Bruton eager for more of the same after Suns win

Adelaide 36ers coach CJ Bruton is eager to see more of the same after his side's stunning 134-124 victory over NBA side Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.

The 36ers shot 55.8 per cent from three, with Craig Randall II and Robert Franks the heavy contributors, and Bruton is keen to see that pattern continue. 

“I would like for that to continue throughout the season. We have a lot of firepower. Putting the team together, I thought that with our competition like the NBA, you have to be able to stretch the floor and make threes," he said.

"The guys that I have recruited are good in that space and they also play defense, so having the length and size like NBA teams and international players that we have collected from South Sudan, New Zealand, Australia, USA and the Philippines, it is bringing a culture to Australia and bringing it to the team.”

The win over Phoenix is the 36ers' second game of the NBL x NBA trip to the United States, and Bruton said it's been a great experience thus far.

“It is amazing. To not only catch up with family and see friends for all of us, the experience was something that we won’t forget," he said.

"For the NBL and our owner Grant Kelley to provide that for us, it was an amazing opportunity and I didn’t want that to go to waste, so I let the boys understand exactly from their family’s videos that we are missed.

"It has been a long time away and the NBL started back home but not everybody gets the opportunity like this.

"When you have opportunities, you need to grasp it. This is not about us being the first; it is about us setting a standard for our competition and for our league.

"Right now, in our league we have the 'Next Stars Program', this program has been amazing for our league and generated players like Torrey Craig, Jock (Landale) and even Jack White. The guys like that get an opportunity to play at this level as well.

"I think there are a lot more players in Australia that you need to continue to look at in depth. I know we only play six months and it is not 82 games but
that consistency and toughness is good.”

The 36ers next take on Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.