36ers prepared for huge Taipans test

Adelaide 36ers will welcome Cairns Taipans to the Entertainment Centre on Friday night with revenge on their mind.

The 36ers went down to the Taipans 101-97 last month in Far North Queensland, with Cairns import guard Rob Edwards scoring a game-high 31 points.

Coming off a tough 77-73 win against reigning champions Tasmania JackJumpers last Sunday, Adelaide will be back at home again with the opportunity to make it five wins from the past six games. 

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THE KEY
Edwards was the difference between the two teams in Cairns last month, and how Adelaide adjust the defensive structure on the Taipans guard will be key.

The Taipans will again be without point guard Taran Armstrong for a battle against the 36ers, and Edwards rose to the challenge last time out, something the 36ers are fully aware of.

His game-high 31 points was sparked by a withering six-from-eight from the three-point line and combined with Sam Waardenburg’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, Cairns fought back from a double-digit deficit for the four-point success.

Sunday Dech looms as the first match-up for Edwards, but also expect Nick Marshall and Lat Mayen to spend time on the Taipans import guard.

THE SECRET
Along with Armstrong, the Taipans will also be missing import big man Tanner Groves, which will mean a lot more court time for Kyrin Galloway and Akoldah Gak.

Both Galloway and Gak can stretch the floor and hit the three-pointer, which will be an intriguing battle with Adelaide big man rotation of Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphries and Jarell Martin.

Head coach Mike Wells understands teams want to space the floor against the Adelaide defence, and how the 36ers contain the outside threat will be key in the result of this contest.

Cairns will also have point guards Kyle Adnam and Jackson Makoi out to impress in the absence of Armstrong.

DEPTH CHART
Adnam / Makoi
Bradshaw / Antonio
Edwards / Stattmann
Waardenburg / Galloway
Gak / Higgins-Titsha

FINAL WORD
Adelaide must learn from the mistakes of Round 2, the Taipans connected on 15 three-pointers, so expect the 36ers to make an adjustment at the defensive end.

The 36ers limited the JackJumpers to 73 points last Sunday, but Wells has said improvements still needed to be made on defence.

Limiting the influence of Edwards will be key, by fellow import Pedro Bradshaw had a big double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds last round against Illawarra.

Adelaide would like to get on another winning streak and protect home court in a result that could propel the 36ers into the NBL’s top four.