Drastic times call for drastic measures: Sixers urged to flip the script

They may have lost Game 1 of the Hungry Jack’s NBL Championship Series by a record 44 points, but not all hope is lost for the Adelaide 36ers.

Mike Wells’ side deserves their spot in the big dance, after the franchise’s second-best regular season (23-10) and having the third-best offence (118.4) in the competition.

But the team from the City of Churches will need to make some adjustments, which NBL champion Damon Lowery outlined during Monday’s episode of NBL Overtime.

“Zylan Cheatham needs to be more aggressive; he didn't even look at the hoop [on certain plays]," Lowery said on NBL Overtime.

“He averaged a double-double all season, thoroughly deserving of his All-NBL Second Team selection, but it is now the post-season, and now I need productivity.

“I know it might not be in your nature, but we need more [from you] because right now we are looking down the barrel of a potential sweep.

“I feel like he's got 25 points in him, but he needs more encouragement to be aggressive.

“I get trying to get Bryce [Cotton] involved, but you're the import, and you've got to come out here and show Sydney something they have never seen before, because drastic times call for drastic measures.”

Part of that, according to both Lowery and fellow panellist Pete Hooley, is the Sixers "junking it up" and getting the Kings out of their free-flowing, league-leading offence.

“The defensive end is key [for Adelaide], especially as they’re not a great defensive team,” Hooley said.

“I love the junk-up method, which can include a range of different calls and systems.

“For example, we're going to start in a 2-3 zone. We score. Next time, we're going to full-court press. Next time we're going to call red, we're going to double-team everything. Next time we're to call blue, we're going to box them one. Keep the Sydney Kings guessing.

“If you're not a particularly great defensive team in one aspect or one style, just junk it up and honestly have them guessing every time.”

>> Championship Series schedule, tickets & how to watch

Then, on offence, Hooley offered a strategy to free up the other Sixers that aren’t named 'Cotton'.

“It's all about playing the way that the Sydney Kings want to defend, and understanding, you can run some stuff for some other guys,” he said.

“Try a little cross-screen for Nick Rakocevic and let him go to work, before running some plays for [John] Jenkins and DJ Vasiljevic when they’re on the court.

“This is even more relevant when they’re face-guarding Bryce, and you’re essentially playing four-on-four.

“Honestly, I’d be doing shell drill all week and get those four players to run as many plays for each other as they can. And then when it matters most, sprinkle Bryce back in.”

The NBL26 Championship Series, between Sydney and Adelaide, continues on Friday from 7.30pm AEDT on Friday, live on ESPN and 10 Drama.