36ers look to move forward at home

Adelaide 36ers will be out to keep striving forward when Cairns Taipans come to town for Friday night’s NBL25 Indigenous Round clash at the Entertainment Centre.

Coming off a strong second half performance in last Sunday’s 77-73 win against reigning champions Tasmania JackJumpers, swingman Sunday Dech said to keep the winning feeling going has been the focus this week.

 “Keep stepping it forward, when you can win, whether it’s ugly or whether it’s pretty, you take a win, the league is very close this year,” Dech told media on Thursday.

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“For us we had a slow start, but we rectified that in the second half, but we have to push the needle forward and find ways not to repeat that.

“We have got a really good connectivity, we have great synergy, at no point last week did we feel we were going to lose that game. We have a really good feel, really good vibe amongst the group.

“It’s the ones (wins) now that really show up on the back end of the season.”

Dech said the 36ers are keen to rebound against the Taipans, especially after Cairns defeated Adelaide 101-97 last month in Far North Queensland.

“That’s a game we look back on and really kick ourselves,” Dech said.

“But the nature of the game is we get another crack at them and we have grown a lot since that game, we are a much better team now.

“Cairns are a dangerous side, we have spent all week preparing for them. Defensively the more we are locked in and can take care of the rebounds and the turnovers, will go a long way to helping us win.”

Captain DJ Vasiljevic is expecting the Taipans defence to continue to deny him the ball, but he has full faith in his teammates and the side’s offensive structure to score the ball.

“A lot of people are going to top block me, but we have four other players out there that can score the ball,” Vasiljevic said.

“You got Kendric Davis, you got Montrezl Harrell, you got Sunday Dech, who hit some important threes in the second half last week, we have got a lot of offensive fire power.”

Vasiljevic is also out for revenge against the Taipans and is primed to get one back.

“We went up to Cairns, we were up by 12 (points) or so and they punched us in the mouth,” Vasiljevic said.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit during that game, but we are a much better team now,

“We are looking forward to playing them again in front of another sellout crowd and get them back.”

ADELAIDE 36ERS vs CAIRNS TAIPANS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Friday 7pm ACST
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports

OVERALL
Played 87, Adelaide 46, Cairns 41

LIKELY STARTERS
36ers: Kendric Davis, DJ Vasiljevic, Sunday Dech, Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphries
Taipans: Kyle Adnam, Rob Edwards, Pedro Bradshaw, Sam Waardenburg, Akoldah Gak

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Sep 28, 2024 – Taipans 101 def 36ers 97 at Cairns Convention Centre
Jan 27, 2024 – 36ers 88 def Taipans 71 at AEC
Jan 13, 2024 – Taipans 111 def 36ers 101 in overtime at Cairns Convention Centre
Dec 9, 2023 - Taipans 116 def 36ers 101 at AEC
Jan 30, 2023 – 36ers 99 def Taipans 96 at Cairns Convention Centre

STATS THAT MATTER
- Adelaide has won the third quarter in each of its last nine games against Cairns.
- The 36ers have won its past eight games at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
- The home team has won 12 of the past 14 games between Adelaide and Cairns.
- Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (40.3%).
- The 36ers rank 2nd for points in the paint per game (42.9) this season.
- Montrezl Harrell is one of only three qualified players ranked top 10 in the league for both points (16.6) and rebounds (9.9) per game this season.
- Kendric Davis ranks 2nd for points per game (19.6) this season.