooting it at 46.9, 6.6 rebs and 2.3 assists with the Illawarra Hawks but already from the preseason – those numbers are likely to spike north. Its his ability to defend at the elite level on-top of this is what they got him for players like Doyle who have given the Sixers trouble in the past.
Doyle has started his NBL season with 16 ppg at 42 percent, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and with those “Darnell Mee” like qualities at both ends. His 32 points and 6 assists in the JackJumpers overtime win over the Bullets in 42 minutes showed he belonged and he’ll cause the home side some serious headaches you feel.
Daniel Johnson vs Jack McVeigh
The enigma of DJ continues to flummox all but he is in a race to be fit for the opener tonight. Regardless if he plays again he’ll cause the ants of Tassie some angst with his crafty moves and ability to flick the switch and go into efficiency mode.
McVeigh is the barometer for the Jackie’s and he’s started 2022 very well – despite a lean start for his side in the W column. He will again bring the energy and bounce as he always does but his game has sneakily evolved to a new level as shown by his MVP in the Blitz. I think he’ll spend sometime guarding his old teammate in DJ or switching at least between him and Franks via Fabian Krslovic.
Sunday Dech vs Sean McDonald
Prior to the season I thought how could the Sixers lineup operate without Sunday in the starting five. He was such a key integral part of the defensive setup but with the talented three imports coming in – fitting McCarron and Dech into the starting guard spots was going to be tough. Perhaps the new role of off-the bench for Dech adds to the Sixers depth overall in a way thats “well its a luxury to have” and that could shape the Sixers into a title contender.
Speaking of sparks from the bench – McDonald has been just that for the green and white. He has already played over 100 minutes in four games after a complete 29 minutes across 8 games in 21/22 to notch 24 points including 50 percent from beyond the arc. There’s definitely something Scott Roth likes about the 22 year-old and we are likely to see more of it if he keeps bringing it like he has first few games of the season.
THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON
Is what we saw in the NBA games the style the Sixers will play?
We all hope so! The Sixers scored more than 25 points per quarter against the Suns, shot the ball at 55 percent plus and won the rebounds 40-36 and grabbed 28 assists to go alongside 24 of 43 from beyond the arc. Against the Thunder it was a different story with one less quarter under 25 points but still managed to shoot 37 percent and dish 22 assists. Compare that to the season averages of 42 percent from the field and being number three in competition for rebounding with 43.5 per game. Maybe the Sixers are already looking for the extra ball movement and more aggressive attack on the rim highlighted by being number eight in free throw attempts – already its a 21 attempts average in their NBA games.
What will Scott Roth do with import Rashard Kelly?
He does throw it around doesn’t he? Needing to make changes immediately especially without the services of Will Magnay – Roth decided from the start that Kelly he would use off the bench. He’s the do it all so far from what we’ve seen with 15 points, 7.2 rebounds and shooting 42 percent per game and you wonder whether a start at the three or four spot is not too far away despite the solid form of Matt Kenyon.
Is this the second coming of Randall at the Sixers?
Sixers fans fell in love with Jerome Randle when he came to town but like that meme of looking over the shoulder – another “Randall” may steal the limelight. Craig Randall II shoots the blizzards out of it coming from the G-League with an average of 26.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists – as coach Bruton describes a “big guard”. The Long Island Nets DBG (designated bucket getter) was the most improved player and had back-to-back 40 point games – the last Sixer to have a 40 point game was also you guessed it… so there could be some synergy for the Sixers.
So who wins?
A huge home crowd is expected for a mid-week game which is saying something and these fans in the City of Churches have been starved of success. We know the JackJumpers play tough defence but you just feel the Sixers will show some maturity – overcome first game nerves and close this one out with some attack on the rim play, more patience on offence and get the season off to a solid start.
COD Prediction: 36ers by 12 points
Catch all the action tonight at the arena on Cluch Radio with Tristan “TP” Prentice and our special comments guest whether you’re at the game or watching from home
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CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 