36ers primed for winning run: Santamaria

The Adelaide 36ers have hit a crucial point in their season. If they’re going to fulfill the expectations placed on them in pre-season they have to start winning the big games – and Thursday night’s clash against Perth is certainly a big game.

Both sides are starting to pull together some seriously high-quality basketball, and whoever wins will keep themselves within touching distance of the top few spots on the ladder – ready for when those above them inevitably lose a game here or there.

NBL analyst Liam Santamaria believes the recent FIBA break could end up being the turning point of Adelaide’s NBL23 campaign.

“Things are different, for sure,” Santamaria said on NBL Today. “There’s an energy about the group and there’s a togetherness.

“They’re sharing the ball, they’re getting around each other, and they’re no longer kind of walking on egg shells waiting for the next outburst from their star scorer in Craig Randall.

“That lets them be the best they can be now, and I think they’re about to go on a bit of a run.”

Adelaide could easily be entering this clash with the confidence only a strong win streak can provide, but the narrow Round 7 loss to New Zealand has the side searching to get back on the winner’s list.

“They had the win over Melbourne. They played New Zealand really tough,” Santamaria said.

“[If] Barry Brown Jr doesn’t bank that three-ball late in the game maybe that’s a different result and all of a sudden the Adelaide 36ers are on a win streak.

“This game in Perth coming up is fascinating because both those teams are looking to start getting some momentum into their seasons.”

On Tuesday, star Robert Franks said the 36ers were "ready for the challenge" in enemy territory.

“We’ve responded well on the road this year and I think as professionals and competitors, that’s an environment you want to thrive in,” he said. 

“It’s (RAC Arena) a historical place to play, it’s not an easy place to win.”