Round 3 Preview v Cairns Taipans

The Adelaide 36ers are fresh off two strong wins in Round 2 of the #NBL22 season as they now head back on the road to take on the Cairns Taipans in Round 3 action on Saturday night.

The Sixers came into the 2021/22 NBL season on the back of going undefeated at the NBL Blitz and winning the Loggins-Bruton Cup, but the season proper didn’t get off to the ideal start with a loss in Perth to the Wildcats and then at home to the Illawarra Hawks.

However, the 36ers turned things around quickly in Round 2 starting last Thursday with a win in Tasmania against the JackJumpers before backing up with coming back from 19 points down against the New Zealand Breakers to win on Sunday at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

That all sets the tone for a trip to Cairns to take on the Taipans this Saturday night with both teams coming off successful outings in Round 2 of the NBL season.

The Snakes opened their account for the season under new coach Adam Forde with a win last Saturday night against the JackJumpers at the Cairns Convention Centre.

While the Taipans struggled last season, they were semi finalists in #NBL20 and they didn’t play at the Convention Centre last season with it being redeveloped. They have an enviable recent record in the stadium having won 19 of their past 21 matches in front of their local fans.

Now with both the 36ers and Taipans fresh off wins, they will both be determined to build some momentum on Saturday night in what shapes as a fascinating contest.

Another intriguing aspect will be Adelaide's Tad Dufelmeier, Mojave King and Hyrum Harris playing against Cairns for the first time, with Keanu Pinder playing for Cairns against the Sixers for the first time as well.

The Snakes will be without star point guard Scott Machado while the 36ers will still be missing gun defensive guard Sunday Dech but Philippines sensation Kai Sotto will be available to make his NBL debut.

Sixers assistant coach Jamie Pearlman was pleased with what he saw last weekend especially for the first three quarters in Tasmania on Thursday and second half on Sunday against the Breakers.

"In the Tasmania game, we were playing really well and got out to a nice, comfortable lead and then didn’t quite finish the game off like we would have liked to. But we still managed to hang in there and get over the line after a couple of great plays from Dusty down the stretch," Pearlman said during the Ask the Coach segment on Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis.

"It was then a bit of the reverse against New Zealand with a very slow start. Credit to them, they shot the ball incredibly well but it was great that we were able to regroup at half-time and make some adjustments, and I think we started to see the potential of this group."

Now looking ahead to this Saturday night in Cairns, it's somewhat of a homecoming for Pearlman returning to one of the clubs he used to call home. He knows the Taipans will put up a strong fight but he's confident the 36ers can get the job done should they follow the game plan.

"They are probably a little bit wounded at the moment with Scott Machado being ruled out as well, but I'm expecting a team that is really going to give it everything they've got," Pearlman said.

"I think they really are going to be tough and with guys coming off the bench looking to step up, and potentially having great games. 

"It's always quite hostile up there as well with those Cairns fans, but I think if we just play disciplined basketball and play a tough style of basketball across 40 minutes, I think we'll wear them down and definitely come out with a win at the end of the game. 

"I think it will be a tough game, but if we stick to a real solid game plan we'll definitely get that win."

Adelaide star guard Dusty Hannahs is coming into the game on Saturday night fresh off two impressive and match-winning performances last round against the JackJumpers and Breakers.

He's looking forward to his first visit to Cairns and trying to keep the momentum going.

"I'm just excited to go and compete once again. It will be a fun time and I've never been to Cairns so it's another opportunity to go out there, and compete with the guys and hopefully come away with the win," Hannahs said on Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis this week.

"We just started asserting our physicality. We thought we played a little too lackadaisical on the defensive end in the first half and weren’t physical enough. 

"We were able to turn the tides in the second half and get our offensive clicking on the back of our defence getting stops. We were able to start pushing the pace a little bit and that became in our favour, and we were able to win the game on the back of that."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 3

ADELAIDE 36ERS v CAIRNS TAIPANS
Cairns Convention Centre, Saturday 7.30pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