Category: NBL

Creek called upon his team to "grow some balls" and his team responded in game two against Melbourne United, highlighted by this double block on Craig Moller from Sobey (#20) and Deng (#13). Photo by The North West Star

The first match was met with a raucous (often still having to be called upon by the announcer) Melbourne crowd. United started the better with Casper Ware Jnr drilling a triple off his first possession and looking ominous early as they got on 7-0 run. The Sixers hit back through DJ as they reversed it with a 6-1 run. It was bucket for bucket early before the key moment came halfway through the first when Ware went up for a rebound against Matt “I’m in beast mode tonight” Hodgson who then fell accidentally on Ware. Ware’s hip began to flare as he ended up sitting on the bench which brought a key player in United’s first up victory, Adelaide’s Concordia College alumni Peter Hooley.

Hooley played with the class and composure of a veteran as he made smart plays and added to United’s scoring power with an enormous appetite for team basketball. The Sixers hit back however with Ramone Moore in a mood to prove United made a mistake letting him go and Mitch Creek was kicking into NBA form halfway through the second as Sixers opened up a 38-32 lead. The game turned from there as the Sixers gave up far too many offensive rebounds which created opportunities for veteran David Andersen and boom big man Josh Boone. Casey Prather then showed some class and poise as United led 53-47.

The third quarter although marking the return of a clearly hampered Ware Jnr belonged to Chris Goulding. Goulding was allowed more space than a dog on an early morning beach walk at Brighton (my local crew you know this is true) and he put the Sixers to his sweeping sword. The three point guarding in the quarter was disgusting as the Sixers switched instead of staying with their man. Goulding took advantage dropping 15 points in the quarter including two triples including a ridiculous step back. It was still United by 6 at the end of three before Ware drained 8 straight points to blow it open and although the Sixers charged again, United took game one comfortably 107-96. Some serious headaches emerged out of the first one for Wright as he tried to explain about the lack of boxing out, energy and poor defence of the perimeter United’s strength.

In game two, Mitch Creek called on the Sixers to “grow some balls” and as the title of my article suggested, they certainly did. The Sixers came out with an aggressive mindset especially DJ who traditionally hasn’t played well at home. He attacked Boone early and wound himself up for his best home finals performance since game two of 2014 Grand Finals Series. It was again basket for basket but the Sixers were rolling with more vigour and purpose on offense. Ware got a couple early and Wright called upon Ramone “the glove” Moore to shut him down. Moore then saw Ware to the bench with early foul trouble before then taking on United’s guards and beating them handsomely, Sixers up 27-19 after one.

The second started with some baskets that you just shake your head at with last second makes and fade away jumpers with the Sixers reeking of swagger but Tai Wesley got on a 6-0 run for United before Moore re-entered the game and went back to work. The Sixers put United into foul trouble as Ware, Goulding and a few others sat with three in the first half before Moore put the freezing cold white jerseys on ice through his mixer. Sixers up 57-41 with Goulding at half-time interviewed talking about what he was having for dinner but it can’t have been too healthy as it did sound rather salty…

Sobey opened up his account in the third with a triple and although Creek picked up a third foul, Majok Deng was having the breakout final bringing it at both ends just as he needed to as the Sixers broke beyond 20 points. DJ then dropped two triples either side of the timeout as the Sixers continued to push United away leading by as many as 26 points as United struggled to keep the rotations from foul trouble. United called on their veteran duo of Andersen and Barlow who slipped back into it before the Sixers steadied to lead 82-64 at the end of three.

A Creek save resulted in Ware getting into the back of DJ which saw him sit down nice and early fouling out for the second time in the season. Goulding then sparked a mini-comeback to bring it back to 14 points before the Sixers steadied through the bash brigade down low. Barlow then caught fire to come up with his 13th point and bring it back to that margin. Leading by 17 the Sixers used the clock wisely as they ended up sealing the match with a Creek rim rattler running out and squaring the series 110-95.

The key in this series is clearly depth and this will be defined by a couple of key injury concerns in Ware, Boone and Childress. It is clear however out of the two games that the Sixers have the slightly lengthier bench and when the Sixers shut out United on the perimeter, they look a different ball club. Clearly United’s streak of 5-0 matters little now as we head to game three and four. For both teams need the win this Friday night but if the Sixers sneak that one in Hisense, it could be over by Sunday night in front of a huge homecoming crowd.

One things for sure, this one has the makings of a classic series…

GAME ONE: MELBOURNE UNITED 107 (GOULDING 26, WARE 20, BOONE 17, PRATHER 13, WESLEY 11) DEFEATED ADELAIDE 36ERS (JOHNSON 18, SHORTER 16, CREEK 14, CHILDRESS 12, HODGSON, MOORE 10)

GAME TWO: ADELAIDE 36ERS 110 (DENG 18, CREEK, MOORE 17, JOHNSON 15, SOBEY 14, CHILDRESS 13, SHORTER 10) DEFEATED MELBOURNE UNITED 95 (PRATHER 20, GOULDING 19, BARLOW 13, WESLEY 12)

It took close to 39 minutes for the Sixers to hit the front but that was all that counted in shades of the Sandpit 2001. Photo by ABC

The atmosphere at the Arkaba was electric and while many Sixers fans felt confident about getting the win that evening, the tension of having to win in a venue where so many teams have been embarrassed by this Wildcats team the last 10 years at the crunch end of the season.

Immediately from the tip, Bryce Cotton was hitting them from his backside and the Wildcats were daring some unfamiliar Sixers to shoot from the perimeter but Mitch Creek was going all Mike Whitney on the Cats with two early triples as the “spiritual” one was making his mark. Cotton however with 20 points in the first quarter was looking good for Al Green numbers early and realistically was looking like needing to drop 80 for them to win the game.

