Ninnis expects Sixers to rebound on NYE

The opportunity to bounce back almost straight away on New Year’s Eve is a blessing for Adelaide 36ers coach Scott Ninnis.

After his side fell 100-82 at home to Perth Wildcats on Thursday night, the chance to play less than 72 hours later against Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre is the perfect way to respond.

Adelaide trained on Saturday morning before travelling to Wollongong for Sunday’s showdown with the Hawks and Ninnis said the side is ready to rebound.

“The opportunity to play three days later to me, is a wonderful thing,” Ninnis said.

“We have looked at the Perth game and made some tweaks, but now we have to be focused on Illawarra.”

Illawarra, under new head coach Juston Tatum, has won four of their past six games since he took over from Jacob Jackomas, including a 94-90 victory in Sydney against the Kings on Christmas Day.

In the win against the Kings, Tatum praised the effort of 20-year-old big man Lachlan Olbrich.

“Lachie Olbrich was MVP tonight (Christmas Day), and we told him that at half-time and at the end of the game,” Tatum said.

“He was the reason it started that spark for us, and he came in and gave us some energy and life.

“He's the MVP of this, and that's what's special about this group; you don't know who will show up, and guys are going to be ready when they get the opportunity.”

Olbrich, a former Adelaide 36ers Development Player, is part of a young and energetic Hawks frontcourt which also includes star big man Sam Froling and import power forward Gary Clark.

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Adelaide 36ers centre Isaac Humphries, who has thrived under the leadership of Ninnis, will be key inside the paint but his focus is all about how the team will rebound from Thursday night’s defeat.

 “I’ll take on whoever, whenever, I’m looking forward to that next match up,” Humphries said.

“It’s not what I’m really thinking about though, I want to get the team together first.

“We have strides to make in the next few days before a very quick turnaround.

“We have a lot of things to think about before I think of my personal match up.”

Adelaide will be back in action on New Year’s Eve when the 36ers travel to WIN Entertainment Centre to play Illawarra Hawks, catch all the action live and exclusive on ESPN via Kayo Sports.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
WIN Entertainment Centre, Sunday, 5pm

LIKELY STARTERS
Illawarra: Justin Robinson, Tyler Harvey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Gary Clark, Sam Froling.
Adelaide: Trey Kell, DJ Vasiljevic, Trentyn Flowers, Jacob Wiley, Isaac Humphries.

OVERALL
Played 133, Adelaide 77, Illawarra 56

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Oct 14, 2023 – 36ers 89 def Hawks 80 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Jan 6, 2023 - 36ers 103 def Hawks 95 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Nov 3, 2022 – 36ers 96 def Hawks 80 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Oct 15, 2022 – 36ers 90 def hawks 80 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Feb 25, 2022 – Hawks 87 def 36ers 71 at WIN Entertainment Centre

STATS THAT MATTER
- Adelaide has won each of its last four games against Illawarra.
- Illawarra ranks 1st for points in the paint per game (43.7) this season.
- Adelaide has won the fourth quarter in eight of its last nine games against Illawarra.
- Illawarra ranks 1st in the league for turnovers per game this season (11.1).
- Trentyn Flowers scored a career-high 23 points in his last outing against Illawarra in Round 3.
- Tyler Harvey has a career average of 3.9 three-pointers per game against Adelaide - most against any opponent.
- Illawarra holds a 6-2 record when Tyler Harvey scores 15+ points this season (0-7 when he scores fewer than 15).
- Sam Froling is one of only two players in the league to be leading their team in points (15.4) and rebounds (8.2) per game this season.
- Adelaide has lost each of its last seven away games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- Mitch McCarron is just two away from 200 NBL career three-pointers.