Author: Tristan Prentice

 

Childress (pictured against the Wildcats earlier this season) went to another level and was ice-cool in the first half. Photo by The Western Australian

For the first time in any final I can recall, the Wildcats were beaten at their own game and their usual finals intensity was not only matched but it was smashed.

The game kicked off with a sight never seen in an Adelaide basketball stadium, bright lights and smoke machines made you think you were at Hisense Arena earlier in the night in Melbourne but no we were in Adelaide. Then MC Walsh encouraged the fans to stand up and clap and stay standing till the first opposition basket was scored, it lasted for three minutes and was a momentum boost for the team on court. Too long Sixers fans have been known as “Sitting” supporters and not engaging at all points in the game, for the first time since the 2013/2014 home Grand Final game, the Sixers fans engaged with the game for the full 40 minutes and as a result, the anxiety and fear crept into the Wildcats on-court game. They were finally feeling like what every opposition does heading into the Jungle.

As predicted by myself, the two key players in the first half that setup the game were the spiritual one Mitch Creek and the man who went to another level under the spotlight Josh Childress. Daniel Johnson continued his love affair with the Wildcats had the cameo early with 8 early quarter points but when the Cats came early in the second, it was J-Chill who began to prove the difference. His 14 point first half and blanketing of JP Tokoto along with the Sixers excellent execution of the flex and hand-off plays found himself constantly catching mismatches with Brandt, Walker and Cooke Jnr. Credit to Adelaide as well early on shutting Wagstaff down on the three point line which basically left the Wildcats firing blanks. Only a string of Cotton held the Wildcats offence together. A Moore triple at the half time break gave the Sixers a 50-44 momentum break.

For me the pivotal moment came halfway through the third quarter. Cotton got a contested shot at a three and the ball bounced high towards the Sixers bench. Attacking the offensive glass was Damian Martin as per usual but he wasn’t alone this time, Nathan Sobey was on his tail heavily and while Shorter ended up fouling him, its the kind of inspirational play that Martin can produce for the Wildcats that results in a game changing score. Sobey did exactly what I challenged the Sixers to do, stop his influence to beat the Wildcats. That play right there is why he won the defensive player of the season for the club.

After three quarters of wearing down the forwards of the Wildcats in the post with more switches than a power station, the dam wall burst and the Sixers offence ran rampant. Sobey and Shorter both caught fire as they pushed the margin beyond twenty points with Sobey going 75 percent beyond the arc in the final quarter to bury the declawed foe. Even Adam Doyle got in on the act with one of his own and Sobey again won a loose ball, even Deng dove for one when they were up by 30 points late in the fourth. The hungry Sixers team showed they were not taking any chances under the steady hand of Wright, the coolness of KB and the calm underestimated influence of ’86’ championship winning coach Ken Cole.

The Sixers finished the game completely dominate whilst also putting on an aerial show of dunks, floor display of dribbles, crossovers, behind the backs (even Moore’s came off despite a mistimed hand) and had the Wildcats spinning in the paint unable to make easy post finishes. After speaking to Cole after the match, it’s no surprise he has been reminding the team about keeping focused in the head and that they have to win 5 games before they can think about that they’ve done their job.

Childress scored a season high 22 points at 88 percent in mature fashion and just missed being the third Sixers player with  double double for the night with 9 rebounds. Mitch Creek finished a game of immense four quarter impact with 20 points at 66 percent and 11 rebounds while DJ notched up 16 points at 54 percent and 10 rebounds. Shorter exploded in the second half with 15 to finish with 18 points at 70 percent including some Curry like step back triples and also dished 7 assists. Sobey too thanks to a purple patch in the fourth quarter finished off his elite defensive job on Martin with 15 points and 4 assists. Only Bryce Cotton was a threat for the Wildcats with 22 points but shot 43 percent clearly feeling the pressure of carrying his team. The Sixers smashed the Wildcats on the glass with 65-47 and had 6-1 double figure scorers for the night.

Game two is in Perth next Friday night and unless the Wildcats can find more than one double figure scorer than the league MVP, the champion team is going to knock down in front of 13,000 red army fans a team of champions, and wouldn’t we be delighted in Adelaide to see that…

Adelaide 36ers 109 (Childress 22, Creek 20, Shorter 18, Johnson 16, Sobey 15, Moore 10) defeated Perth Wildcats 74 (Cotton 22) at Titanium Security Arena

 

Expect Josh Childress to emulate the feats of KB in the 1998 series - photo by The West

THE CLOCKS

#21 CASPAR WARE (MELBOURNE UNITED)

If the game against Oklahoma City Thunder was anything to go by then Ware steps up under the spotlight but he is so crucial for the momentum of United in the finals series. He is dangerous at penetrating through the lane which opens up shooters like Goulding and Prather and also can nail the long dagger from NBA territory. If United are to get through this series even to the Finals, the ghost with the moe-st must fire for the black and white.