A few of the Perth passengers got on board the “home” train but as you need to at the Perth Arena the Sixers stuck with the Wildcats, but a great frustration was creeping into the supporters room. The number of grabs, hooks and pushes not picked up by the officials were let go or beginning to be called like a soft brush on a champion horse in stable. Regardless it started the usual words for both coaches on the sideline but it seemed the officials were taking an unusual step which I kind of liked but also felt it defeats the purpose of having a technical foul for coaches, they ignored it and didn’t get caught up in the emotion of the game. Despite all this the Sixers achieved the first goal to be still in the game at half-time 40-49. While others felt less confident, I knew this team were different to last years and had the maturity to make the comeback.

The “here we go again” moment came early in the third as the Wildcats pushed it back out to 16 points with plenty of their players able to apply their “Wildcat” physicality and the Sixers were getting caught matching it by the officials particularly with DJ having a rare horror night in Perth. The Sixers however began to get rolling particularly Childress who after a quiet first half began to dominate his match-ups and along with Shorter dragged them back into the contest. The fans were starting to believe but knew that we needed another few players step up. All of a sudden Cotton was benched with a cramping injury and the Wildcats were running out of rotations. Drmic was playing his best final for Adelaide atoning for his series last season nailing his triples and playing some high quality defence. Speaking of high quality defence, both Sobey and Moore played elite in that area in the final quarter and a half of this one. The Sixers stormed back into it to trail just by one at three quarter time 89-88.

The final quarter was one for the ages as the Wildcats looked to have it forced to game three several times through a ghost foul on Cotton (clearly he went backwards because he landed on his cramping leg and not because of Moore’s defence), Walker draining one of those triples that just made everyone go “well he hits that one doesn’t he” and Brandt allowed to shove and grab his opponent then put in his deuce to give them an 8 point lead with 3 minutes to go, you thought it was done. As the Sixers have done out of the timeout pretty much 100 percent all season (and almost missed by the broadcaster) setup Creek who hit his fourth triple of the night then Sobey forced Martin into an unlikely turnover. Childress then scored off a mismatch before Brandt traded. Walker was fouled and DJ although “well positioned” went for his fifth and did well along with the other players to contain their emotion over the call. Then came one of the gutsiest subs for the night as Wright brought in Hodgson at the defensive end then opted for the smaller lineup with Drmic into the five back the other way.

Both teams began to miss one of their two free throws except for Creek who stepped up and whilst there was enough delay between both to drive a truck between them he cut it to three points and “Miracle on Swan River” was on. Perth made the play and Cotton got an easy cut on a Sixers breakdown and sent it 5 points and you thought this one was done but the missed free throw was rebounded and Sobey then pulled thanks to a “Damon Lowery-esque” call the and1. He missed the crucial free throw but whoever said rebounds win you games of basketball only need watch the final minute of this classic. Childress grabbed the ball bobbling from JP Tokoto normally solid mits and finished with a clumsy Walker foul. With the made free throw scores were level and the Arkaba and every Sixers fan was going off their nut!!!

The Wildcats went to Brandt one, twice and the third time, Moore probably produced the biggest block of his career (Who was it again Joey???) which was to the advantage of Childress and with a clear path to the basket and only one defender, he could not be fouled and rolled in for the easiest layup to give the Sixers the lead for the first time in the night with 24 seconds left. Cotton on one leg then made the play as Creek got pinged and again held his emotion. The nightmare that’ll live with Cotton is the first missed one as it kept the Sixers in front. Out of the timeout, the Sixers ran the most perfect game of keeping’s off played this season eventually the aforementioned fouling Childress. He stepped up-to the stripe and after missing the first then executed the perfect miss as it hit the front of the rim and bobbled up as Drmic rose from the ashes of 2016-17 to clamp the biggest rebound of the night and with a pass to Sobey the Sixers had completed the “Miracle on Swan River.”

The fans at the Arkaba were going ballistic with fist pumps, cheering, clapping, high fives and a couple of guys getting up on a table and chanting “Let’s go Sixers, let’s go.” Spectators had their phones out filming the celebrations with the overall consensus being while we didn’t play our best we were in the game when the whips were cracking and our new found finals maturity lead us to the sweep over the long time rival. It was most satisfying to savour a series win over our rivals in a semi-final for the first time since 1999 and to end the drought of the Wildcat/Breaker dynasty. Now within the next few weeks a new champion will be crowned a top the NBL tree, the first since 2010.

So here we are again back in 1998-99 with the mighty Victorians of Melbourne United with a stacked roster and the advantage of at least two home games in front of no doubt sell-out crowds against long time rivals of South Australia, the team orientated Adelaide 36ers. Across the border and interstate they’ll favour the United group after they waltzed over the Sixers 4-0 this season but that was pre-Christmas. Both teams are vastly different post and the state is hungry for success with only a womens AFL team, T20 franchise and one-day cricket team tasting the ultimate in the last 14 years. With our two AFL clubs falling on the last day in their last Grand Finals to the enemy and this club not savouring the spoils since 2003, the whole state will be bleeding blue, white and red for the next few weeks and if its anything like the 1998-99 series, this will be one of the highlights of the sporting year for the piping shrike state.

Adelaide 36ers 89 (Childress 25, Creek 22, Sobey 13) defeated Perth Wildcats 88 (Cotton 31, Kenny, Brandt 14).

*Adelaide won the series 2-0

 

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