R14 Preview: Adelaide 36ers vs SE Melbourne Phoenix

When: 7.30pm (AEDT), Friday 4 March 2022

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sports NZ


Who won last time?
Adelaide 90 (Johnson 22, McVeigh 18, Dech 16) d SE Melbourne 81 (Creek 17, Gliddon 14, Le’afa 14) – Round 14 2021, John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Adelaide put the foot down in the second term and didn’t let up until late, when a whirlwind Phoenix run threatened to make it a ball game and put a scare into the Sixers camp. Josh Giddey dished 11 dimes as his team dominated the interior with 58 per cent shooting inside and 26 free throws. Mitch Creek added 17 points and 14 boards for the vanquished.


What happened last start?

Creek was outstanding again in last round’s huge win over Perth, his 22 points at 50 per cent just part of the story, as he forced the Wildcats’ smaller line-ups into double-teams and rotations. Creek scored 16 in the second half, as did Kyle Adnam, who played the role of closer, while the Phoenix D held the NBL’s best offence to 80 points at 43 per cent.

Adelaide are undoubtedly a work in progress, with the late appointment of CJ Bruton, 10 new players and a largely inexperienced line-up. Yet after looking a rabble at times earlier in the season, they’ve made significant strides at both ends, and went blow-for-blow with the league’s hottest team before Jaylen Adams broke their hearts with his game-winner.


Who’s in form?

Cam Bairstow – A big reason for that improvement has been the form of Bairstow, who has been a rebounding fiend most of the season, has added outstanding composure to his post-game, nailed 2/3 from range against Sydney, has improved his rim protection and, perhaps most importantly, showed he can switch ball-screens and keep guards in front of him.

Izayah Le’afa & Kyle Adnam – He’ll need to be on song in that area against Le’afa and Adnam, who combined for 36 points, 10 assists and just 2 turnovers against Perth, masterminding SEM’s ball-screen offence. Le’afa shut down Bryce Cotton, while Adnam scored 13 final-quarter points as he calmly exploited any ball-screen defence the Cats tried.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That is how you do it! ??<br><br>? Tune in on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://t.co/GRS23jA4Dh">pic.twitter.com/GRS23jA4Dh</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1497523116494700547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Who needs to be?

Daniel Johnson – While Bairstow’s ball-screen defence is improving, DJ remains the man opposition guards target, and the Phoenix will be no different. Adelaide must make sure their big man is exploiting his mismatches, something they failed to do against Sydney when Angus Glover was manning the four-spot. The 36ers have perhaps underutilised Johnson’s ability to score from ball-screens, but look for more pick-and-pops for DJ this week

Zhou Qi – Due to illness and a run of soft calls, Qi’s past seven games have delivered just 8ppg at 53 per cent, down from 12.5 at 67 per cent. Worryingly, his past two outings have netted only 1 o-board, down from 2.9 per game, while his blocks have dropped from 3.2 to 1.4. Zhou has a size advantage on DJ, and experience over Kai Sotto, so his team must get him the ball, but he needs to get active on the boards and protecting the paint.


Who’s statting up?

 - SE Melbourne give up 14.6ppg to the roll/pop from screening action, the most in the league. The 36ers score 7.7ppg from the roll/pop, the fewest in the NBL

 - Daniel Johnson averages 2.5 roll/pop scoring opportunities in 31 minutes per game, while Zhou Qi averages 2.4 in 21 minutes per night. Yanni Wetzell leads the league with 5.4 in 32 minutes

 - Adelaide have averaged 19.3 assists to 10.7 turnovers in their past three games. In their opening 11 outings they averaged 15.9 dimes to 16.5 turnovers

 - When the 36ers have held teams to 85 points or less they are 5-4 and +14 this season. When they don’t they're 0-5 and -75


Who’s matching up?

Dusty Hannahs v Cam Gliddon – Perhaps for the first time, Hannahs produced a full game of quality offensive basketball against Sydney, delivering a stunning 24 points at 50 per cent in just 21:30. He scored 19 of those from the paint or foul line, but in Adelaide wins he’s hit 8/16 from deep, compared to 4/24 in defeat. The 36ers need him spreading the floor.

Gliddon gave SE Melbourne that same sort of offensive spark off the bench against Brisbane, nailing 20 points in 20:16 on the floor. He went 6/6 from deep that night, and shoots 15/28 from the arc in eight wins compared to 0/4 in three losses. Glizzo been hesitant to fire at times, but when he’s connecting the Phoenix are better for it.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cam on the quarter time buzzer ?<br>4??-4?? from deep<br><br>? Tune in on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://t.co/rr9hn2fJO2">pic.twitter.com/rr9hn2fJO2</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1494929645053313025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Who’s talking the talk?

