'We need to protect home': Cleveland

Adelaide 36ers import swingman Antonius Cleveland says his side need to ‘protect home’ when New Zealand Breakers come to town on Friday night.

Cleveland, who starred with 15 points and seven rebounds in the 92-88 win against the Kings in Sydney, said the 36ers will continue to build after last round’s success.

“To beat a team like that (the Kings) on the road early on is good for us,” Cleveland said.

“Protect home, we want to make this place hard to get a win on, we got to protect home court.”

Adelaide had all five starters in double figure points against the reigning NBL champions and Cleveland said the 36ers have a lot of different weapons.

“I think it makes us harder to guard and it shows that we trust each other,” Cleveland said.

“Anyone can hurt you on any given night.

“But, we have a long way to go and we set our standards pretty high, I don’t think we are nowhere near our best, but we are heading to trend upwards.”

After battling an ankle injury last week in the lead up to the Kings win, Cleveland said his body is close to 100 per cent for the Breakers battle.

“The body is pretty good, Tristan (Chai, Head of Medical) does a great job and I’ll be ready for Friday,” he said.

Cleveland knows the challenge the Breakers will bring to Brett Maher Court, especially after New Zealand’s 68-64 win in Cairns against the Taipans on Sunday afternoon.

“I think New Zealand is number one in the league right now, they’re pretty tough, they  play really hard,” he said.

“They will come here ready to play and they have a nice team, I think it will be a good game.”

The 196cm swingman said the Adelaide crowd is the best to play in front of in the league and is looking forward to making the Entertainment Centre louder come Friday night.

“Defensively it’s going to be on us, whatever the coaches say, just come out and get a good start, get the crowd involved, you don’t want to be playing from behind,” he said.

“The crowd come out from the first game and support us, we just have to give them a reason to get loud and cheer.”

Tickets to ‘Freaky Friday’ against the New Zealand Breakers can be purchased here.