Changes are coming for new-look 36ers

Adelaide 36ers interim head coach Scott Ninnis has said to expect changes when his side battles Cairns Taipans on Brett Maher Court on Saturday night.

Club Hall of Fame legend Ninnis said Adelaide still has a lot of time to turn the season around besides sitting in ninth with a 4-9 win-loss record.

“Our performances have not been up to scratch, we just haven’t been good enough,” Ninnis told FIVEaa on Wednesday.

“But, we still have an opportunity, the NBL is so tight this year and we have seen that with Perth.

“Six games ago Perth looked cooked, and John Rillie looked like he was going to get his marching orders, and they haven’t lost since.

“Things can be turned around quickly, and we got to get everyone on the same page and I’m confident we will be able to do that.”

The three-time NBL champion has said he will tighten the rotation moving forward and will be looking to give more opportunity to Nick Marshall and NBL Next Star Trentyn Flowers.

“I’ve always had the club’s best interest at heart and a Nick Marshall for us is a guy I hope is playing for the 36ers in 10 years’ time, like Brett Maher, like Mike McKay did.

“We need to invest in these local, Adelaide kids.”

Ninnis explained the past 48 hours have been a whirlwind, but the team has to make a statement against the Taipans on Saturday night.

“Wednesday was a fairly hectic day but we have only got three days until we play our next game,” he said.

“We implemented a few things at training which I think can make positive change.

“The proof will be in the pudding if we start getting the right results.

“We are all judged on wins and losses.”

Ninnis, who will be interim head coach for the remainder of the NBL24 campaign, said he is a totally different mentor to the one who was head coach from 2008-2010.

“I’m in a very different headspace to the guy who coached the 36ers last time,” Ninnis said.

“I’m not the aspiring coach, I bleed 36ers colours, it’s been 25 years of my life.

“I like to think I know how to bring a group together and I’m confident in my ability to be able to do that.

“Now we can get to see what we can do.”