Round 7 Preview v Perth Wildcats

The wait is finally over for the Adelaide 36ers to resume their NBL22 season and it just happens to be against the old enemies the Perth Wildcats at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday night.

It will have been a month long wait for the Sixers to play their sixth game for the #NBL22 season but the break is over and it looms as a massive game on the home floor against the Wildcats on Tuesday night.

The 36ers last played way back on December 18 last year and that was a performance to forget in what was a 26-point loss in Cairns against the Taipans.

It's fair to say that was hardly the game that anyone would have wanted going into a month long break. In an ideal world, the Sixers would have wanted to get back on court and play another game as soon as possible to attempt to make amends for that performance, but this isn’t an ideal world.

Since that game, the 36ers players have been forced to spend plenty of time in isolation at home thanks to COVID protocols with potential matches in that period forced to be postponed either because of the Sixers players, or those with the opposition, being unable to play.

That time in isolation has also limited the amount of time the 36ers group has got to spend back on the court together to work on things since that game in Cairns in preparation for this home game against Perth.

However, the positive is that the visiting Wildcats are in a similar position. Perth has now been on the road for several weeks but only played one game and that was back on New Year's Eve where they also played up in Cairns.

So coming into Tuesday night's game between the storied rivals, the 36ers will be playing their first match in 31 days and the Wildcats their first in 18 – with both teams having lost played on the road in Cairns against the Taipans.

In terms of player personnel for both teams, the 36ers will welcome back guard Sunday Dech for his first game of the season after a hematoma to his quadricep. Fellow guard Tad Dufelmeier is unavailable with a foot injury but development player Zac Gattorna will suit up.

Meanwhile, Todd Blanchfield and Luke Travers won't be playing for the Wildcats and nor will development players Kyle Zunic, Mitch Clarke and Corey Shervill.

The month in between that loss in Cairns to Tuesday night's game has been far from what the 36ers were expecting or hoping for, but they have just had to make the most of the situation and coach CJ Bruton can't wait to see his team back on the floor.

"Well, we've had to do some Zoom calls keeping fit behind closed doors doing push ups, sit ups and doing modified work outs and things that you can do and maintain looking after your body while you are in quarantine," Bruton said.

"It's definitely been tough but it's something that every club's had to go through at some point or will have to go through if they haven’t already. But I think we've tried to manage it the best way possible considering the limited number of days that we've been on court for."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 7

ADELAIDE 36ERS v PERTH WILDCATS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Tuesday 7.00pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