CROSS OVER DRIBBLE

"I ain't afraid of no Sixer" as Caspar Ware Jnr drives his way to 23 on the opening night of the NBL season - Photo by SMH

Nathan Sobey opened the game with a bang knowing full well some NBA staff scouting United before their clash would be watching from the Oklahoma City Thunder and led the relatively fresh looking line-up to an early lead. SA born Peter Hooley got one on the board for his first basket to snap United out of their slow start but new Adelaide imports Shannon Shorter and Ramone Moore were impressing early with their high basketball IQ and calmness under the pressure of Caspar Ware Jnr and Casey Prather on the perimeter shining through. The 36ers led at the first change 27-18.

Sobey continued his work slashing his way through the Melbourne defence, landing long bombs and setting up his teammates with some solid defence on the turnaround. United player Tai Wesley started to channel his grunt work and found himself open for a couple of open shots as United took the momentum midway through the second quarter as the 36ers struck foul trouble. The Sixers before the match were down one tall import with the club releasing import Ronald Roberts after not meeting the requirements of coach Joey Wright in the past month according to a pre- interview with Corey “Homicide” Williams prior to tip-off. United took advantage of the situation as Ware Jnr banked in a triple to have his team trail by just 2-points at half time, 45-47. Sobey led all with 16-points at a staggering 87 percent to signal his 2016/17 season was no fluke.

United then came out and blitzed the 36ers but it wasn’t all one sided as fans could be forgiven for thinking Melbourne had knocked down that many points. Several triples were dropped from Ware Jnr, the veteran David Barlow and even Hooley got in on the act. The 36ers not to be outdone saw a much-improved Anthony Drmic drop a few in transition himself as Shorter started to insert himself into the game making some great passes and helping the 36ers get their player movement happening in which Mitch Creek and Drmic took advantage. The 67-point total quarter from both teams was scary for opposition teams to watch with the firepower both teams had shown but despite the long range fireworks, United led 85-74 heading into the final quarter.

United found foul trouble early in the fourth quarter as the 36ers began to make a charge. Shorter made some key plays as Sobey found his way back into the game and the 36ers were rolling again. Enter Ware Jnr and Prather the new dynamic duo as they produced play after play in the open court and on the perimeter as the 36ers big men couldn’t get their game going in the final five minutes. Drmic tried to rescue the 36ers with hustle and some more big shots down the stretch but luck seemed to be on United side as they end up with the ball three times off turnovers caused by the 36ers swarming late match defence. Quiet most of the night Captain David Andersen iced the game from the stripe and United would have plenty to celebrate on the plane to the USA as they pinched the close one, 99-97.

Sobey led the scorers for the 36ers with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in a brilliant opening performance for the season, Drmic was next best with a quality 17 points, 5 rebounds and shot 63 percent from the field in 21:01 minutes of court time. Shorter was the best of the imports on debut with 14 points and 5 assists in a tidy debut.

Ware Jnr was the man for United with 23 points with 55 percent from the perimeter, 6 assists and for his size a whopping 8 rebounds while Prather quietly snuck his way up to 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Josh Boone came from the clouds late and nearly stole a double double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

The 36ers head to Sydney Saturday Night hopefully ironing out a few issues in the second half taking rushed shots and settling down a couple of big men popping the open jumpers instead of trying to create under pressure off the dribble. United are off to the USA to face off against possibly Russell Westbrook and most likely former 36ers import Terrance Ferguson of the OKC Thunder and should give a reasonable account of themselves given the Kings effort against the Utah Jazz. The 36ers will be looking to take advantage of the long trip for the Kings and make it 1-1 by the time we reach the end of the weekend.

