Franks says defence key to success

Adelaide 36ers power forward Robert Franks said defence was the key to his side’s 96-80 win against Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on Thursday night.

Franks scored 25 points and combined with Daniel Johnson as the big man duo led the 36ers to their third win of the NBL23 season.

“Executing the game plan and just our defence, we held them to only 80 points and we have been given up like 90 the whole year,” Franks said.

“It was a sense of urgency. We knew we had to get that game and had to play a certain way.

“It starts on our defensive end, defence leads to our offense and consistently trying to play the right way, the ball movement and the spacing.

“I think that is key for us because everybody on our team is good enough to make plays.”

Franks said the team picked up the scoring slack of Craig Randall II, who missed the win with a bruised sternum.

“Craig’s a great player and his scoring was missing but we are such a good team that any given night someone is going to contribute in a big way, last game it was me and DJ, we just wanted to pound them in the paint,” Franks said.

The 201cm big man said Adelaide must continue their newfound form against a hungry Perth Wildcats side, who are on a five-game losing streak, on Brett Maher Court at the Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

“I don’t think we have given our home crowd yet a true game of who Adelaide is,” Franks said.

“So tomorrow night is going to be big for us going into the FIBA break.

“There hasn’t been home court advantage so far, it’s been a bit tricky, we need to figure that out.”