Cotton warns Playoffs are a different beast

Heading into Tuesday night’s blockbuster Playoff Series between Adelaide and South East Melbourne, the season series sits at 2-2.

The 36ers won the first two meetings by double-figures before the Phoenix hit back and won the second two matchups by an average of 19.5 points.

While six-time MVP Bryce Cotton admits it’s unique to have such a disparity between the teams this season, this is what also makes the “Playoffs so fun”.

“Whether there was substance to those [past few] games or not, you got to flush them because that was over a month ago, and they're (the Phoenix) a different team now,” Cotton said to SEN SA.

“We're a different team, too, and anything that's happened in the regular season, you have to have the approach that it doesn't matter at this point.

“It’s going to be an interesting series, but it’s going to be the same mental approach for me. I never treat any game as more important than the other.”

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Cotton went on to elaborate on how tricky it is to negotiate a three-game Playoff Series.

“It really depends on whether you win or lose that first game,” he said.

“To me, I was just talking about it recently, preparing for a Playoffs where it's the best of three is a lot harder to win than a Championship Series, because the best team doesn't always get the first two wins.

“But if you do lose that first game, obviously you have to do a good job of staying cool, calm, and collected because the next game is, if you don't win, you go home.

“It’s important not to get spooked by that, while presenting a big opportunity for you to focus on trusting your habits.

“Whereas, if it's a best-of-five series, you drop the first one, you still have games to make up.”

The match, which tips off on Tuesday night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, pits the second-fastest team (South East Melbourne) against the second-slowest team (Adelaide).

But Cotton says his team will be prepared for the pace and style the Phoenix bring to the hardwood.

“They love to play fast and are [one of] the fastest-paced teams in the league,” he said.

“That allows them to get a lot of three-point shots.

“[For us] the big thing is to limit their open threes. If they're making shots, it's going to be tough to beat them.

“But if you at least make them shoot tough, contested ones, then you live with the results, however it goes.”

Tuesday’s match tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.