#55 MITCH CREEK (ADELAIDE 36ERS)

It’s almost a crime to pick anyone for these categories from this years version of the Navy Blue and White. We all know however deep down who wants to lead his team to a championship after so many recent opportunities in finals, a fit and hungry Mitch Creek. This will be the first finals series where Creek has not had an interrupted preparation and the man is more than capable of lifting the entire Sixers team at any stage of the game. By the end of the series, I predict that we may be speaking about him in the same words as Hawthorn player Luke Hodge, he’s not the skipper but he’s the spiritual one.

#5 JP TOKOTO (PERTH WILDCATS)

The Wildcats depth seems to be its problem this season or is it and are one of the two past 8 champions ready to flick the switch and go again? If they are then Tokoto is the distinctive difference between this years model of the Wildcat machine and there is no reason he could not cut to shreds the opposition during the finals series. While league MVP Bryce Cotton may lose impact if the opposition lock down on his scoring ability, Tokoto can still very much influence the contest in the air and on the floor.

#4 EDGAR SOSA (NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS)

Every big moment the other machine had during the NBL season, this guy was involved in every single one of them. He’s not talked up for no reason and can single-handily drag his side out of the mire of a scoring drought. The Dominican dynamic fiery guard is ready to fire and his duel with Ware is going to go a long way to saying if the Breakers are the real deal this season.

THE CLINCHERS

#42 TAI WESLEY (MELBOURNE UNITED)

Wesley’s mission brief is about to self-destruct as this is the assignment he was chosen for by the United hierarchy. He has proven time and time again for the Breakers that he can get it done at both ends and the three ball is proving most dangerous shooting at a clip of 39 percent compared to 27 percent last season, you can’t leave him so open now in a big game.

#3 JOSH CHILDRESS (ADELAIDE 36ERS)

Who would have thought that forced to change the third import twice early in the season would reap Wright and the Sixers the “import” selection of the season. The 11 ppg and 6 rpg forward reminds us about another import plucked from the NBA well known but not a huge name in the league at the time, but he came down under and his first Finals series claimed the MVP in the Grand Final Series of 1998 and that man is now the Sixers assistant coach Kevin Brooks. I think Childress is about to repeat the dose and might be just the difference under the spotlights of the Jungle and the other opposition venues for the Sixers to get it done.

#53 DAMIAN MARTIN (PERTH WILDCATS)

I’ll say it again, do not underestimate this man when the finals come around. The six-time defensive player of the year is no joke despite the talent that surrounds him in all four teams. Martin has the ability to lock down on any key scorer while also making the crucial play or stop his team needs. You stop Martin and you stop the Wildcats but that is no easy task.

#14 MIKA VUKONA (NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS)

Similar to the above player, you can’t underestimate the influence and the ability the Breakers have to be inspired and work from the grunt work of Vukona. While many including myself thought last season might be it for him, he’s back again and his team not surprisingly are figuring in the final four again.

 

THE CREAM

#13 DAVE ANDERSEN (MELBOURNE UNITED)

Every championship team needs a veteran presence or contribution and whilst he hasn’t been at his absolute best in recent times, Andersen has played in so many big finals in Europe in intense environments that he is made for this situation. If Andersen can perform at that level he did in Europe then United with an already stacked roster are going to be very hard to down.

#22 ANTHONY DRMIC (ADELAIDE 36ERS)

I’ve gone for Drmic for a number of reasons. Last season’s ejection in the finals probably has burned pretty hard for him but he’s comeback this season much more prepared, mature and ready to go. The Sixers will encounter much zone defence in an effort to stop fast break basketball so it comes down to the long range shooters. Drmic is the Sixers most efficient guy dropping them at 37 percent, if he can maintain this or even raise it for finals, the Sixers won’t have a problem with the zone defences of the opposition and the Brett Maher Court will be holding those three fingers in the air many trips down the court.

#13 DEREK COOKE JNR (PERTH WILDCATS)

The missing link in the Wildcats line-up who has shown glimpses of tearing games apart but has struggled to consistently contribute. He is a monster on the glass and when it comes down to crunch time in finals, players don’t get any smaller. If Cooke Jnr can find that tenacity and beast like play, that makes him a dangerous cat, a Wildcat to be precise.

