Wells says Harrell impact can be huge

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells said his side will look to take full advantage of star import power forward Montrezl Harrell in Friday night’s clash against Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena.

Harrell was the shining light in the second half in last Sunday’s 105-99 loss to South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena, scoring 23 of his team-high 25 points after the main interval.

Wells said Harrell gives his side several advantages and the 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year must be a focal point moving forward.

“He can do a lot of different things, there’s a lot of different ways we can give him the ball,” Wells said.

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“He is a very unique player and has a very high IQ, a really good passer and he has got a one-on-one mismatch all the time.”

Wells said opponents have different ways to combat Harrell’s ability, through double teams, zone and collapsing defences.

“His basketball IQ is elite when we can get him in positions where he can function, get him into seams and get him downhill,” Wells said.

“His ability to find guys on the weak side is special.”

Wells said his side take nothing but positives away from the Phoenix loss, where Adelaide fought back from a 23-point deficit in the third quarter to take a five-point lead in the final stanza.

“Different guys, playing smaller, has changed our offense, has changed our defensive structure and what we are trying to do out there,” Wells said.

“For us to find our rhythm in that second half and cut a huge lead on the road in front of a large crowd is nothing but a bunch of positives in that second half.

“I think we had a really good January, and we want to have a really good February.”

Adelaide will battle the Wildcats in Perth from 9pm ACDT this Friday night, catch all the action live and exclusive on ESPN via Kayo Sports.