Hurt battle looms large for frontcourt

The ability to quell the influence on South East Melbourne’s Matt Hurt will be at the top of the Adelaide 36ers’ agenda for Sunday’s showdown at John Cain Arena.

The 36ers need to respond after falling 92-89 to Brisbane Bullets at home on Friday night and come up against a Phoenix side who also fell on Friday night, 100-99 to the Wildcats in Perth.

With both sides keen to get their NBL25 season back on track, Adelaide will need to lock in on the defensive end, which in turns creates their high-octane offense.

Adelaide needs to find its rhythm again after falling short to the Bullets and must get out to find the open lanes and push the pace. 

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THE KEY
Hurt is arguably the league’s best power forward and could easily find himself in the All-NBL Frist team at the end of the regular season.

The Duke product has had a profound impact at South East Melbourne this season, averaging 20.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

Hurt will be a mismatch for the 36ers, the 27-year-old can play the power forward and centre positions but has the ability to hit the three-pointer at a high percentage and will stretch the Adelaide frontcourt of Isaac Humphries and Montrezl Harrell.

A match-up with Lat Mayen maybe on the cards, but Hurt is a flat-out scorer and a name that will be right up the top of head coach Mike Wells’ whiteboard.

THE SECRET
With Hurt getting all the plaudits, South East Melbourne’s starting centre Jordan Hunter has been flying under the radar.

A key off-season signing, Hunter brings the Phoenix NBL championship experience and his combination with Hurt can not go unnoticed.

Hunter is averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, both career highs in his fifth season in the NBL across a 154-game career.

The 208cm centre will have a pivotal match-up against Humphries and this battle will go a long way as to what side comes away with victory.

DEPTH CHART
Sobey / Ayre
Foxwell / Glover / Rosendale
Wieskamp / Kenyon
Hurt / Lewis
Hunter / Majok

FINAL WORD
After Friday night’s defeat to Brisbane at home, the 36ers have their season to play for on Sunday afternoon at John Cain Arena.

A response is required, and the 36ers have bounced back in games like this during their NBL25 campaign.

The result against the Bulets must spark the 36ers into action, with the equation simple, win and you’re in the post season, can’t get much clearer than that.

But Adelaide will be up against a Phoenix side stinging from a Friday night loss in Perth and must come ready to play from the opening tip.