“You want the refs to bail you out?”: Lowery rejects Cotton concerns

Heading into Game 4 of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Championship Series, the Adelaide 36ers trail the Sydney Kings 2-1.

In the two games the 36ers have lost, both at Qudos Bank Arena, Adelaide, as coach Mike Wells has pointed out, have lost the foul count 24-11.

In particular, Wells expressed his frustrations about the lack of fouls that are being called on Kings’ trio, Matthew Dellavedova, Torrey Craig and Makuach Maluach while defending six-time MVP Bryce Cotton.

“Matthew Dellavedova played how many minutes? He had zero fouls, guys. The main guy that's on Bryce Cotton had zero fouls, and he's guarding him like this. That’s not a legal guarding position,” Wells said in Sunday’s post-game press conference.

“Craig had two [fouls], Maluach had two, that's it. They’re literally draped all over him ... if he can't run up the floor [then there’s an issue].

“Bryce only had three fouls drawn, while KD (Kendric Davis) had one foul. He fouls on every possession.

“Guys, those are big, big plays if we're not going to be able to play at the same level and compete at the same level.

“If they wanna beat up the MVP and take him out, that's what the refs have allowed him to do.”

During Monday’s episode of NBL Overtime, the panel addressed Wells’ post-game comments.

“First of all, refs don't give a damn what you think,” NBL champion Damon Lowery said on NBL Overtime.

“Second of all, there's working the refs, and then there's begging, [saying things like] my guy isn’t allowed to play, you’re beating up my guy, my guy can't move.

“You know what, let's not play no more. Man up, let your minerals, man up, set some terror screens.

“You got a problem with Matthew Dellavedova picking your man up 74 feet, [fix it].

“I used to pick up the ball, I turn around, and there's Andrew Vlahov. Whack! A couple of those might loosen up the situation.

“You want the refs to help you out, man? You want the refs to bail you out? Come on, man.”

1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker also chimed in on the topic, saying, “I guarantee you that Game 4 will be officiated significantly differently than Game 3”.

>> Watch the full episode on NBL Overtime from 7pm AEDT Monday night on ESPN.

Game 4 of the Championship Series tips off at 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, live on ESPN and 10 Drama in Sydney and Adelaide.