Hoops

Will Adelaide "Coast" into the finals???

GEtting the calls go their way? They go hard they beat the defence to the spot and the call or make the shot. Don't get me wrong but that sounds a little salty. Adelaide are too fast to grind, they haven't had a games tempo dictated to them pretty much all season hence their huge lead which is the exception to the normal closes was of a nbl ladder.

Looking at the field they would likely face in the semis, whilst there will be speculation, and it makes for an interesting discussion, I agree that trying to get cute and engineer a scenario, would be too distracting.

I think its more a question of whether Joey manages the minutes of his stars to keep them fresh, whilst that also benefits his bench by giving them more minutes??

I think a lot will depend on the timing of the finals. Last year they were brutal. This year they are supposedly allowing 2 weeks for a 5 games series. Plus Adelaide is closer to everywhere than Perth.

The dead-rubbers against Cairns could make things interesting. Last thing you want to do is coast in those games, Lose, then face them in the semis. Even though everyone knows you coasted, and are still the better team, you've given them confidence and sowed seeds of doubt.

"The Adelaide 36ers 5-win lead over the rest of the field is the biggest break by any team after round 16 in NBL history."

It's a dangerous road when you deliberately become complacent in situations like this. Adelaide's can't risk losing momentum and confidence as they're going to need to maintain it for their first real challenge come game 1 of the SF. If any of the remaining teams we play can mastermind a way to stop Adelaide, it will be noted by the rest of the competition. They can't let the belief slip if this does happen and they drop a couple leading into the finals.

At the same time though, it would obviously be wise to throw some minutes around if they are blowing teams away. It's also a good opportunity to fine tune areas at both ends of the floor.

It must be an amazing feeling for the team knowing you've wrapped up top spot while everyone is desperately chopping and changing to make sure they don't fall below expectation this season. Which for a couple of teams will be missing the playoffs completely.

Their only loss on this run came after a long break; I doubt they'd want to risk repeating that.

Don't need to worry about point differentials now so get a big lead and rest the likes of Johnson Randle and sobey come the fourth quarter. But don't mess with the overall profit that got you to where you are. This isn't the NBA 4pminute format isn't exactly the most gruelling of things in a pro league.

I don't think they should necessarily rest players, but definitely keep their stars on lowered minutes so they aren't cooked by finals. Gives some other guys on the bench a chance to step up too before finals and gain more confidence.

United rested players in the final round(s) last season and it appears to have bitten them in the arse.

Perth rested starters against Adelaide in 2014 in the final round(s) but went on to win the GF so you could make a case that the rest benefited them.

Form isn't a tap that you can just turn on and off. In saying that, Joey is in a great position where he can try a few different things leading into the playoffs.

I believe Adelaide have won each of their followup games in rounds where they play two matches.

That's remarkable.

The worst thing that could happen with this group is to get too cute and start resting guys like Randle, Sobey & DJ. They're locked into this high octane game style at the moment just keep on going. If the wheels come off in the playoffs so be it better than trying to rediscover this form at that time.

You have to maintain the momentum and competitive culture within the team. It is clearly visible how close to each other and passionate they are.

Can't possibly honk about flirting with form. If injured happen such is life. But resting guys is not how this team can afford to play it.

The way Adelaide has been playing recently, funnily enough, does not greatly rely on fast break scores. It does heavily rely on getting into offence before defenses are set, but that is a different matter.

In any event, Adelaide have been pretty successful in the half court as well.

I would say the real issue is not whether Adelaide can score, but whether they can lift their defensive intensity a further notch or two (or three) in the finals.

The finals are always a different ball game. There are less fast breaks and they are lower scoring. Their ability to get the opposition into foul trouble and dictate the pace will go a long way in deciding how they fare. I do think the team is very capable of winning it all but it isn't going to be a cakewalk.

I personally wouldn't distract this 36ers team with anything like engineering results. Just play, win, and then take on whoever is put in front of you.

Whatever Joey is doing with them, it's working perfectly so far. The change to finals intensity is risk enough for them.

Last thing the Sixers would want to do would be to have two dead rubber games against Cairns immediately before starting a series against Cairns. Ask Melbourne how that went against NZ.

I think you've got to coach/play to win, regardless of the repercussions. If that means playing your starters significant minutes then I think you've got to do that. I'm concerned at what compromising that 'win at all costs' mentality could do.

Does anyone know if Gary Ervin playing this Friday,after missing the Perth Game.