How a simple graph refocussed the Sixers’ mindset

Adelaide 36ers star Zylan Cheatham has credited the club’s mindset coach with helping the side refocus after a run of poor form.

After opening up a three-game lead at the top of the Hungry Jack’s NBL ladder, the Sixers have won five and lost five of their games since the turn of the new year.

They remain the competition’s top side but there was an undoubted dip in performance and Cheatham says while the players and coaches all took responsibility, it took experienced Performance Mindset Coach David Steventon to put their season in perspective to help the group refocus.

“He led a leading part of practice, and it was very important for us to really get down and buckle down and focus on some things,” Cheatham said of Steventon’s influence.

“We had a lot of good stuff to say, and it impacted us positively.

“He had a graph demonstration of how our season has going and it's a couple dips, but everything has been progressing in a good path.

“It's so easy when things are going bad to start focussing on what's not going well. But you know, you look at the grand scheme of the season and what we've accomplished, and we have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to build on, and that's what we want to focus on.”

Cheatham was among his side's best in the win over Melbourne United on Saturday night, contributing 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

It was an important win in the context of the season with the Sixers still having two games to play, especially after a week in which the club was spoken about a lot.

“It was good to get a win, for sure,” he said, acknowledging players and coaches saw things posted on social media.  

“We played well enough to win versus Illawarra but obviously didn't get there, so it felt good to show some resilience coming on a quick turnaround and I'm glad my guys got it back.”

This week the side will come up against New Zealand in its final home game of the regular season.

Cheatham is very familiar with the Breakers, having spent a season with them in NBL24.

The sides met in Auckland less than three weeks ago with Bryce Cotton hitting a game-winner late to steal the points after the Sixers led comfortably but allowed the Breakers back into the contest – something Cheatham said he hoped would not happen again.

They will meet again in the final of the inaugural Ignite Cup, on the Gold Coast on February 22, but Cheatham said his team couldn’t afford to look beyond this Saturday’s game.

“Obviously, you think about it, and you look at the schedule,” he said, “you know what's going to happen, but at the same time, it's kind of been my same message.

“As long as you stay in the moment, take it day by day, our biggest focus on that is New Zealand at home.

“Our last time being at home, we didn't have a good showing, so for us, it's about building on this Melbourne win that we just had and tightening up some things, cleaning up some things, but also building on what we did well.

“I think that we just stick to that plan, I think we'll be in a great spot.”

Saturday’s game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre tips off at 5:00pm ACDT.