Wells says Martin made strides in NZ

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells said import power forward Jarell Martin was one positive to come from Saturday night’s defeat to New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena in Auckland.

Martin played 23 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbed three rebounds and made an instant impact coming off the bench in the 109-82 loss to the Breakers.

The NBL22 championship-winner connected on his first three shots and Wells liked the spark Martin gave as Adelaide reduced a 14-point quarter time Breakers lead to just four points in the second quarter. 

“He has had a couple of weeks in a row now with the guys, and he is progressing with the group and with different combinations,” Wells said post-match.

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“We can see some real positives there. I thought tonight he started the game really well, he had some great energy and I tried to ride that a little bit when we were trying to make that comeback.”

Wells said adding Martin into his rotation alongside Isaac Humphries and Montrezl Harrell will be a good challenge to have as the NBL25 season moves forward.

“I thought Jarell was one of those interesting pieces, he was definitely a bright spot for us,” Wells said.

“We know how talented he is, and us figuring out the right ways to really get him connected and be a real positive for the group is super important for us moving forward.”

New Zealand scored the first 10 points of the contest and Adelaide were playing catch up from the opening tip, Wells said the Breakers were just more aggressive.

“I thought we were prepared but give New Zealand credit for really playing downhill on us early, moving that ball from side to side,” Wells said.

“We tried to influence them in some areas, but they made a bunch of really tough twos, they were ready to play.

“We got our feet under us a little there in that second quarter, but then they hit us with another little run and we couldn’t quite get our feet back under us again.”

Wells, who has spent nearly three decades in the NBA, has likened the NBL25 regular season to making a deep NBA playoff run.

“If you went through the playoffs in the NBA, went through four rounds and got to game seven of the finals, you would play 28 games,” Wells said.

“We are in a 29-game season so we are in a playoff season and I feel that’s how much value is on each of these games.”

Adelaide will be looking to rebound next Sunday afternoon when the 36ers host Illawarra Hawks at the Entertainment Centre from 4pm ACDT.