Category: NBL

On the third home game of Christmas the Sixers want to send to us: Their home fans and the City of Churches a third win in a row at home - but the spiritual one of the Phoenix could spoil the Sixers Christmas cheer - Photo credit to news.com/NBL/Perth Now

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4-Minute Read

NBL ROUND 12

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

When: 5:00pm (ACDT), Saturday 24 December

Where:  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum

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

LTTM: SEM Phoenix 102 (Creek 24, Kell 20, Williams 18, Qi 11, Adnam 8, Browne 7) defeated Adelaide 36ers 84 (Franks 18, Marshall 15, Dech, Johnson 10, Cleveland 9, McCarron 8) at John Cain Arena

SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY

Giddey up in Double OT

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…

https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/36ers-down-phoenix-in-nbl-double-overtime-ng-s-2045743

Key Matchups

Ian Clark vs Trey Kell    

How much, how little and what time new Sixers import combo guard and NBL championship winner Clark will play is anyone’s guess. Clark averaged 12.91 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2 assists. The impact he has off the pine is eagerly anticipated to see how much he can tie down someone who has enjoyed the Sixers in his short stint in NBL23.

Kell has dined out on Sixers turkey the last two times in the comforts of his club’s home. Now he has to do it on the road where he averages 11.4 points compared to the 22 points against the Sixers this season. They are contrasting records but show the danger Kell is.

Robert Franks vs Mitch Creek

Franks needs to put in another solid game tonight as his career form against Phoenix has been solid. He averages a healthy 14.2 points shooting 48 percent, 7.4 rebounds so at the offensive end thats not the issue. Its containing the main man for the opposition who is in incredible form.

Creek no doubt both hates and loves the Sixers for all the reasons we know. The former Adelaide player always brings his best to the contest averaging 22 points at 49 percent, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists – he also scored over 27 points five times to boot. Creek is currently averaging 30.25 points in his last four games and it seems even when his team is down squad members – he rises to replace the numbers of others including Alan Williams (ankle) and Zhou Qi (returned home).

We knew he was good but this guy now is a very special player to witness…

Nick Marshall vs Junior Adut/Owen Foxwell

Numbers don’t always tell the story but influence in a game does – thats the case for St Nick. Marshall helped turn the momentum back in favour of the Sixers against the Jackjumpers with an important three minutes at the end of the third. Marshall had three points, two rebounds and an assist but importantly when the Jackjumpers who held a game high 56-63 lead and were about to burst the floodgates open – he helped reel back in. Marshall’s minutes saw the Sixers back into it 66-66.

He also had a season high 15 points against this team then backed it up with 10 points against the Bullets the following. He’s in confident form at the moment and only needs half a quarter to help turn a game back in the favour of his side.

The rookie rise continues when star players go down and with both Browne and Broekhoff likely not available – these two will step it up again. In the Sydney double overtime thriller they combined for 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and played some pretty good on ball defence. They got some burn against the Bullets and will likely play a key role once again in this one.

THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON

What does Ian Clark bring and where does he fit in tonight’s game?  

I anticipate he’ll play only between 10-12 minutes in this one tonight. The likely timing is around the later part of each quarter for McCarron with the Sixers running a Clark, Marshall, Cleveland/Dech combo against the Phoenix. Clark will slip into the second point guard position but also in future games into the fourth quarter closer positions with the skipper and AC.

Does Mitch Creek deserve to get another NBA shot?  

In NBL23 he averages 24 points (plus four from last season) at 52 percent (plus five from last season), shoots the three ball at 35 percent (plus three from last season) – these are the areas he had to improve to get noticed again and he’s shown he can close games and now I think its more a question whether he thinks he needs to go. He’s got it pretty good here in Australia but at least a Boomers conversation for Paris needs to be had.

Are the Sixers having early christmas presents with their “Draw”?    

Although you still have to win the games in front of you – they can consider themselves to be lucky they’ve drawn the teams to help them find form the way they have. If it was say the Kings, Breakers, Jackjumpers and Phoenix then that be a much tougher home run than drawing the Bullets twice and Jackjumpers and Phoenix off the back of a tight schedule for both this week.

So who wins?

The Sixers have set themselves up now with Monday nights gutsy win and have pulled the trigger on the third import and have Clark. The elements are there but this Phoenix team are deeper than some other rosters in the NBL23 and chock full of talent.

If they can nullify (cause you can’t stop Creek the way he’s going) and ride the momentum of the home fans – the Sixers can continue their run and score an early Christmas present before Santa does find out “who is Allan Browne”…

COD Prediction: 36ers by 8 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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11 Angry Ants: The JackJumpers will be stung by their loss to the Taipans after a three game winning streak. The Sixers are now breathing down their thoraxes in what looms as a pivotal result for finals positioning later in the season - Photo credit to news.com/NBL/The Mercury

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4-Minute Read

NBL ROUND 11

Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpers

When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Monday 19 December

Where:  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum

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

LTTM: Adelaide 36ers 72 (Randall 18, Franks 14, Cleveland 10, Dech 8) defeated by Tasmania JackJumpers 97 (Magette 23, Kelly 19, Doyle 16, McVeigh 12, Weeks 11, White 9) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre

SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY

Checkout the footage of an old matchup between the Adelaide 36ers and the Hobart Devils featuring some legendary names for both sides.

Key Matchups

Mitch McCarron vs Josh Magette    

McCarron once again will have the enviable task of containing the dangerous matchup of Magette. Last time they met he had 6 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. We’ve seen him be more aggressive in recent times so expect that to be a little more at the other end of the floor for Magette to deal with.

Magette responded to some stinging criticism the last time they met with 23 points including five of eight triples and dished 7 assists in a match winning performance. He got the JackJumpers off to a 0-9 start in the match and set the tone from the start- no doubt he’ll be looking to repeat the performance.

