Desperation is the key word for eager 36ers
ON the outside looking in on the playoff picture, the Adelaide 36ers land in FNQ this afternoon with the aim to play desperate basketball on Saturday night.
With only a few weeks to play of the 2019-20 NBL regular season, Joey Wright’s side are the most likely to force their way into the top four, boasting an 11-11 record and are fifth on the table.
That would not have been said about the 36ers just a few weeks ago, but wins in the last fortnight over Illawarra and an upset of Melbourne United at home last-start has the faithful in South Australia optimistic.
Interestingly, the last time Cairns hosted a home game, (New Zealand Breakers just over a week ago), the Kiwis were looming as the potential top four invaders, but have since slid down the ladder on the back of a pair of defeats.
Former Gold Coast QBL swing man Jack McVeigh, now in his second season coming off the 36ers bench, says his club have reached a situation where they now must win almost every game to reach the post-season.
“I think, honestly, it has just come to the point that we are playing desperation basketball,” McVeigh said.
“Teams show out, it could go either way, teams play really well or play really poorly when everything is on the line.
“We have come together of late and the Melbourne game was a really good one for us, we just played hard from the jump.
“We understand that Cairns and Adelaide are both good teams, it is just about who punches the other in the mouth to start the game and set that tone.”
The second-year NBL guard said the 36ers need to do a better job of helping star import Jerome Randle, who the Snakes trapped with success in their most recent meeting.
McVeigh says a NBL1 North debut with the Gold Coast Rollers is unlikely in 2020, as he’s set to remain in SA and play in the local premier league competition.
The two clubs, Taipans and Adelaide, have split their games 1-1 this season.
Taipans:
Majok Deng, DJ Newbill, Mirko Djeric, Scott Machado, Cameron Oliver.
Mike Kelly
Jerome Randle, Daniel Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Obi Kyei, Brendan Teys.
Joey Wright
Cairns Taipans $1.55, Adelaide 36ers $2.45
Coach: 36ers: Coach: