NBL news: Mark Davis hopes current 36ers side can regroup to make finals push

Adelaide legend Mark Davis thinks the current 36ers group have an identity problem, so he’s recalled a pact from the 1998 championship-winning side to help them.

Legendary Adelaide strongman Mark Davis has called on the current crop of underperforming 36ers to find inspiration in the club’s marquee 1998 championship team.

The Sixers have frittered away a season that started with a bang and is fading with every whimper, the latest loss to the lowly Brisbane Bullets leaving them in desperate need of four wins from their last four games, while hoping at least one team above them falters to be any chance of making the top six.

The Sixers, on Saturday night against fellow play-in hopeful Melbourne United, will wear their heritage jersey, honouring the uncompromising 1998 squad that swept the South East Melbourne Magic.

And, if they want to take a leaf out of the book of a stacked team that featured legends like Davis, Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, Kevin Brooks and Rupert Sapwell, they might start with a pact off the court to “go nude”.

Adelaide 36ers will wear a heritage jersey in their next match, pictured is Mark Davis, Ian Clark, Kyrin Galloway and Rupert Sapwell.

“Before game one of that championship series, we all resolved to shave our heads, just making a commitment to each other,” Davis said.

“I already had a bald head, so I just shaved the last little peach fuzz I had up there, but the rest of the guys made a huge sacrifice.

“It might not seem like much, but those kind of things bring a group closer together simply because it’s a small price to pay for something that’s going to last you for the rest of your life.”

The man known as the Chairman of the Boards for his record-breaking efforts on the glass says whether or not the Sixers’ season is effectively over is irrelevant — they still need to figure out their identity and find trust in each other.

“Hopefully they haven’t left their run too late,” Davis, who runs a popular basketball camp and works with children with intellectual and physical disabilities, said.

“This particular team has to create an identity for itself and I think they’ve struggled with that the whole season.

“What do they want to stand for as a group? Whether or not it’s defensively or good team basketball, sometimes I think we all have to take into consideration that they’re a new group of guys together.

“They don’t really know what each other can do in each situation and it takes time for players to become comfortable with that.

Mark Davis goes for the lay-up.

Davis shooting a free throw.

“Talent-wise, I think they are a very talented group but I still don’t think they’ve quite worked it out.

“You’ve got to trust your teammates in team sports, man, but you have to earn that trust.

“I hope they take each game as it comes but we’ve just got to beat the people in front of us and let the chips fall where they may.”

The Sixers are still awaiting news from Mitch McCarron and wife Abby, who are expecting their second child any day now. McCarron missed Thursday night’s loss to the Bullets and remains in doubt.

United has won four games in a row — the Sixers have lost the same number to put themselves on the brink. This is, effectively, their last chance.

The shaved heads of 1998 must have had an impact, because they swept the Magic, winning the decider by 28 points in Melbourne.

“It was either intimidating, or the Magic had a good laugh, because some of the guys didn’t wear the bald head too well,” Davis laughed.

‘IMPOSSIBLE TO GET WRONG’: NBL’S ‘WTF’ VIDEO REVIEW HOWLER

The NBL has admitted fault over a monumental video review mistake, blaming it on human error, but that hasn’t stopped outcry over a decision that could have had serious ladder ramifications.

Adelaide, on Thursday night, was down by two points with 20.4 seconds left against Brisbane Bullets when 36er Hyrum Harris caught the ball as it spilt out of bounds and was unable to keep it in play.

The referees on the floor sent the play to the league’s video review centre, which came back with the decision to award possession to the 36ers.

Industry figures have questioned how the error was made while Fans on social media erupted as Adelaide import Robert Franks, on the very next play, tied the scores, paving the way for the Sixers to force the game into overtime.

Adelaide was unable to get the job done in the extra period, which removed some of the heat on the league, given the Sixers are jostling with five other teams for a spot in the top six and must now win their last four games to be any chance of securing a play-in berth.

Adelaide was awarded the ball on review, despite 36er Hyrum Harris clearly having the last touch.

Adelaide was awarded the ball on review, despite 36er Hyrum Harris clearly having the last touch.

One club source told News Corp the decision was “impossible to get wrong”.

“Five CEO’s would have been at the doorstep of league office at 6am (had Adelaide won),” the source said.

In a statement on Thursday night, the league said: “The NBL acknowledges a mistake was made during an official out of bounds review during tonight’s Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers game.”

“With 20.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Adelaide was awarded possession after an out-of-bounds review.

If Adelaide goes on to win this game, there is going to have to be a lot of explaining needed. That ball was clearly out on Harris.#NBL23#NBL

— Jordan Janssen (@JJordy1210) January 19, 2023

EXCLUSIVE: Behind-the-scenes look at the NBL review centre #NBL23pic.twitter.com/I45CENi3Pu

— Jacob Doole (@JacobDoole) January 19, 2023

The @NBL need to fix that call in game even after that made basket by Adelaide 🤯 Worst call ever on review in Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets? #NBL#NBL23

— Xavier Wills (@Xavier_Wills) January 19, 2023

“The reviewed decision was incorrect and possession should have been rewarded to Brisbane, as Adelaide’s Hyrum Harris was the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds.

The issue has been addressed and clarified with the Brisbane Bullets.”

Bullets coach Greg Vanderjagt acknowledged the league quickly owned its mistake.

“It’s one of those things. S**t happens,” Vanderjagt said.

“They definitely got it wrong. It was an incorrect call.

“The NBL has touched base with the club and said they got it wrong. They’ve owned it. We move on.”

News Corp has been told referee boss Scott Butler is in the review centre during each game.

Wildest thing I’ve seen!!!!

— Jason Cadee (@JasonCadee5) January 19, 2023

Boomers great and Sydney Kings part-owner Andrew Bogut had a novel take on the decision, suggesting it might have been a square up for a missed foul during the same play

“How on earth was that Adelaide ball AFTER the review? Don’t tell me they saw they missed the foul so decided to reverse the call (which by the rule book you cannot do),” Bogut tweeted.

It’s a view shared by other hoops fans after Bullet Nathan Sobey appeared to make contact with 36er Robert Franks’ arm as the ball spilt out of bounds.

i got my theory on this. it's a clear foul so to ease the pain they gave the ball to Adelaide, trash officiating. a clear foul (wasn't called) and then the bizarre out of bounds from Harris gifted the ball to the sixers lol.

— Ice Ibale (@iceZlicious09) January 19, 2023

That was the wildest thing I’ve ever seen. 😂 I didn’t know that Green Tree frogs had vision that bad 🤷🏼‍♂️😂 #davidattenborough#nationalgeographic

— Harry Froling (@HarryFroling) January 19, 2023

Bullets guard Jason Cadee tweeted it was the “wildest thing I’ve ever seen, while big man Harry Froling issued his own cryptic tweet after the game, steering clear of the incident while mentioning “green tree frogs” and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

“That was the wildest thing I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know that Green Tree frogs had vision that bad. #davidattenborough #nationalgeographic.”

He followed with: “For clarification, and to clear up a bit of misreading of my tweet. I was in the locker room after the game and saw a video of a frog jump and miss a branch on Nat Geo. Which I found quite amusing and it’s why I was shocked at their vision and judging of distance.”