R9 Preview: Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United

When: 1pm (AEDT), Sunday 30 January 2022

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sports NZ


Who won last time?
Melbourne 97 (Goulding 18, Lual-Acuil 18, Hukporti 12, White 12) d Adelaide 78 (Bairstow 18, Dech 13, Hannahs 12, Withers 12) - Round 8, Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Adelaide were energised and aggressive early, their starters racing them to a 17-9 lead midway through the opening term, but as the benches entered Melbourne got on top. While a relentless Cam Bairstow kept the 36ers within striking distance, a pair of Chris Goulding triples to open the final quarter broke the dam wall and United cruised home. 


What happened last start?

The Sixers put themselves in a position to cruise home in Hobart, up 12 in the second term, but their inability to play through Tasmania’s scrapping defence without Mitch McCarron allowed the JJs back into the contest. Adelaide again led by eight in the final stanza, but in a game that resembled a wrestling match, they couldn’t close out their defence with boards.

Melbourne also got pounded on the glass for much of their Australia Day clash in Brisbane, but their match-saving second quarter run was driven by their dominance at the rim and offensive rebounding. At times, the Bullets’ speed proved too hot to handle, while they also owned the paint late to almost bring Melbourne’s seven-game streak to an end.


Who’s in form?

Cam Bairstow – The Bear loves a board, pulling in 18 in Tassie and 11.5 over the past four games to go with 14ppg at 63 per cent on two-pointers. The 36ers need him hitting from range – 0/6 in the past three outings – and running harder in defensive transition, with quick rotations perhaps the answer to keep him at high intensity against United’s depth.

Jack White – If Cam and Co don’t bring hustle in d-trans then White will make him pay, averaging 13 points at 50 per cent and 9 boards in the past two games as he returns to full fitness and form. All 14 of his points against Brisbane came from the paint and free-throw line, with nine of them in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock as he outran opponents.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?? Jack White from one end to the other ?? <a href="https://t.co/0fLJh4eQvo">pic.twitter.com/0fLJh4eQvo</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1486199144528379904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Who needs to be?

Daniel Johnson – DJ has long made up for defensive deficiencies by being one of the most consistent offensive forces in the NBL. However, with the 36ers’ guard struggles he hasn’t been getting predictable looks and has averaged 9.3 points on 7.3 shot attempts the past three games. Adelaide need to dumb their offence down and revolve it around Johnson, who needs to up his effort on D and increase the 3.4 d-boards he’s averaging in NBL22.

Melbourne’s interior D – In Round 8, the Sixers’ starters poured in 17 points in the first 5:30, including 14 points at 70 per cent inside the arc and 6/6 around the rim. Overall, Adelaide landed 52 per cent on two-pointers – their starting frontcourt was 15/23 – and grabbed 33 per cent of available o-boards, keeping them in the game despite a horror 6/21 night from the arc. That’s something United’s defensive-minded crew will take personally.


Who’s statting up?

 - In the first six games of United’s win streak they kept opponents to 15.3 two-pointers at 36 per cent and were +78 on points in the paint. In their past two games against Brisbane and Adelaide they’ve given up 26.5 twos at 51 per cent and been -18 on PIPs

 - Tasmania were ranked eighth in offensive rebounding at 8.6 per game and 21 per cent. Adelaide allowed them 20 o-boards at 40 per cent

 - The 36ers coughed up the ball an NBL season-high 24 times to Tassie and were -20 on points from turnovers in a five-point loss

  - Melbourne have won their past 13 games when Goulding shoots 50 per cent or better from the arc, dating back to their semi-final loss to Sydney almost 23 months ago


Who’s matching up?

Dusty Hannahs v Chris Goulding – Hannahs was solid last time against Melbourne, with 12 points in less than 18 minutes off the bench. Moved back into the starting five in Hobart in place of McCarron, he calmly played through a world of physicality to deliver 22 points and put Adelaide in a winning position, then keep them in the contest when the JJs surged.

Adelaide need Hannahs connecting from range against Melbourne to open up the key-way, and after going 1/9 in his previous four games, nailing two in Tassie would have felt good. Goulding went 6/12 last time in the City of Churches, and given Illawarra and Brisbane got close to United keeping him to a combined 4/19, Hannahs and Co must run him off the arc.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Feeeeeeelin&#39; it - 6?? 3PM ? <a href="https://t.co/UJkGz7Kpm4">pic.twitter.com/UJkGz7Kpm4</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1484797390028967937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Who’s talking the talk?

