Five things we learnt from Adelaide 36ers’ first game at the Entertainment Centre
More than 6300 people have turned out for the Adelaide 36ers’ first pre-season game at the Entertainment Centre as they lost to Melbourne United 100-91. Here’s Reece Homfray’s five observations from the night.
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More than 6300 people turned out to the Adelaide 36ers’ opening night party at the Entertainment Centre last night but Melbourne United crashed the celebrations with a nine-point pre-season win.
A star-studded United that lost Casper Ware but picked up Melo Trimble in the off-season was in control for most of the night and won 100-91.
Adelaide’s shooting percentage (42) was poor and had too many turnovers (19), and it was simply unable to counter all of Melbourne’s offensive weapons.
The 36ers trailed by two points at quarter-time and 12 at the half and when three shots rimmed out to open the third quarter, import Eric Griffin went up for the two-handed slam.
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The lead blew out to 24 in the last quarter before Jack McVeigh brought the arena to life with three triples to cut the margin to 10.
Here’s five observations from the game:
1. THE NINE-POINT LOSSto Melbourne saw Adelaide take its pre-season record to 4-5 with one game left against NBA team Utah next weekend. New season and new venue but Adelaide played the same fast-paced tempo, however the scoring dried up in the second quarter. Adelaide gave up just 67 points in an entire game to New Zealand on Tuesday night but leaked 58 to Melbourne in the first half and its finishing was sloppy by missing straightforward looks under the basket.
2. THE EXPECTATION was a crowd of 1500 for the club’s first practice game at the AEC but 6366 turned up in a promising start to the new era. Seating was on two levels with steep embankments putting spectators close to the action. There was a shiny new floor still with Brett Maher’s signature on it and the same voice of the Sixers, Alan Browne, was on the microphone. But he, the music and the crowd seemed quieter than the old venue but perhaps largely due to the fact it was a pre-season game with nothing meaningful on the line until they’re back here in Round 3 on October 19.
3. ADELAIDE WENT with Daniel Johnson, Eric Griffin, Anthony Drmic, Kevin White and Ramone Moore as its starters. It was Harry Froling for Johnson off the bench in the first and second quarters and he gave the 36ers some grunt. Drmic played limited minutes as he continues to build his game fitness after double foot surgery and Adelaide had six players finish with double-figure scoring.
Melbourne started its two marquee signings in Trimble and Shawn Long but it was two other recruits in New Zealand national team point guard Shea Ili and Sudanese seven-footer Jo Lual-Acuil who caught the eye. Lli got hot with 14 first-half points while Lual-Acuil was dominant in the air all game and went up for a big dunk.
4. ADELAIDE’S IMPORTS continue to impress. Fresh from 18 points and eight rebounds against New Zealand, Griffin had 16 and six against Melbourne including his double-handed slam. He was 5/7 from the free-throw line after drawing contact on the drive but it was his hustle to force a half-court turnover in the second quarter and long-range pass mid-air to allow Froling the open drive that was particularly pleasing for coaches.
Deshon Taylor, who pre-game Joey Wright described as “one of the best shooters I’ve ever coached”, came off the bench with a nice pass through the key to Obi Kyei on the baseline cut before nailing his first three just before half-time. Taylor also engaged in a verbal with Chris Goulding and showed he won’t be pushed around guarding the likes of Trimble either.
5. WITH THE SIXERS yet to decide on their captain for this season, Ramone Moore and Brendan Teys appear in the frame along with favourite Kevin White. Moore was the most vocal on court and in constant discussion with White while Teys was taking regular instructions from Wright on the sideline.
reece.homfray@news.com.au