Game Preview: 36ers seek revenge against Breakers

3/NOV/2007 – The Adelaide 36ers tonight have an opportunity to exact revenge on the New Zealand Breakers after losing to the Auckland-based team on the road earlier in the season.

In that game, Adelaide held a narrow lead but were reeled in by a Breakers team that got solid mileage out of import Rick Rickert.

Guard Brad Davidson was injured at the time and missed the game, but is expected to suit tonight after successfully completing a training test on Thursday. Even if he is introduced carefully, his return to uniform should provide a fresh spark for his battling side.

Both teams have seen close games recently. The 36ers gave up a handy second-quarter lead to lose by a handful against the Gold Coast Blaze while the Breakers played on Thursday night, beating the Brisbane Bullets in a 127-126 shoot-out.

Coach Phil Smyth will hope to lead his charges to a win and arrest their current losing streak in his 700th NBL appearance as either a player or coach.

Adam Ballinger had an excellent game against the Blaze after quieter outings in his three previous games. His captain, Brett Maher, has showed that the game in Sydney where he was well contained by the Kings was a hiccup and scored 24 points last week to resume his good form. Both will serve as an offensive focus for Smyth.

Adelaide's other import Mike Chappell had his season-high last time he played his former side, exploiting the defense of both Oscar Forman and Phill Jones and drawing fouls almost at will. Whether he can do the same again will depend largely on how NZ coach Andrej Lemanis attempts to counter Chappell this time around.

In Mika Vukona and Paora Winitana, Lemanis has two options. Winitana is a less-used guard-forward, but brings some quickness while Vukona is mostly at work in the paint on the boards and could have the ability to frustrate Chappell.

South Australian guard Ryan Kersten has had a decent season to date and will play his first game against the 36ers in Adelaide. He is the Breakers' third option at point guard after Wayne Turner and Pauli Henare, but was used successfully against the Bullets as an off-guard that can hit when open or penetrate for a lay-up. Kersten and Turner combined for a perfect 10 of 10 from the field against Brisbane.

Henare missed the early rounds of the season injured and contributed well against the Bullets also.

The 36ers have had a week off to prepare for this game, Smyth speaking of players angry at the loss to the Blaze and channelling their energy into training during the week. New Zealand, meanwhile, had their day between games marred by travel, but will have confidence from both their win against Brisbane, and last time they faced the 36ers.

At 2-6, second bottom and three wins out of the top eight, Adelaide absolutely must dig in their heels for this match and come away with a win.

Tip-off is 8pm at the Distinctive Homes Dome and tickets are available at the door prior to the game. 891 ABC Adelaide will be running their usual live radio feed.