Defusing WMDW: Will McDowell-White has been a key architect of the Breakers at both ends of the floor - he must be stopped by McCarron - Photo credit to stuff.co.NZ
3-Minute Read
NBL ROUND 5
Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers
When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Friday 28 October
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum
Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN, www.nbl.com.au
SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY
Round 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 Matchups
Mitch McCarron vs Will McDowell-White
Two absolute stat sheet stuffers will go head to head likely to set their teams up. McCarron is in the top 25 for rebounds (#14 with 6.3) and assists (#21 with 3.3) and has nearly notched up a triple double in every game so far this season.
The improvement in WMDW has been seen and the numbers don’t lie. He has already career high average in rebounds (6) and is in the top ten for assists in the competition with 4.5 while also adding 8.8 per game.
Robert Franks vs Dererk Pardon
You feel its a big game for Franks tonight… we’ve seen the glimpses but tonight he needs to provide some more inside touches and paint presence for the Sixers. He’s averaging 14.3 per game which is healthy but he can also up that by taking it closer to the basket and cause some defensive problems for his likely opponent Pardon.
You’d be excused for not knowing who Pardon is but hopefully if you’ve been watching the Breakers – you do now. He’s top ten in the league for rebounds (7.3) and already adding 11.2 points at a top ten high of 75.2 percent. The accuracy and efficiency of the Cleveland born forward who plays bigger than his size is a dangerous commodity for the Kiwi based side.
Hyrum Harris vs Cameron Gliddon
Harris has brought the impact to the floor for the Sixers everytime he’s taken court. CJ’s spark plug has been used in a vein similar to early 2010s Mitch Creek to inject some enthusiasm and punch on both ends of the floor and at different times. Look for him to impact the same way again in limited minutes.
I don’t even need to look at the stats to tell you the number of Sixer fans that know how much Cam has hurt us. He always has a way of putting those dagger triples in on us and with so many coverages of other players like Brown Jnr, WMDW, Brantley, Rupert just to name a few – his name shouldn’t go to far from the scouting sheet as he’s had a history of hurting the city of churches in big moments.
THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON
When does the lid come off Adelaide’s championship credentials after downing the champions last weekend?
Its too early and as we saw with the Phoenix knocking off the Breakers at home – anybody can get you on their given night. The Sixers however are showing the depth and personnel required to challenge strongly for the finals – I’m just not ready to declare them a contender just yet considering how even the league is right now.
Loe, Le’Afa, Vodanovich and WMDW have all started this season in career best form – is that a coach or players finding their role thing?
Its a bit of all pieces of the pie – the combination of players refreshed and returning to home after being on the road so long since the start of the pandemic and a coach that channels his emotion into their play. Overall its a wonderful combination and gives you the warm fuzzies that they are playing as well as they are.
Defence against each other has been a problem in the past so who are the key players in setting the tone for their sides?
McCarron and Cleveland for Adelaide and Le’afa and Barry Brown Jnr – these guys are elite in this area.
So who wins?
Both teams are in strong form heading into this one but if Adelaide are going to be taken seriously they need to win these games against rising contenders at home and start to build the fortress in the City of Churches.
COD Prediction: 36ers by 4 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 