Robert Franks vs Rashard Kelly

Franks is hitting strong form at the right time after a huge 25 point and 6 rebound game. Last time out he had 14 points in his first home game – but his opponent had the better of him.

And if Rashard Kelly gets away with his 19 points at 70 percent and 6 rebounds again – The Sixers will have headaches once again. His third and fourth quarter were crucial last time they met scoring 14 points in the second half.

Kai Sotto vs Will Magnay

DJ is touch and go for this one tonight so Sotto may get his second start – his game Saturday night was encouraging. 13 points and 8 rebounds was great at the offensive end but he looked better defensively against a Bullets team that refused to go inside. We’ll see if he can shape up against Magnay tonight

It’s great to see Magnay finally getting back to his pre- injury form. He’s an important piece for the Tassie team providing height and rim protection they do lack against the bigger sides. An aggressive Magnay could be a real issue for the Sixers tonight

THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON

We’ve seen the matchups but who’s the biggest problem for the Sixers tonight?  

Milton Doyle has the capability of pulling this game apart at both ends – the silent assassin with those Mee like qualities.

How important is the start tonight?  

It played a huge part in the past not only the time they met but also this season – the Sixers have lost six games when trailing at quarter time in NBL23…

How do you out “Jackjumper” the Jackjumpers?    

The Taipans managed to out rebound, out energise and got to the free throw line 22 times on Saturday night. Thats the key areas to dominate this team by taking them away from their strengths of not being able to play high tempo defence. 19 assists tells you the amount of movement the Taipans invested in as well.

So who wins?

The Sixers will be buoyed by their victory Saturday night and the Jackjumpers will be angry for dropping that game to Cairns on the same night – I think the Sixers can show a bit more grit defensively and as CJ said not have those lapses.

Not too many better tests than Tassie when it comes to your defensive intensity and how it holds up in NBL23. Tonight’s game will tell us a lot already about how far they’ve come…

COD Prediction: 36ers by 5 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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Business but not personal: Bruton (pictured in his Bullet days), Drmic, Franks, Sobey, Froling - it'd be easy to get caught up in the personal nature of this Saturday's clash between the Adelaide 36ers and the Brisbane Bullets - Photo credit to news.com/NBL/Western Australian

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4-Minute Read

NBL ROUND 11

Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets

When: 7:30pm (ACDT), Saturday 17 December

Where:  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum

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

SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY

The Adelaide 36ers played their first game at the AEC against the Bullets and what a night it was on the opening of the West End.

Sixers Star in Entertaining Opening Night Evolution

Key Matchups

Mitch McCarron vs Nathan Sobey    

McCarron had a courageous captain’s performance last week notching 20 points and 13 rebounds and nearly single handled pushed them over the top of the Wildcats. He has a good record against the Bullets since the Sixers moved to AEC averaging 8.9 point, 5.5 assists and 1.8 steals. For a team thats turning over the ball like the Bullets (11.2 per game) – he could be a steadying influence once again.

Sobey has an interesting record since he left the 36ers. He’s scored 20 + including a 30 point game last March four times out of seven times he’s met his former side. Four times he’s shot over 50 percent from beyond the arc and five times he’s had five assists or more. He always comes to perform against Adelaide so the homeside as I’m sure they already would be well aware.

Robert Franks vs Aron Baynes

Someone keen to prove themselves would be former Bullet Franks but I think that could distract him from the task at hand. His three point shooting will be key in this one as if he can hit at a clip of 40 percent outside or more from a large volume of shots – it stops the most dangerous player of the night setting up camp inside the paint.

And if and its a big if the Bullets have an advantage – its through the big fella inside the paint. Will the Bullets do the obvious and camp him close to the hoop as if he’s able to seal multiple times inside – it will expose an area the Sixers are currently vulnerable in.

Anthony Drmic vs Harry Froling

The Drmic roundabout between these two clubs is an interesting dynamic in this game. He’ll certainly be another with a point to prove considering past history. Drmic never got to his best playing against the 36ers averaging six points shooting 27 percent from beyond the perimeter. Against the Bullets before joining them he averaged 15 points with 44 percent beyond the perimeter.

On the flip side Froling in recent history seems to switch on when the Sixers are on the menu. He had a mammoth 27 point game with eight triples from 10 attempts in January for the Hawks. Recently he’s hit some form with 10 points and a 9 point and 13 rebound game in recent memory. His influence when he hits the floor will be intriguing to see if he can draw the right matchups in his favour.  

THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON

Bullets, JackJumpers, Phoenix all at home – how many of the four home games do they need to be “back in the race”?  

The Sixers could setup their season here if they could claim all four but if they lost three of them it would put them 7-11 and further away from the top six. Win three or all four and it gets them to 10-9 or 9-10 and pushes them back into the logjam.

Thats why it needs to be business time now – this four game home run is season defining for this clubs fortune.

How much does continuity effect a team like the Bullets right now?  

Its a bit of a pattern where you see one performance straight after a change like the Bullets against the Taipans where they bring the effort but at some point its gotta catchup to this team with all the juggling balls figuratively and practically happening right now – yet they also have to just carry on with the business.

Next to the Perth rivalry – over NBL history where does this rank against others?    

Make no mistake its a sneaky rivalry between these two from ex-coaches to ex-players and championship dynasty history in the 80s. This one again has the potential to have some fireworks boil over and some serious chit chats between individuals out there on the floor.

So who wins?

The Sixers have much more to lose than the Bullets who are now seven wins a drift of the top six. Thats why they will take care of this as it can’t be personal – but needs to be all business.

And they have to be as from watching the NBL ladder – I think there might be one spot left and three don’t go into one solitary position.

COD Prediction: 36ers by 23 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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