#15 ROB LOE (NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS)

The big man is an enigma and the Breakers do look seriously exposed when he’s playing the five spot when Pledger is sitting on the pine, but its worked for them so much having him there. He’s one of those players that can make the crucial bucket from long range making him a tough cover. If the Breakers are going beyond the first two weeks, they must get points out of this guy.

PREDICTIONS

Melbourne United 1-0-1 over New Zealand Breakers

Adelaide 36ers 1-0-1 over Perth Wildcats

Aka: the drought ends this year, no team has won the NBL championship apart from Perth and New Zealand since the South Dragons did in 2009-10 season…

 

 

The emergence of Majok Deng at both ends could be the missing piece of the Sixers championship puzzle. Photo by BOTI

Adelaide 36ers 88 defeated New Zealand Breakers 85

I seriously thought I was watching Darnell Mee out there in this one, but after a promise to me at the start of the season, Shannon Shorter delivered his best and looked a completely different player. His 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists was the performance that all Sixers supporters and media writers were looking for after the debacle of the previous fixtures. Majok Deng in the absence of Drmic has begun to look at home in his extended minutes with 13 points and was showing glimpses of exploding into a weapon for the Sixers.

Adelaide 36ers 97 defeated Perth Wildcats 86

It was all about Majok Deng tonight and from Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson’s admission, he was unstoppable. 16 points in the final quarter was exactly what the Sixers needed to put their stamp down as a championship contender and to show they have the difference between the other contending sides. The win was a crucial one that put the Sixers a win ahead but with a tricky away fixture against Brisbane, they could easily slip back to the pack.

Brisbane Bullets 77 defeated by Adelaide 36ers 89 in Overtime.

Watching this one was a strange game as you felt the Bullets through it were going to finally nail the Sixers down but again Adelaide’s depth stepped up. Deng once again went for a massive purple patch but if it wasn’t Mitch Creek it was DJ or Childress or Sobey that stepped up keeping the scoring ticking over despite the Bullets well laid defensive plans. The Sixers did enough to force it to overtime and from there took control with a 16-5 finish through DJ who dropped 24 points and 11 rebounds proving he is one of Adelaide’s most efficient away from home scorers.

Adelaide 36ers 100 defeated Cairns Taipans 90

If you were looking at this scoreline and you were Aaron Fearne, you’d be tearing whatever hair you had out. 190 points in a game doesn’t win the Taipans many games of basketball and despite again their desperation to play full shot clock ball, the Sixers simply weren’t going to allow it to happen a second time at home. A key moment out of this match was the performance of Brendan Teys with 14 points including four triples and Ramone Moore with 19 points . Teys was back to his pesky best and with Adam Doyle out for the season, his extended minutes as the glue guy and the lock-down guard veteran defender could be another key piece of the championship puzzle Joey Wright needs to fall into place. After an ankle injury, Moore is back at full flight and the all-round guard along with many on the Sixers bench is making a serious case for the NBL’s best sixth man of this season.

Sydney Kings 101 defeated by Adelaide 36ers 104

Similar to the previous match, if you get in a shootout with the Sixers you are probably going to go down but my goodness did a fireball Kings outfit give it a crack. The Sixers looked in cruise control and eventually as good teams do, Mitch Creek and Nathan Sobey edged out the Kings in the finish. Creek with a career high 30 points was the difference between the teams but clearly any team going up against Sydney should be aware of how potent they are with the shackles off (as Perth found out Friday Night). It should be noted too that over the last few games there has been a gradual improvement in Matt Hodgson in an encouraging sign for the Sixers.

So in summary after going 5-0 over the time period…

1. Every Sixers player has majorly contributed in each of the five wins with still Drmic to come back in to the rotations.
2. Nathan Sobey is more comfortable in his role and it’s shown in his off-ball output
3. Majok Deng as a result of improved defence has enhanced his offensive game further
4. They believe they can win any game regardless of momentumn
5. Josh Childress has established himself as the third import the Sixers should’ve picked originally but is not wasting any time making up his minutes
6. The roster is balanced with Drmic to return.
7. Teams are forcing the Sixers to shoot from the perimeter but the Sixers have begun to hit a higher clip since that scouting report (40 percent on average in the last three matches).

And finally…

They internally believe they can beat anyone except Melbourne United (who they’ll need to prove against probably in the finals).