Bruton: Kings test is what we need

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton said his side is prepared for their biggest challenge so far this season when the 36ers face the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday night.

Bruton said his side is prepared for the reigning NBL champions and ready for an up and down style of game.

“Every game, every time you travel it’s important and we have to keep winning in different areas,” Bruton said.

“This is a great test on the road against the championship team and they are playing very good basketball of late.

“We are going in the Kings arena where they like to run and gun and we need to be ready and make sure we come out and show what it takes.”

Bruton had no comment in reply to Kings owner Paul Smith’s comments earlier in the week where he labelled the 36ers as ‘the Golden State Warriors’.

“I don’t have a response, he is an owner of a great club and a great team and I was part of that franchise at one point,” Bruton said.

“He has his rights to do that, and we have our job to show who we are.

“They are defending their crown, they are the benchmark

“This is one more game to prove a point we are doing the right things to be better.”

Adelaide will be looking to improve their road record from NBL22 but Bruton said last season’s stats don’t mean anything for his new-look roster.

“This is a whole new team, our players don’t recognise that. We got more talent this year and we need to make sure we utilise that talent,” Bruton said.

The 36ers go into Friday night’s match with a 1-1 record after splitting their home opening weekend against Tasmania JackJumpers and Illawarra Hawks.

“You’re going to have your highs and lows, we have had 11 or 12 practices together now so we are still a work in progress.

“At both ends we’re not great, while we had a great game in Phoenix, we need to tighten things up.

“We need to be keeping teams to 80 and 90 points in this 40-minute game.”