Adelaide 36ers 97 (Sobey 21, Drmic 17, Creek 15, Shorter 14, Johnson 13, Moore 10) defeated by Melbourne United 99 (Ware 23, Prather 20, Boone, Andersen, Wesley 10) at Titanium Security Arena

Box Score

 Written by Tristan Prentice

Not so new import Ramone Moore is a key fit for the 36ers - Photo by NBL

When: 7:00pm (AEDT), Thursday, 5th October

Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide

Broadcast: NBL TV, Fox Sports, Sky Sports

Last time they met:

Rd 15: Adelaide 36ers 100 defeated Melbourne United 73 at Titanium Security Arena

CROSS-OVER-DRIBBLE FLASHBACK

GAME TWO 1998 GRAND FINAL SERIES: SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC VS ADELAIDE 36ERS    

With the recent AFL Grand Final featuring an Adelaide team, we take you back this week to the golden years of SA sport as the Adelaide 36ers took on the “Unbeatable” Magic team. While most expected Adelaide to maybe take game one of the Grand Final series, what was about to unfold at Melbourne Park in front of a vocal pro Victorian crowd shocked everyone. The team famously billed “The Greatest Team of all time” were taking a hard edge and endured some punishing training by master coach Brian Goorjian. Contrasting Adelaide legendary coach Phil Smyth was taking a relaxed approach as his team could see the Magic were going to wear themselves out before  the crucial clash. 36ers Captain Brett Maher memorably quoted in recent documentary Title Town that he remembers watching footage of the Magic doing defensive slides and running flat out prior to the match as well.

The game MVP Kevin Brooks took charge early as the 36ers sprinted out of the blocks 19-11 in the first quarter and led the Magic much to the startled crowd’s disbelief 42-36. It was the championship quarter that the 36ers took the stranglehold through the third quarter scoring a whopping 30-15. The 36ers prevailed against all the experts opinions as all players saw court time in one of the greatest upsets in NBL history. The 36ers claiming their second championship in their history and the third title for the city of Adelaide in two years.

Adelaide 36ers 90 (Brooks 21, Cattalini 20, Maher, Mee 11, Rillie 10) defeated SE Melbourne Magic  62 (Wheeler 12, Ronaldson 11) at Melbourne Park  

Key Match-Ups:

Nathan Sobey vs. Casey Prather

After an injury sabotaged Sobey’s chances of impressing in the NBA Summer League, the 36ers dynamo you feel is going to burst out of the blocks with a bang. A huge test for new coach Dean Vickermann’s men will be how they will contain the dribble penetration especially off the quick transition and cover his long-range game.

Prather is no stranger to the NBL and 36ers fans, now back at full fitness is one of the most threatening of United’s imports. His ability to penetrate with dribble, change shot mid jump and fly over the top of the sturdiest defender might see him see some time from Sobey on the defensive end as well.

Daniel Johnson vs. David Andersen

The two biggest experts of the pick and pop basket will be on display at the Arena Thursday night and how both teams utilise the tried and true method of scoring will go a long way to securing victory. Daniel Johnson for the 36ers will drop out the back off drives from new import Shannon Shorter and Sobey while David Andersen will receive them off the slicing moves of Caspar Ware Jnr.

Ramone Moore vs David Barlow

Two players with so much to prove and of course both being at the same club last season. Moore has something special about him we are yet to see but his basketball IQ is extremely high and his three-point jump shot which we saw in preseason could see him be the missing link for the 36ers.

Barlow has had to make up much ground the last few years but with a full preseason underneath him, although slightly older he is a dangerous outside shooter that could boost United’s offense even further and bring the veteran nous that Vickerman needs to take United into the top four this season.

The Last Play

Coach Joey Wright will be aware that no one will underestimate the 36ers from the get go this season. The recruits look to be the right fit early with all contributing a large amount in the preseason wins while Adam Doyle has looked after point guard majority of the time, Shorter looks like he’ll slot in quickly for the home team.

Vickerman has a team that can seriously contend for the Championship this season but given the 36ers core has been together that much longer , the 36ers are going to take the opener to kick off their pursuit of unfinished business.

36ers by 11 points

Written by Tristan Prentice