Author: Tristan Prentice

New tune to jive to - Its been no secret that Dejan "DJV" Vasiljevic has been in the Sixers sights for sometime - now it seems Adelaide has landed its feature act to accompany the Flowers and Kell show - Photo Credit to Adelaide 36ers/NBL 

We are a couple of rounds into a brand new summer of basketball with NBL24 and WNBL24 just around the corner

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4-Minute Read

NBL ROUND 4

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix/Perth Wildcats

When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Thursday 19 October, 7:30pm Saturday 21 October

Where:  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum

Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN, www.nbl.com.au

SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY

Next Star raising thunder against Phoenix

We saw that breakout from Trentyn Flowers last week – lets go back to when Giddey put his claim on the Sixers guard position after starting behind Donald Sloan back in NBL21.

A famous second home game for the Adelaide 36ers where the next star and NBA bound rookie Josh Giddey emerged with 13 points after three quarter time and an engrossing duel between former teammates DJ and Mitch Creek.

Have a read and watch the highlights of this one…

Read here

For something different listen to our pre-game Cluch Basketball Radio show the SA Shotclock here for our preview of the Adelaide 36ers against the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Perth Wildcats

THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON

How does Dejan Vasiljevic fit in this 36ers team?  

The Sixers have gone for the scoring punch so you can’t see him starting on the pine what so ever – the most likely move is shifting Kell to the three where he can be that multi-faceted player (DJ Newbill was a good mention by Pick and Roll’s Jordan McCallum in his piece this week) with Dejan at the two shooting guard position.

The lineup of McCarron, Vasiljevic, Kell, Wiley and Humphries appears the most likely one we’ll see with that combo – that gives you the backup of Cadee, Marshall, Dech, Starling/Tohi-Smith Milner and Galloway. That on paper looks much better but the on court is where we want to see it lift.

This weekend features another three coaches with question marks in CJ, Mike and John – but who will be the biggest casualty of the weekend if their team drops these fixtures?  

I’ll start with least regardless of result I don’t think its Mike Kelly – win or loss he’s got time to figure this out. The Perth game Saturday becomes a n intriguing one for the losing coach. The spectre of Trevor Gleeson looms for both coaches that can’t be denied but even with a Sixers loss there is an expectation from Wildcats faithful and if they fail again- Rillie will sadly have plenty of pressure on him from the weekend onwards.

If Adelaide do get both wins this week – how does that change their next few weeks?    

Crazy thing is they play Perth again with New Zealand in between which looked pretty much like 0-7 a week ago. But if they were to launch on the road from a 3-4 record – then the belief could rise to make it 4-5 or even 5-5 then its home against Tassie and then Phoenix again.

After a tough start Adelaide could find itself back ay close to 500 by end of November if they play their parts and pieces right…

So who wins?

The impact of DJV will tell us much about the team and if they have the right makeup in the back court now – the question mark is still over the front court and whether another piece is needed. In terms of getting these two right now is the best time to force two wins and launch into the next quarter of the season in a much better position then maybe most were anticipating.

COD Prediction: 36ers by 7 points (Phoenix) and 5 points (Wildcats)

Catch all the action this weekend at the arena on Cluch Radio with our SA Shotclock call team whether you’re at the game or watching from home

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Kell sent - Trey Kell III had a breakout game for his new club and needs to continue that upward trend against the Hawks this afternoon - Photo Credit to Adelaide 36ers/NBL 

We are a couple of rounds into a brand new summer of basketball with NBL24 and WNBL24 just around the corner

We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this summer and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?

Help do a sub here

4-Minute Read

NBL ROUND 3

Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks

When: 5:00pm (ACDT), Saturday 14 October

Where:  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum

Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN, www.nbl.com.au

SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY

My first game in basketball media – Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks

Checkout this preview for my first game I did between the Adelaide 36ers and the Illawarra Hawks – pretty close to on this day a month and 7 years ago

Adelaide 36ers vs. Illawarra Hawks

When: 5:00pm (AEDT), Saturday, 12th November 2016
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: NBL TV, Fox Sports, Sky Sports

Last times they’ve met:

Rd 1: Illawarra Hawks 122 (Clarke 23, Harris 21, Holyfield 14) defeated Adelaide 36ers 88 (Creek 24, Randle, Deng 13) at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

In Wollongong 2015/16: Illawarra Hawks 106 (Ogilvy 17, Lisch 16, Weeks 14) defeated Adelaide 36ers 95 (Johnson 20, Randle 15, Ere 12)

In Adelaide 2015/16: Adelaide 36ers 104 (Ere 28, Johnson 19, Creek 15) defeated Illawarra Hawks 94 (Lisch 24, Coenraad 17, R Martin 15)

Throwback Thursday Classic Memory Match:

2001 Semi-Final Game Three: Wollongong Hawks 109 (Melvin Thomas 28, Lowery 20) defeated Adelaide 36ers 108 (Brooks 26, Maley 21)

Former 36ers player Mark Nash recalls this as being his most memorable game for all the wrong reasons and probably was the significant day that the Hawks developed a strong rivalry with the 36ers. The game ebbed and flowed the whole way through as it had during the semi-final series. It came down to a controversial call in game three on Darnell Mee fouling pesky Hawks guard Damon Lowery flailing his arms and legs in the air and gaining a crucial trip to the stripe for three shots. Lowery knocked down the first one kissing the front of the rim and dropping in. The second one did the same but the third was an agonising eight bounces and touched every part of the rim including window until like a dagger it dropped into the 36ers finals campaign. What many call the most pulsating finish to a playoff game in NBL history had sent the Hawks to what would be a Grand Final series that yielded them and the state of NSW their first NBL championship.

