Wells: Sixers dialled in on Phoenix challenge

Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells says his playing group has been dialled in to overcome the “growing pains” which plagued it in the weekend’s loss to Sydney.

It’s been a punishing week for the Sixers with two games in three days and three in seven.

They will face South East Melbourne on Thursday night in a third-straight game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

They’ll then jet off to Cairns to face the Taipans on Saturday for the second time in a matter of weeks.

“Our focus right now is just on Thursday night, and that's what we can control right now - our energy and our attention to detail on Thursday night and being ready to come and try to take care of home court advantage,” Wells said.

“It's really important. Obviously, we have a lot of home games at the beginning of our schedule. We're on the road towards the end of the schedule, so these are important games at home to protect home court and, you know, we want to get back off to a good start.”

“I'm just trying to focus on our prep, you know, and rest, recovery, doing all the things we need to do.

“We've been at home in our own beds, so that helps and our normal routine. But, you know, just trying to regenerate and get our energy ready to go for Thursday night.”

The packed schedule of four games in nine days was compounded by the loss to Sydney – Wells’ outfit’s first defeat this season.

While the performance was lacking, Wells said it gave his side plenty to work on, and the group had been very switched on since.

“I think you saw a little bit of the growing pains of a kind of a new group, right? I mean, you'd like it to be smoother,” he said of the loss.

“It's the first time we probably had a little adversity and a little stress in the game, and, you know it's kind of interesting in the way you react and trying to get guys connected and trying to get guys in the right place.

“I would like to win, that's for sure (but) I think that any of these type of situations for a coach and for your team, there's always been a period then of correct and teach, and you can grow and you'll have their attention more after a loss, right? It's just human nature.

“I felt like we had a really good week here of being dialled in and prep and, you know, I had their full attention.”

Wells knows the 2-1 Phoenix will be a tough challenge, particularly given they play a similar style to Sydney.

“They’re a talented team, they have an individual style that kind of presses up and gets at you, and, you know, they have a coach and a system and player personnel that all matches up,” the coach explained.

“I think that they're also trying to figure out their way a little bit. We all are at this point in the year, but they bring a lot of energy and they're trying to be a really disruptive force and you know, our goal is to not be disruptive and to get to the shots that we need and play at the pace that we need to play at.”

One of the talented players Wells spoke about was Nathan Sobey who is in line to play his 300^th NBL game on Thursday night.

Sobey played 111 of his 299 games for the 36ers, and Wells said he also had another connection with the Phoenix guard.

“Nathan's had a hell of a career,” Wells said.

“You tip your hat to his longevity and what he's done.

“I was fortunate, I think in 2018 or 19 when the 36ers came over to play the Utah Jazz in two summer league games or preseason games I was with the Jazz.

“Nate was playing and then I coached Nathan with the Summer League team one year with Utah so I feel like I know him a little bit.

“He's a hell of a competitive guy. I think he just wears his heart and his energy and everything right on his sleeve.”

Thursday night’s game tips off at 7pm at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre with limited tickets still available.