Keepings Off: Adelaide's Turning Point

It seems somewhat of a simple rule of thumb, but one that could be the key to turning the Adelaide 36ers' season around - keep the ball. 

A 96-82 win over the Perth Wildcats in enemy territory took CJ Bruton's team to 5-5 on the season, and with that, a huge boost of confidence.

The Sixers controlled majority of the contest, leading by as much as 19 points at one stage, in the process propelling themselves to fifth on the ladder. After a rocky start, things are starting to take shape. 

“Clearly coming into the jungle and coming out with a win like that is really important for us,” Bruton said.

“We came in here with a mindset to continue to build where we’re at.

“Our turnover count has gone down from where we were 17 or 18 a game from the start of the year, to the last three games where we’ve been 12 and under,  which has gone a long way to helping us win ball games.

“Playing the right way, controlling the tempo, trying to play at your pace, that works, even if the ball doesn’t go in, it sets the tone for the group. The buy in is key and I thought I had all of that from start to finish.

“We keep moving the ball and if they present themselves there then we’ll take them. We found a crutch and we kept going at it and we were finishing very well around the rim and it led to the results that we had tonight.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The behind-the-back pass, the ?????? at the rim, the Sixers are cooking ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/lMovlQ68CL">pic.twitter.com/lMovlQ68CL</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1595737997932044288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A key piece in helping the 36ers secure the win was Anthony Drmic, who led his team with six assists, while also providing 14 points.

Drmic knows how he can impact the game and is focusing on bringing those effort areas to the table.

“I’m just trying to start the game and set the tone defensively with the intensity, and giving it everything I’ve got, and it seems to be doing pretty good,” he said.

“At the start of the season we weren’t sharing the ball as much as we like to, I feel like we really have a strength down low with (Robert) Franks and DJ (Daniel Johnson), sharing the ball getting it down there and moving off that. It’s getting us some open looks and it’s fun to play that way.

“Anyone you put out there can go and get buckets so it’s just having that focus of sharing the ball and whoever is open is going to shoot it.

“Set the tempo, set the energy for the team and that obviously transferred and came away with the win.”

Adelaide next plays Friday December 2, at home against the Cairns Taipans.