Sixers follow Wright way to success
JOEY Wright is channelling previous grand final success as he bids to fire the Adelaide 36ers to long-awaited championship glory.
The Sixers coach steered the Brisbane Bullets to their third NBL title in 2007, six years before beginning his exhilarating overhaul of the SA club.
Wright recalled lessons learned in the build-up to his maiden championship decider, which rang true ahead of Adelaide’s grand final series with Melbourne United.
“I think it helps,” said Wright, who oversaw the Bullets’ 3-1 series triumph over the Melbourne Tigers 11 years ago.
“One of the biggest things we did that year at Brisbane was not get ahead of ourselves and not try to go into a grand final thinking ‘we have to do extra, we have to do more’.
“But our guys went into it and they were pretty nervous the first five or 10 minutes of that game.
“After we settled in, we called a time out, got the guys on pace and we went from there. But I don’t think the 36ers have any fear.”
Adelaide had its final training hitout on its home court yesterday, before flying to Melbourne on the eve of tomorrow night’s series-opener at Hisense Arena.
Wright put his charges through an intense session with a heavy focus on defence, as his side prepared to shut down Melbourne dangermen Casey Prather, Casper Ware and Chris Goulding.
The three-time NBL coach of the year said limiting the impact of United’s big guns would be key to the Sixers ending their 16-year title drought.
“They’ve got great players in most positions so we’re going to have to make sure we defend well,” the Illinois-born mentor said.
“If we can stop three or four of their guys, then it puts them on the back foot and they have to change what they do.”
Sixers point guard Ramone Moore echoed Wright’s sentiments ahead of the clash with the club he played for last season before a calf injury ended his stint. The US import, named the league’s Best Sixth Man this campaign, had enjoyed exchanging some good-natured pre-match text messages with his ex-teammates.
“I just told them ‘see you next Friday’,” said Moore, who was inspirational off the bench in Adelaide’s dramatic semi-final triumph over Perth Wildcats.
“It’s kind of special, because I didn’t know I would be here (Adelaide) last year and now I’m playing against my former team in a grand final. In the back of my mind I’m thinking about that, but I don’t want to get too high or too low.
“I’m pretty excited with what’s at stake and pretty happy to be in this situation.”