Storm warning after Suns stunner

Adelaide is ready to battle a former teammate and have an opportunity to really stun the world when the 36ers play Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night (Friday, 10.30am ACDT).

The 36ers, coming off a franchise record 24 made three-pointers in their 10-point NBL x NBA pre-season win against the Phoenix Suns, arrived in Oklahoma City with a new focus.

With imports Craig Randall II and Robert Franks taking centre stage in Arizona, the 36ers will face a totally different opponent, led by Josh Giddey at Paycom Center.

THE KEY
No secrets here, but former Adelaide 36ers point guard and NBL21 Rookie of the Year Josh Giddey will be the key man to stop.

Giddey, who looks to have responded from a hip injury which prematurely ended his debut NBA campaign, is primed for year two in the big league and he started his pre-season in style, with 14 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the Thunder’s 112-101 win against the Nuggets in Denver.

But, the 36ers have the players who have and can guard the 206cm point guard, including captain Mitch McCarron, Sunday Dech and also the reigning NBL Defensive Player of the Year Antonius Cleveland.

“Josh has got a little better since the last time I guarded him,” McCarron said after landing in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

“But we have a lot of guys who can go and have their shot.”

THE SECRET
Oklahoma City just made a huge trade with the Houston this week, the Thunder sent Derrick Favors, Ty Jerome, Theo Maledon, Maurice Harkless, a 2026 second-round pick and cash considerations to the Rockets in exchange for Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, David Nwaba, Marquese Chriss and two trade exceptions.

How the Thunder roster respond to such a huge shake up will be interesting and team chemistry won’t be there right away for coach Mark Daigneault.

Daigneault said Giddey’s backcourt partner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the next two pre-season games and the team is expected to announce an update on him in the next couple of days.

It’s been almost two weeks since the Thunder announced Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an MCL sprain, and Daigneault said his star guard won’t play until the regular season.

THE FINAL WORD
How Adelaide responds after shocking the world in Arizona will play a huge role in the outcome of this game.

The Thunder will take the 36ers a lot more seriously after Adelaide’s 134-124 win against Phoenix and expect Randall II and Franks to be heavily guarded.

Adelaide will go into the match with a lot of confidence, but also with a lot more expectation for success and how the 36ers deal with the added pressure and intensity is a great learning tool for Bruton and his men.

DEPTH CHART
PG Tre Mann | Trey Burke | Robert Woodard II
SG Josh Giddey | Jalen Williams | Aaron Wiggins
SF Jalen Williams | Ousmane Dieng | Kenrich Williams | Lindy Walters III
PF Darius Bazley | Aleksej Pokusevski | David Nwaba
C Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Mike Muscala | Darius Bazley | Jaylin Williams