Final crack: Adelaide closing fast on Play-In

For the first time in what seems like an age, the Adelaide 36ers have lifted themselves off the foot of the NBL ladder.

Their current run of form means more than pride though, Adelaide’s four wins from its last five games have catapulted the club back into Finals contention.

The 36ers completed a Round 16 sweep over fellow post-season battlers South East Melbourne and Illawarra. First, they smashed the Phoenix by 25 points, before they ground out a narrow seven-point win over the Hawks.

They’re now two wins behind the sixth-placed Taipans, but have a game in hand over Cairns.

Derek Rucker believes a simplified game plan under Scott Ninnis has paid dividends for the 36ers.

“I think Scott Ninnis has just simplified everything, I think guys know what is expected of them, I think they know what their roles are, he’s made it a lot easier and they’re performing a lot better,” Rucker said on Moments That Matter.

“All of a sudden they’ve got a little bit of mojo and can make the Play-In situation. At this point I’m only ruling out South East Melbourne, although South East Melbourne probably feel like 'we’ve got a wounded Sydney coming in, we might be able to get our tenth victory and stay in the hunt'.

“I’m not discounting anything at the moment.”

A pair of strong performances from Adelaide’s big three of Trey Kell III, DJ Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries once again lay the foundations for the 36ers’ victories, and Kell’s pair of high-scoring contests has led to another Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP nomination for the import guard.

VOTE FOR THE ROUND 16 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE FANS MVP

Adelaide’s current run has seen Kell and Vasiljevic earn plenty of praise, and Rucker says Vasiljevic in particular has altered his game to help improve the 36ers, as the season has progressed.

“I really like how he is maturing through the course of the season. He came back trying to hit home runs early and I get it, he was trying to establish his territory within the team and get people to understand how he was going to approach the season,” Rucker said of the two-time NBL champion.

“Since the coaching change has occurred he’s become a lot more efficient, he’s not as rushed, he’s not as crazy with his shot selection and it seems like he’s more inclusive in bringing people together.

“He’s similar to a guy he’s often compared to – Nathan Sobey. They both seem to be making the increase in their basketball IQ and savvy which is benefitting their teams.”

Adelaide will be hoping to continue its good run of form in Round 17, when they face fellow Play-In chasers Cairns on Saturday, January 27.