Friday first focus: Wells on the 36ers’ big weekend ahead

The Adelaide 36ers are fully focussed on their game against the Perth Wildcats despite the final of the Ignite Cup being held less than two days later.

A win against the Wildcats on Friday night would guarantee a top-two finish and direct passage to a semi-final series, although if Melbourne United beats South East Melbourne a night earlier the outcome in Perth would not matter.

Head coach Mike Wells watched on as his side went through its paces at practice on Wednesday, impressed with the energy of the group.

He said while it was exciting to be in the inaugural final of the Ignite Cup, the group needed to remain focussed on what was a big game against the Wildcats first.

“(The Ignite Cup Final) is something that we played for,” he said.

“(But) we're really excited for Friday night, and we'll focus totally on Friday night.

“This is just another thing at the end of the season that this group has been exceptional through the year and has won the right to sort of play in that game and play for some extra money.

“I couldn't be happier that we're in it and we're representing Adelaide and the 36ers, and I think it's going to be a really, really unique opportunity for the group.”

Wells said having back-to-back important games with a lot on the line would be good for his group heading into the finals.

“You're trying to build a championship culture and a club,” Wells explained.

“And, it comes down to a really, really fun game on Friday night.

"It's the type of challenge that you want to play in Perth and to try to get into the finals as a (top) two seed.”

Fresh off calling him the undeniable MVP of the NBL competition, Wells was again full of praise for five-time MVP Bryce Cotton after his 42-point match-winning effort against New Zealand last week.

The coach lauded his star guard’s leadership and his ability to drive standards.

“He's been extraordinary for us, you know, on the court, both ends of the floor,” Wells elaborated, “but his leadership and how he's kind of taken the reins of this team - the things that he says for me in the timeouts, offensively and defensively, it's easy for a coach when your best players are saying the right things to their teammates.

“When that starts with defence, it's even easier. But as he's grown as a point guard you know he still scores you know there's a lot of Bryce that's a point guard but how he's managed to assist and find his teammates.

“He's an unselfish guy and he's just played the whole game.”

Cotton will again be the centre of attention as he returns to Perth to take on the Wildcats for the second time since making the move to the Sixers in the off-season.

But Wells said it would be a challenge for the entire group to go back on the road after a lot of travel in recent weeks, and show up in front of a parochial Perth crowd.

“It's been an interesting challenge because it comes at the end of the season and, you know, you need those road games and you need those road challenges,” Wells said.

“You need those things to kind of bond the group together, whether you're just in the airport or you're on the bus or you're in that locker room.

“It's different when you're playing in front of 14,000 fans like we will be on Friday night.

“But all those opportunities to connect and be together and kind of us against the world-type mentality is really huge because that's what it's going to be in the playoffs.”

Friday night’s game at RAC Arena tips off at 9:00pm ACDT / 6:30pm AWST and will be shown live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+.