When Ken Cole talks, Adelaide 36ers players listen, and is message to Dusty Hannahs before Sunday was a good one.

“I like him a lot, he isn’t shy for words. He was just telling me to attack and shoot the ball and said you’ve got nothing to lose. The whole time telling me to stay aggressive and just be me,” Hannahs revealed post-game.

“He’s was saying he’s recruited a lot of great shooters that (make) Olympic teams, he was like you’re the best one I've seen, just shoot the ball.”

That was a serious compliment, but Dusty showed it was justified with his brilliant display, that went within a whisker of being a game-winning performance.

Hannahs scored on drives, floaters, pull-ups – you name it. He splashed one wet triple, but hasn’t been able to consistently get that trademark element of his game going yet as opposition teams run him off the arc.

“It definitely is a different game, different adjustments after being in the NBA system for four years,” he said.

“I feel like I've been taking what the defence gives me, which is getting downhill and I'm hoping for this part the season have that open up my three-point game.

“Once I start to make a few and don’t look back, hopefully it leads to us having more wins and a strong finish.”


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dustin&#39; off that range.<br><br>? - <a href="https://twitter.com/10PeachAu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10PeachAu</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://t.co/pIWfS5sXsv">pic.twitter.com/pIWfS5sXsv</a></p>&mdash; Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1497779150463320067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



The challenge doesn’t get any easier this week with the Phoenix in town, fresh off an Izayah Le’afa led shutdown of Bryce Cotton.

Simon Mitchell’s men were almost meticulous in their execution against the MVP, while their Kiwi defensive specialist was relentless, and will be against Hannahs on Friday.

“I think it’s a real huge tip of the hat, especially to Izayah Le’afa but our whole team, the attention they put into him, it was nice to have a few days preparation for a team, that was great,” Mitchell said.

“If you can keep them to difficult shots, keep Bryce to difficult shots, because he’s still going to make the tough ones, then you're giving yourself a chance.

“For the most part we were pretty solid, but there were a couple of let-ups so there’s room for us to get better.”

It was a different story for Adelaide, who were unable to find a way to stop Jaylen Adams, and it cost them the game despite their otherwise outstanding performance.

“He’s an elite player. What I wanted to live with was him shooting threes early and he did that and did that at a great clip,” 36ers coach CJ Bruton said.

“On the fly as a group on the floor you can make changes along the way, then he turned the corner, he’s got a great skill-set, he’s very creative as well all know.”

The match-winner for the Phoenix was Kyle Adnam, who similarly dominated ball-screen action and dominated the fourth term to overcome the Cats. He’ll be a huge challenge to Adelaide’s on-ball defence.

“I knew that higher screen and roll when they were switching was something that I needed to attack, tried to put myself in good scoring positions and make plays,” Adnam said.

Coach Mitchell was full of praise for his reserve point guard, but noted it may be someone else who takes the game to the 36ers, with Xavier Munford keen to bounce back from a quiet night.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/IzayahLeafa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IzayahLeafa</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/xaviermunford?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xaviermunford</a> get our <a href="https://twitter.com/starlightau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@starlightau</a> fan pledge off and running with our first two 3??’s of the game. ?<br><br>It’s not too late to pledge ? <a href="https://t.co/5VWEyN7C7b">https://t.co/5VWEyN7C7b</a><br><br>? Tune in on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foxtel</a> <a href="https://t.co/i6bKwRQehF">pic.twitter.com/i6bKwRQehF</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1497504055131709442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


“Our team’s a bit of horses for courses and it’s going to be someone’s night any given situation,” he said.

“It’s just the flow of the game and how are we going to go and combat a team. Tonight was his night and it wasn’t X’s, he was fantastic, just his poise done the stretch was really good for us.”

The Phoenix now sit 10-5, a win in the City of Churches will keep them on Melbourne’s heels, a loss will leave them vulnerable to being outside the top four by round’s end.

“Right now with a full squad it’s a good opportunity to try and string some wins together,” Mitchell said.

“It’s two for us, we haven't got more than three this season so we've got to continue to get better and give ourselves opportunities to win.

“We've really need to try and build some separation, it’s such a dogfight now between third and fifth, maybe sixth as well. It’s in our hands to try and steer clear of the messy results between those clubs right now.”

Adelaide are eighth with a 5-9 record, and must face this game without coach Bruton, who has started putting a clear imprint on the team.

While this weekend could determine whether the 36ers can make a playoff run, Bruton’s message to his team is simple.

“When you’ve still got games to go, you’ve got a job to do and I think we've got every chance to get in. Clearly things have got to go your way but it starts with us,” he said.

“We’re not far away, but not far away is still too far away. Keep building one game at a time, don’t look too far down, let’s win the first three minutes and let’s be impressive at home.”