MVP expects Phoenix to "come out slugging"

His Adelaide 36ers may have won Game 1 of their Playoff Series with South East Melbourne on Tuesday, but six-time MVP Bryce Cotton is expecting an even bigger challenge come Saturday evening.

With their season on the line in a do-or-die scenario, Cotton knows Game 2 at John Cain Arena will be another “dogfight” against the Phoenix.

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“I know when a team's playing with their back against the ropes, they really come out slugging,” Cotton said to SEN SA.

“The Phoenix has been a team that's been very good defensively with their pressure and [crashing] the offensive rebounds to secure themselves extra possessions.

“So a focus for us has to be basically brace and counter the aggressiveness and physically that they give us.

“We have to have the same energy, same intensity [that we had in Game 1], but now we're going into a hostile environment.

“Every possession matters and anybody can be beaten on any given night, so that’s why you can’t take any of [these Finals] teams for granted.”

The energy that Cotton touched on saw him score a club record 42 points in Game 1, which is just the latest big moment in his 10-year NBL career.

When asked how he keeps rising to the occasion, the three-time champion said:

“The biggest thing for me is just kind of surrendering to the moment,” he said.

“Understanding you're not going to control exactly how you play. You can control the effort that you put forth.

“Then from there, I know all the work that I've put in during the season, so I just trust however it's going to pan out.

“Me being at peace with however I play going into a game, it allows me to not feel the pressure that others may perceive when we're in these big games.”

Cotton’s 36ers lock horns with the Phoenix from 5.30pm AEDT on Saturday, live on ESPN.