Round 12 Preview v Cairns Taipans

The Adelaide 36ers return to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday for the first time since that memorable overtime win over Melbourne United and looking to exact revenge on the Cairns Taipans.

The Sixers scored a mouth-watering win in overtime back on January 30 in what was their last home game this NBL season. They are back on Sunday afternoon against a Cairns team they owe some payback to after what happened in the Far North earlier in #NBL22.

The 36ers have only played one game since that win over Melbourne in front of the home fans and that was a tough loss in Brisbane last Friday night against the Bullets after leading by 10 points with seven minutes remaining.

However, Dusty Hannahs wasn’t there for that game after his match-winning performance against Melbourne but he will return for Sunday's clash with the Taipans.

While it is the first game in nine days for Adelaide, Cairns is fresh off playing in Wollongong on Friday night where they scored just 54 points in a 23-point defeat at the hands of the Illawarra Hawks.

That 54 points scored by the Snakes was the lowest score any team has ever managed in a game against the Hawks.

That serves as potential good and bad news for the 36ers coming into Sunday's game. The Taipans clearly struggled on Friday and have now lost their past three matches, and six of their last seven.

That's the good news. The bad news is that they arrive in Adelaide not short of ammunition and motivation to get a win and try to get their season back on track to improve on their current 3-7 record.

Adelaide comes into the game at 4-7 so both teams need the win to avoid falling further adrift of the top four, and nobody at the 36ers would have forgotten what happened last time they played Taipans.

That was in Cairns back on December 18 and with only a few minutes to go, the Taipans were leading by as much as 40 points before settling on the 93-67 victory.

The Sixers then had to wait a month to play again after that horrific loss and now this Sunday provides the first opportunity to exact a measure of revenge on the Snakes.

Sixers assistant coach Jamie Pearlman knows that the 36ers did a lot right last Friday in Brisbane and that's why they were 10 points to the good with seven minutes on the clock.

So those positives have been reinforced this week leading into Sunday's clash with Cairns while working on fixing up those areas that let them down.

"We played some good basketball for long stretches in that game and fell at that last hurdle of being able to finish the game," Pearlman said during latest Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis.

"It was obviously disappointing not to come away with that win and we reflect on it, and we've had a couple of games now we really should have taken care of. 

"While it's disappointing we know we can be a very good side so you try not to take those ones too hard. You try to learn from it and get better, and I think we've had a really good week with a few minor adjustments coming into this game on Sunday."

Now looking ahead to Sunday's clash with Cairns, Pearlman is fully aware of the danger that the Taipans present, but is backing in the work the 36ers have put in coming into the contest.

"They obviously haven’t won in a little while but beware of the wounded dog. Fordey definitely is a big time motivator as a coach and he's going to have them ready to go," Pearlman said.

"We have to be very disciplined with the way we play because they play with a lot of energy. They get up the floor, trapping and try to force the game and force turnovers, and get you to play fast. 

"There's going to be a lot of challenges in the game but we're definitely ready for this. We're looking forward to getting back on the floor after a bit of a break again. We're confident going into the game for sure."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 12

ADELAIDE 36ERS v CAIRNS TAIPANS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Sunday 12.30pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; 10 Peach; 10 Play; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