Injured Adelaide 36ers import Josh Childress has suggested he was physically targeted by Melbourne United
TENSIONS are rising between Adelaide and Melbourne in the NBL grand final series with suggestions injured star import Josh Childress was physically targeted by opposition players.
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TENSION between grand finalists Adelaide and Melbourne has risen after 36ers coach Joey Wright was fined $5000 by the NBL and injured star Josh Childress suggested he was physically targeted by his rivals on the weekend.
Childress has been ruled out for the rest of the grand final series which continues with game three in Melbourne on Friday night after scans revealed he had fractured his shoulder in the final quarter of the game two win on Sunday.
He suffered the injury after running into Melbourne’s David Barlow on a drive.
“I’m not sure if it happened on the fall or on the contact, it was incredible that I didn’t get a foul called, it was a lot of contact and created the injury,” Childress said.
“It’s unfortunate timing, I know that the game was pretty physical and Barlow had made some questionable plays prior to that.
“I don’t know if this one was questionable or not I know he came up under me on a lob play a couple of plays before, so I don’t know if that was something that was told to him by his coaching staff to go in there and be extra physical with me.
“But it’s just unfortunate.”
Wright was yesterday fined by the league following what it considered “inappropriate” comments he made after the game one loss on Friday.
It’s understood the league took issue with him saying “Who should I talk to? Talk to Melbourne about Melbourne?” when asked whether he would raise the issue of refereeing with the NBL.
Melbourne United and the NBL are both owned by Larry Kestelman.
Speaking after training yesterday, Wright said he didn’t know why he had been fined but the club did not challenge the decision.
“I thought my comments on Friday night reflected that we got calls and they got calls so I don’t know what the issue is,” he said.
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman on Sunday also questioned refereeing decisions in relation to Casper Ware being fouled out of the game.
Vickerman said he wasn’t surprised Adelaide had 40 free throws at home. “It’s nothing new,” Vickerman said.
Wright said Childress would be a big loss but he was confident the team can still win the championship.
“It’s a big loss not just from the basketball point of view but Josh does a lot behind the scenes as far as getting guys mentally prepared and in the right space,” Wright said.
“But once again we structured this team so we’re not relying on one person, we enjoyed having Josh out there and he’s done a great job but we’ve definitely got some guys who can step up and I’ve got belief in our other guys.
“They all will (step up), Ramone has done a great job all year, Drmic and Teys are still there, Majok has shown he can step in and make a difference.”
But Deng is unlikely to be promoted to starter in place of Childress this weekend.
“I’ll still let him (Deng) come off the bench, right now in his development it’s probably better for him to come off the bench and being aware of keeping his hands out and not fouling.”
Originally published as Injured Adelaide 36ers import Josh Childress has suggested he was physically targeted by Melbourne United