36ers preparing to hunt Hawks

Adelaide 36ers will look to make improvements when the club battle Illawarra Hawks in their final NBL Blitz match in Darwin on Thursday night.

The 36ers, who are 2-0 so far in the Top End after wins against South East Melbourne and Tasmania, are keen to start well against the Hawks after two sluggish opening quarters against the Phoenix and JackJumpers.

“No it’s not concerning, but it’s something we have to address,” Adelaide 36ers swingman Sunday Dech said about the poor start.

“But we are not really worried about it because we have shown we can turn it on when we want.

“CJ (Bruton, head coach) will want a better start from the get go that’s for sure.”

Bruton had to call an early time out against Tasmania after the JackJumpers scored the first four baskets of the contest.

“You don’t wat your coach to burn a time out, but we needed it in that first quarter and from there we just turned it on,” Dech said.

Adelaide has an improved focus on its defence this season and Dech said the roster has bought in to the new schemes.

“We are very athletic at every position, we can guard one through five, we can switch, we can play multiple defensive systems, we can be aggressive which can lead to easy points,” Dech said.

“That’s what we want to do as a team, get up and down and play fast for the full 40 minutes.”

Thursday night’s game is worth more than just an NBL Blitz victory which could see the 36ers retain the Loggins-Bruton Cup, Dech says the club is concentrating more on the long-term focus.

“We just want to keep improving, the big focus is on us right now and what we are doing,” Dech said.

“Our style of play is overpowering teams at the moment and we want to continue that.

“Our offensive is set up that if you shut down one guy, there are another four guys out there that can go off.

“Once our defence is locked in, everyone is flourishing.”