Round 3 Preview v NZ Breakers

The Adelaide 36ers attempt to win consecutive matches for the first time in the 2021 NBL season at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night but a dangerous New Zealand Breakers won't be handing them anything.

It's been quite the rollercoaster ride over the opening two rounds of the NBL season for the 36ers. All four matches have been played in front of at least 6500 people at the Entertainment Centre, but the results and performances have been mixed so far.

The season got underway with a tough loss against Melbourne United but two days later even though it took two overtime periods, the Sixers got their first win of 2021 against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

There was just then a three-day turnaround before a rematch and it was the Phoenix who got a measure of revenge with the 36ers needing to bounce quickly on Friday night against the Breakers.

New Zealand was playing its first game of the season and Adelaide its fourth, but the game still went to overtime and it was there that the 36ers were able to do enough to come away with the 94-91 victory and end the opening two rounds with a 2-2 record.

That sets the stage now for a fascinating rematch between the Sixers and Breakers this Wednesday night back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Both teams will have had five days to regroup and recharge after Friday's overtime cracking contest, and now it's going to be a battle well worth checking out as the 36ers attempt to win back-to-back NBL games for the first time since the start of January last year.

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The 36ers did appear to be finding a better groove in that last hit out against the Breakers on Friday night even if it did take until overtime to get over the top of their New Zealand opponents.

But there were plenty of exciting signs especially the front court pairing of Isaac Humphries and Daniel Johnson who combined for 40 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and four assists.

Tony Crocker and Jack McVeigh both played important roles in the three spot too while the back court was the best it has been so far this season.

Josh Giddey moved into a starting role to help set the faster pace early and then Donald Sloan finished the game on fire scoring 11 of his 20 points for the game either in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Sunday Dech was handy offensively with 10 points but was brilliant defensively with his lockdown job late in the game on Lamar Patterson.

So all of that gave the 36ers plenty of reasons to believe that this team is starting to find its groove and now they have had five days to freshen up before playing a fifth home game already early in season on Wednesday night against the Breakers.

Daniel Dillon won't be there for Adelaide having injured his hand in practice on Monday but that presence an opportunity for Alex Mudronja to step up while the other guys including Giddey, Dech, Sloan and Brendan Teys will have to pick up a little of that slack.

Sixers coach Conner Henry was glad that his group got the chance to refresh and recharge after the hectic opening two rounds to now prepare for Wednesday night.

"Having the four days has really been beneficial for us. Those four games in seven nights, as much as we could plan for, took a little bit of a toll on us physically so we've been able to give the boys a good day and-a-half completely off," Henry said in his #AsktheCoach segment on Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis.

"We then had a good, crisp hard workout on Monday where we scrimmaged some and got the legs back under us after a day and-a-half off, and then went short and sharp on Tuesday doing our usual day before routine preparing for this second hit out with New Zealand. 

"Physically we are better and rested, and we are looking forward to tomorrow night."

While happy to get the win over the Breakers on Friday, Henry knows they are going to be better for the run come Wednesday. 

The 36ers can't rely on Finn Delany going down with cramp again, they might have to deal with the return of Corey Webster and with the likes of Patterson, Tai Webster, Tom Abercrombie, Jarrad Weeks and Rob Loe still there, Henry knows the 36ers will have be at their best to come away victorious.

"Just like the first that we played against Phoenix, they were coming into their first game and New Zealand was coming into their first game," Henry said. 

"They were underdone and you could tell in the beginning we got on them pretty good, but then they kinda got their legs back under them and they made it a very tough, physical game on us.

"We are expecting more of the same and they will have now got their legs back underneath them, and they will be very physical again. 

"We're looking forward to make some adjustments as they are for sure, and Dan does a really good job coaching them. We are expecting a difficult, hard fought game for sure from them."

McVeigh is feeling good about his own and the 36ers game right now, and after a few days off to get ready for the game on Wednesday, he is looking forward to taking on the Breakers again.

"I'm feeling good. Confidence for me right now is pretty high and it's a big game so for us to come out of it and being 3-2 would be huge. I'm feeling good and back-to-back games are fun against the same team. It's something kind of new in the NBL but it's exciting," McVeigh said on Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis this week.

"We had the weekend off after that last game on Friday. We did have recovery but pretty much the weekend was off to give us a mental reset as much as physical. We've been back at it now Monday and Tuesday preparing for the Wednesday game."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021 NBL SEASON – ROUND 3

ADELAIDE 36ERS v NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Wednesday 7.00pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN, SBS on Demand, NBL TV, Twitch 

Tickets available by clicking here 

Adelaide 36ers memberships are available for more information click here