“We didn’t have a chance”: Wells unloads on whistles

Adelaide coach Mike Wells says he will review the full game before deciding whether to formally raise concerns with NBL referees boss Scott Butler, but did not hide his frustration over the lack of fouls called in his team’s favour on Sunday.

Wells pointed to the extra attention Bryce Cotton received from Sydney’s defenders, particularly Matthew Dellavedova, and said he was shocked the Kings were only called for four second-half fouls.

“Matthew Dellavedova played how many minutes? … he had zero fouls guys,” Wells said after the 36ers’ 13-point Game 3 loss.

“This was the exact same thing we had in Game 1. The scoring was different. The foul output for Game 1 was 11 to 24, this was 11 to 24.

“The guy that’s on Bryce Cotton had zero fouls and he’s guarding him like (gestures to demonstrate) … that’s not a legal guarding position.

“(Torrey) Craig had two. (Makuach) Maluach had two. That’s it. They literally draped all over him.”

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Cotton finished with 15 points and 12 assists, but was unable to influence the game as he did in Adelaide on Friday night, with the Kings consistently throwing two and even three defenders at the 36ers star.

“If they want to beat up the MVP and take him out, that’s what the refs have allowed them to do,” Wells said.

“He doesn’t even get to the free throw line. That was the exact same game as Game 1, except the point differential was different.

“We were in this game to win this game, but we didn’t have a chance to do that.

“They (the Kings) only had four fouls the entire second half … let that sink in now.”

Wells said Cotton and his teammates should have been rewarded with far more calls.

“Bryce Cotton is all over the court and he is trying to get downhill and I know he’s light, but if he goes flying four or five feet that way, it’s probably because he got pushed,” he added.

“I’m telling my guys to fight through everything but Matthew Dellavedova didn’t foul the whole night.

“I know it’s footy season, but that’s a different game right now. We’ve got to play basketball.”

Adelaide returns to its home court on Wednesday for Game 4, trailing the Series 2-1.