NBL legend calls for repeat Sixers performance

Former NBL champion Lanard Copeland is hoping to see more of the same from the Adelaide 36ers, following their Round 4 win over Perth and improved showing against South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The addition of DJ Vasiljevic saw the 36ers compete strongly with South East Melbourne – aside from an offensive capitulation in the second quarter – and overcome an under pressure Perth side, for its second win of the season.

Adelaide faces New Zealand in the opening clash of Round 5, and the Breakers are chasing their first win since returning from their NBLxNBA tour.

Copeland says the burgeoning partnership between Vasiljevic and center Isaac Humphries is cause for hope within the beleaguered fanbase.

“I want to see them continue to play the way they’ve played the last two games,” Copeland said of his former side on NBL Now.

“They’ve brought in DJ who can shoot the ball and will shoot the ball very well, but what they did last game was they had a lot of pick and rolls with the big fella.

“They had a lot of pick and rolls with Isaac, and because DJ shoots the ball so well, you either have to double him or switch on that and when they switch Isaac rolls to the basket or the wing.

“He’s quick enough or he’s big enough to take anybody to the basket, and that’s why he played so well.”

The Breakers have only played three games for a 1-2 record so far this season due to their time away in the United States, where they played the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.

Last season’s runners-up currently sit sixth on the ladder and average more fouls per game than any other team in the NBL – which includes Mangok Mathiang fouling out in just under eight minutes of play against Melbourne.

While New Zealand hasn’t hit its straps yet, Copeland is backing the Breakers to be at the top end of the table come the culmination of the regular season.

“New Zealand is going to be tough, as we know Mody Maor is a great coach who motivates who players ... they brought in Parker Jackson-Cartwright who is unguardable I think,” he added.

“You’ve got guys like that looking to pass the ball you’re going to have a good team.

“Zylan Cheatham who is probably the most athletic guy in the league is going to draw fouls because he’s wiry, and he’s going to have mistakes, when it comes to fouls, but they’ll learn the system like all guys do.

“I’m expecting big things from New Zealand, because they’ve put together a pretty good team.”

Adelaide’s clash with New Zealand tips off tonight at 5:30pm AEDT.