In The Post – NBA player 36ers bound?

Catch up on all the latest headlines from around the basketball world in today’s edition of In the Post.

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NBA player coming to Adelaide?

Could former Chicago Bull Cameron Bairstow be signing with the Adelaide 36ers? The 30-year-old was spotted training with the 36ers yesterday and is one of many players the club is considering to fill their final roster spot according to Channel 7. 

Bairstow has previously played for the Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Australian Olympian <a href="https://twitter.com/cambairstow41?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cambairstow41</a> has trained with the <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adelaide36ers</a> for the first time and could be the final piece of the puzzle for Adelaide. Bairstow has played in the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a> and would bring valuable experience to the team. <a href="https://t.co/gYFVWBHNhA">https://t.co/gYFVWBHNhA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCasey2880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@johncasey2880</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uywpsjr3cv">pic.twitter.com/Uywpsjr3cv</a></p>&mdash; 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsAdelaide/status/1453254636861853709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Big Liu to overcome "shortcomings"

Despite his 7’5 frame, Brisbane Bullets recruit Chuanxing Liu has conceded he has physical shortcomings he hopes to correct in the NBL.

“I have shortcomings in terms of physical confrontation and in terms of technique and awareness, I definitely need to improve. This is a very good opportunity for me. I will try my best to learn and transform what I learn to my advantage,” he said via Xinhua.

“Pivotal” stretch could define Hawks season

Illawarra Hawks veteran Tim Coenraad is not running from the pressures that club will face during their home heavy start to the season.

The Hawks will play seven of their first nine games at home, a stretch that will lay the foundation to their campaign.

“When you see that home run it looks great, but there's a lot of pressure on that stretch now. That home stretch will be pivotal for how we set ourselves up for the back-end,” Coenraad told the Illawarra Mercury.

Thunder praises Giddey’s smarts

Josh Giddey continues to turn heads during his impressive start to his NBA career and Oklahoma City teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has heaped praise on the NBL Rookie of the Year.

“His size, obviously, is huge for a point guard and then he has a good nose for the ball. The kid is smart. He knows if you shoot a three, it’s probably going to be a long rebound. Like I said, he has a good nose for the ball. He has played the game and you can tell,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Patty thrills in Brooklyn

Australian Boomers hero Patty Mills has made a quick impact with the Brooklyn Nets and superstar teammate Kevin Durant has taken notice.

“Professionalism. Just a true pro, through-and-through. Just how he approaches his craft every day is an inspiring thing to anybody, especially when you know the story where he comes from,” Durant said.

“Just having that energy around every day is amazing. Beating his chest into the crowd, making timely plays underneath the basket, getting steals, just playing with energy. We’re going to need that from him.”

Head coach Steve Nash summed it up perfectly when he described Mills as a “winner”.