Round 8 Preview v Melbourne United

After a successful and impressive return to #NBL22 action on Tuesday night, the Adelaide 36ers are now back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday evening to take on the defending champion Melbourne United.

It was quite the arduous 31-day wait in between games for the 36ers from the loss back on December 18 to the Taipans in Cairns before returning to action this past Tuesday night on their home floor against the Perth Wildcats.

It turned out to be a night to savour for the Sixers as they raced out to a 25-7 lead, were up by as much as 28 points in the second quarter and went on to record the 87-74 victory against the previously top-of-the-table Wildcats.

Now the 36ers have had three days in between to gear up for another big clash this Saturday evening at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre against United.

Not only are Melbourne the defending NBL champions, but they are now the hottest team in the league this season having won six straight matches to sit on top of the standings coming into Saturday's clash in Adelaide.

NBA champion and Australian Boomers bronze medal winning guard Matthew Dellavedova is fresh off a 33-point career best night in Melbourne's last up win over the Illawarra Hawks while Chris Goulding, Jo Lual-Acuil, Caleb Agada, Ariel Hukporti, Shea Ili, Brad Newley and Dave Barlow are all dangerous.

Melbourne has also had the wood over Adelaide in recent times having won 10 of the past 12 meetings between the two teams but the 36ers will take confidence out of the way they played on Tuesday night to beat Perth.

Daniel Johnson put up 21 points and eight rebounds, Cam Bairstow had 19 points and 10 boards, and captain Mitch McCarron delivered 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but they had plenty of help too.

Sunday Dech made his return for his first game of the season and was important with his 10 points and three rebounds while imports Todd Withers (nine points, four rebounds) and Dusty Hannahs (nine points, three assists) provided good support too.

That all leads into a fascinating contest on Saturday between two teams coming off impressive performances.

Adelaide assistant coach Jamie Pearlman has enjoyed the work put in by the group since Tuesday's win and is now looking forward to the challenge of Melbourne.

"We are probably still expecting to have one or two guys who are struggling a little bit, but we feel like we will be pretty much at full strength for this game," Pearlman said during the Ask the Coach segment on Sixers Fix with Scott Ninnis.

"We actually had a really good couple of days' hit outs since that game on Tuesday. We had some good, intense sessions. We shortened them a little bit because of the short time between games, but there is just a great feeling amongst the group. 

"To get back on the floor and actually play was great and we are now just looking forward to playing against the reigning champions. They have now won six straight so we are looking forward to the challenge again. The guys are definitely ready to go, healthy and it's going to be an exciting game."

Another fascinating aspect of Saturday's game is that it's the first chance for Adelaide captain Mitch McCarron to play against a Melbourne team he helped lead to a championship last season, and spent the last three seasons with.

Pearlman knows that McCarron will play the occasion down, but has no doubt it's a big moment for him and he is especially looking forward to seeing him lock horns with Dellavedova for the first time in the NBL.

"He is a pretty calm sort of guy about those sort of match ups and he will say that it's just another game that we have to play well in, and continue to build and all those sort of things," Pearlman added.

"But I think that obviously he will be very fired up for the game and for him to come up against Delly in his first season back in the NBL is exciting for him as well. I think you will see a terrific game and battle between those two, and that in itself is going to be an exciting match up to watch."

While there is no bad blood with McCarron simply moving on because he liked what Adelaide offered him, he doesn't want to do anything on Saturday other than stop that United winning streak at six and make it consecutive Sixers victories.

"I mean for me it doesn’t really matter who it is we're playing at this point," McCarron said.

"Obviously I've got a lot of great relationship back at United and I had an incredible three years there, and it will be great to see those guys and how they've progressed with their lives as well and to have those chats. 

"But at the end of the day, whoever comes into our gym we are trying to get a win. It happens to be Melbourne United and they are on a roll winning six in-a-row now so we have to be ready and I'm looking forward to a great game."

HUNGRY JACK'S 2021/22 NBL SEASON – ROUND 8

ADELAIDE 36ERS v MELBOURNE UNITED
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Saturday 5.00pm ACDT

Broadcast – ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