DJ thrilled with 36ers' new found focus

Adelaide 36ers boom recruit DJ Vasiljevic has praised his side’s turnaround over the past week on the back of consecutive NBL24 victories.

Playing in only his third match in 36ers colours, Vasiljevic said the change in attitude within the group has led to Adelaide winning the past two matches.

“It was a bit sloppy (my first match against South East Melbourne), we didn’t have a defensive identity, offensively we were all over the shop,” Vasiljevic said.

“We had a players meeting on the Friday and we understood when things don’t go right what’s our basic stuff defensively, offensively and we came out with great energy at home against Perth,

“We had a great week of practice too (after the Perth win).”

Vasiljevic was the star of the show as Adelaide powered home in the final quarter to defeat New Zealand Breakers 97-85 at Spark Arena in Auckland on Thursday night.

The 190cm guard, who finished with a team-high 24 points to go with five assists and four rebounds, including five three-pointers and an 11-point final quarter burst, said it’s the whole squad who deserve the wins, not just the players out on the court.

“The guys who don’t touch the floor, they’re actually helping us more than you guys think,” Vasiljevic said.

“They are preparing us, they are going at us, we have a red scout team, they prepared us really well.

“They were busting our ass at practice for sure and that will help us moving on.”

The two-time NBL champion is relishing his new role in Adelaide where head coach CJ Bruton has given him the license to not just shoot, but to create offense.

“My first year in Sydney I had the ball in my hands a lot more playing under coach Adam Forde and we ran a similar style as we do here,” Vasiljevic said.

“I’m not taking away the two championships, I played my role to the best of my ability, got two championships, but now I want a bigger role and CJ has provided it for me here and I’m going to take the responsibility.

“Win or lose, I want to be that guy and we will just keep moving forward.”

Adelaide will now focus on another trip to Perth to face the Wildcats at RAC Arena on Saturday, November 4, and Vasiljevic knows the 36ers must be ready for another big challenge on the road.

“We go back to it next week, we go back to Perth and that’s a hostile crowd but we will be ready,” Vasiljevic said.