Key Match-Ups:

Jerome Randle vs. Mitch Norton/Kevin White

In round one in the first game of the season, Hawks coach Rob Beveridge sent his two defensive guards in Norton and White to lockdown Randle. The tactic was to niggle, play physical and see if they could disrupt Randle’s rhythm within the boundaries of the rules. Randle will need team support of screens and scoring from Sobey, Teys and Drmic to handle the one two punch from the Hawks. Joey Wright will also be wary of giving Randle some protection from the two physical guards. After 40pts against the Wildcats last Saturday, the Hawks will look to put a majority of their energy
into stopping him.

Anthony Drmic vs. Tim Coenraad

Drmic received notice from coach Wright last week and it payed off with a 17pt game against the Wildcats.  The sharp shooter used his body strength well against the Wildcats and will need to again against the Hawks Nick Kay and Tim Coenraad given another week on the sideline for Daniel Johnson. As much as the Hawks bigs are mobile, taking them out of the post is a bigger challenge for them to go for  the perimeter shooter and definitely taking them out is better for Drmic and for the 36ers other forwards Deng, Jacobsen and Hodgson.

On the flip side, one of the 36ers weaknesses in recent years on defence has been the 6 and half foot man that can shoot the three ball such as Tim Coenraad. Coenraad loves playing in Adelaide with a solid average of 11 pts per game and will be a key feature of the contest with his all-round ability but particularly his ability to light up offensively.

Eric Jacobsen vs. AJ Ogilvy

The recruitment of Jacobsen has been crucial to freeing up the Sixers big shooting men as he has manned the paint in their place. Last time and he needs no reminding his first game against the Hawks was a shocker as Ogilvy dominated their first meeting. “For this game I’m going to be wary of staying on the floor longer,” Jacobsen said about the foul trouble he incurred early in round one.

Ogilvy hasn’t always had his best games in Adelaide and often finds it difficult to counter the perimeter shooting ability of Johnson but Jacobsen will need to look at mid-rangers to drag the Hawk giant out of the paint. “I’ll be out there supporting my team and having a good battle with Ogilvy,” Jacobsen reassured.

36ers by 6pts
Written by Tristan Prentice

Key Matchups

Trey Kell III vs Tyler Harvey   

Are we starting to see the real Kell that Trey can deliver? 28 points against the Kings shows he is capable of being a week in and week out scorer – here’s hoping its an upward trend

For something different listen to this part of the interview during this week’s SA Shotclock here from the 12:10 minute mark

Isaac Humphries vs Sam Froling

With the Sixers situation they are in this season – “Ice” has become very important in the context of the season. He has a very good record against the Hawks with 15.5 points at 57 percent the last three seasons. He’s a big problem in the paint with the Hawks already down one of their bigs in Mason Peatling (cheekbone)

More responsibility comes to the Australian Boomer squad member for the initial World Cup squad in Froling. Froling averages 10.5 points at 47.5 percent with 8 rebounds against the Sixers the last three years. He will need to lift if the Hawks are to gain ascendancy in the paint.

Kyrin Galloway vs Lachlan Olbrich

Both are tracking similar paths already in NBL24 with Galloway having a career best start to his year statistically. Although a few years older than his matchup in Olbrich – Galloway is already averaging 4.5 points shooting it at a healthy 35 percent, five rebounds and is in the top five for blocks in the league with seven already in four matches. Having said that I’d love to see him get inside more this match and really take advantage of the Hawks lack of size.

But it wouldn’t be the first time an SA born player returns to wreck vengeance on the home state and Olbrich has the opportunity to show his former club how much he could’ve been well used by them. The MVP of the NBL1 Central Grand Final is already starting to turn heads with his 5.5 points at 63 percent, six rebounds. I’m worried about this player for the Sixers as I feel he’s ready to have a big one on the “home” floor.

THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON

Hang on! The Sixers traditionally go to sleep in the third quarter – why the reverse trend in NBL24?  

Something unusual compared to previous seasons is the Sixers ability to find momentum after half-time – after following their previous trend of past seasons the Sixers have won their past two third quarters 20-29 and 18-24. That possibly tells you a couple of things. The locker-room is a happier place and that the team are responding and rallying to CJ and his coaching staff when they are down.

Its small at the moment but another third quarter win today and you’d have to suggest there has been some changes that might be worth asking him post game about…

Do the Hawks have enough continuity to get Jackomas defensive sets run?  

It seems at the moment its the biggest challenge for the Hawks and after giving up another 103 points Thursday night against the Jackjumpers – its a worrying sign however it is early in the season. With a few new guys and the combo of Justin Robinson and Harvey still adjusting to each others games – If the Hawks win they’ll probably hit the 100s again and be lethal from beyond the arc.

Out of Adelaide’s imports who needs the bigger game Kell or Wiley?    

It has to be Kell – if he can drop two big ones in a row it’ll alleviate much of the Sixers fans anxiety of their team and show he can be the go to guy down the stretch in future contests.

It will also tell us a lot more about what the Sixers need for their third import spot or the equivalent of another local player -another DJ perhaps???

So who wins?

The Sixers are showing some upward trending across key parts of their last two contests and on paper hold some key strengths over their opponents. However you can’t underestimate this Hawks team that has some significant offensive power. While they are adjusting defensively – so are the Sixers.

Considering what’s ahead and a missing piece still to be added – this is an early take care of business at home and get off to a good start in a three game home streak where hopefully by the end of next Saturday we’ll see the Sixers balance out their WL record.

COD Prediction: 36ers by 11 points

Catch all the action today at the arena on Cluch Radio with Tristan “TP” Prentice and our special comments guests Scott Freer whether you’re at the game or watching from home

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