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton took a pragmatic approach after his team’s loss to the defending champions last round.

There was the blistering start, the drop-off with an inexperienced bench crew, the fightback in the second, the hanging tough in the third and then the running out of steam late.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” he said post-game.

“I told the guys after the game, continue to play with that sort of effort, and if we continue to get better at the offensive end with our execution, I think our effort on the defensive end will shine through and will help us win more ball games along the way.”

Bruton shifted Sunday Dech into the starting line-up, his emerging two-guard with his legs under him following a late pre-season injury, and it sparked a brilliant start.

The 36ers executed a quality press-breaker, allowing Mitch McCarron to bypass Melbourne’s vaunted ball pressure and initiate the offence with aggression, putting the champs on the back foot.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had him trippin&#39;.<br><br>? - <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://t.co/KleKs8PmkV">pic.twitter.com/KleKs8PmkV</a></p>&mdash; Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1484786080230801408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The other bonus of Dech’s promotion was inserting Dusty Hannahs as a sparkplug, and while he did provide punch, a reserve unit also featuring the inexperienced Kai Sotto, Hyrum Harris, Manny Malou, Mojave King and Tad Dufelmeier was never going to be able match Melbourne’s international-laden bench.

“At the back end of that first quarter it was shifting, and part of that was due to getting different bodies in and rotations,” Bruton said.

“We weren’t able to maintain it in that back stretch but I thought we did a good job being able to regroup and get back in it… Clearly they're a very talented team and they execute very well.

“Deano (Vickerman), give credit to him and the staff, they’ve done an amazing job keeping their group together and healthy, being able to play, managing loads and minutes.”

As a result, only one Melbourne starter played more than 23 minutes, while Adelaide’s quintet averaged 28, so it was no surprise the defending champs had the fresh legs to pull away late.

“The luxury of our team is when some of the guys come in off the bench they can just turn it up another level,” Vickerman said.

“Shea Ili, Mason Peatling, Ariel, Newley, everybody that came off the bench lifted a level and allowed the second five minutes of the first quarter to go from six down to two up, was a big play in the game.

“If we can continue to rotate people and wear teams down, somewhere at some point we’ll find a little margin and it will get difficult for teams to score, and I thought early in the fourth quarter that was the case tonight.”

Vickerman will have been searching for some answers ahead of Sunday’s rematch, however, given Adelaide scored 58 points in the opening 26 minutes, with Cam Bairstow dominant around the rim.

“Bairstow had a hell of a game,” Vickerman said.

“I thought his ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over, he missed a couple of threes tonight which he’s been making, but he sealed really well and got close to the rim and finished really well. We've got a lot to work on when we come back in.”



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cam ???!<br><br>? - <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://t.co/hoo7B8qqBG">pic.twitter.com/hoo7B8qqBG</a></p>&mdash; Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1484780359799967745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Bear and Daniel Johnson, who Melbourne held to 8 points on eight shots last time, will benefit from a fresh Mitch McCarron, who missed Friday’s loss in Hobart and will be key in reigniting the flame after that disappointing late-game fade-out.

The 36ers were -18 in the possession game – and -21 on possession points – as they gifted turnovers and o-boards in a way unbefitting a professional team.

“Definitely frustration, a little disappointed in how we gifted that game away as you all know,” Bruton said.

“Clearly if you look at the stat-line you’ll know the turnover count, that wasn’t all in the backcourt, that was in the frontcourt. Offensive rebounding gave them an extra 20 shots, and anyone who gets 20 shots, that’s a pretty good lead to start with.”

Bruton quickly returned to his pragmatic approach, however, well aware his team is a long-term project.

“It's about how you bounce back,” he said.

“I feel like from COVID to playing the Wildcats we bounced back pretty well, then we've had our lapses.

“Obviously not having a lot of training under our belt showed, and the more games you play the deeper you go in that shorter period of time, it’s showing.

“So now we've got to clean up, but we've also got to be mentally tough and make some better decisions along the way.”