THE Adelaide 36ers have added to the hype surrounding their upcoming campaign with an 84-76 triumph to kick off the National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason competition against the SEM Phoenix on Friday night.
With the addition of some big names in the offseason, the 36ers are looming as one of the contenders for the title in 2022/23, and their performance against the Phoenix did those claims no harm. While it was preseason, Adelaide will still be encouraged by the first proper outing the squad has seen.
Despite playing big names such as Robert Franks on limited minutes, it certainly looked as if he and fellow recruits Antonius Cleveland and Craig Randall would gel perfectly together in the small time they were on the court together.
Randall was the star of the show with a 19-point outing, showing no hesitation to let it fly from behind the arc with 10 attempts from downtown. He looks to be another offensive weapon for the 36ers, finishing at the rim with ferocity, while also nailing some massive threes. He is set to combine well with playmaker Mitch McCarron, who had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win.
Cleveland looked to slot in seemlessly as well, with the reigning NBL Best Defensive Player making quite the impact against the Phoenix. His perimeter defence looks as sharp as ever, while also hitting the offensive end with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. He and Franks were the club’s two major coups in the offseason, and its a move that looks likely to pay off.
Development player Nick Marshall continued to improve his game in the offseason, and it culminated in 11 points and six rebounds, while seven-time Adelaide-MVP Daniel Johnson had seven points and three rebounds.
While the Phoenix were missing the likes of Mitch Creek and Ryan Broekhoff, they still showed some promising signs ahead of their bounce-back campaign. Kyle Adnam was his reliable self with a game-high 19 points (5/13 3PT), and he helped spark the Phoenix when the game was on the brink of becoming a blowout.
Import Alan Williams also caught the eye for South East Melbourne, but foul trouble held him to just 14 and a half minutes. Despite the limited playing time, he still finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, shaping as a valuable addition for the upcoming season.
The Blitz continues tonight with a pair of games, as the Tasmania JackJumpers take on the Sydney Kings in a grand final rematch, while the Perth Wildcats face off against the Cairns Taipans shortly after.
THE Adelaide 36ers have added to the hype surrounding their upcoming campaign with an 84-76 triumph to kick off the National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason competition against the SEM Phoenix on Friday night. With the addition of some big names in the offseason, the 36ers are looming as one of the contenders for the […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season for 2022/23 is just weeks away, but even closer than that is the commencement of the Blitz preseason competition, which kicks off on Friday night in Darwin. The Northern Territory’s capital city will host the entire league for a week of games, which gives all 10 teams the opportunity […]THE NEXT National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, and there is plenty to keep an eye on in the 2022/23 campaign. One of the biggest positives for the competition over the past few years has been the injection of young talent into the league, with the NBL attracting not only domestic, […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) preseason hitouts continued on Thursday night, with a pair of clashes taking place as sides continue to ramp up their preparations for the 2022/23 season. With the fixture set to kick off in just over three weeks, preseason matches are the perfect opportunity for sides to see how their new […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, and there is plenty to keep an eye on in the 2022/23 campaign. One of the biggest positives for the competition over the past few years has been the injection of young talent into the league, with the NBL attracting not only domestic, also […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season is not too far away from kicking off, with the opener scheduled for October 1, but before it all starts, there are a few preseason games taking place around the country. Tuesday night saw the Tasmania JackJumpers welcome the SEM Phoenix to the Apple Isle as the two sides […]THE National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, and there have been a number of eye-catching moves in the offseason. After an absorbing season that concluded in May, the competition is gearing up for the 2022/23 fixture, which is set to kick off at the start of October. The landscape of the […]ONE of Australia’s most famous Basketball sons is set to return home in the coming months, with the Brisbane Bullets securing the services of NBA Champion Aron Baynes ahead of the 2022/23 National Basketball League (NBL) season. Baynes has been one of the biggest successes to come out of the country, forging a terrific career […]THE Sydney Kings have bolstered their chances of going back-to-back in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the signing of talented guard Derrick Walton Jr. earlier today. With the futures of star guards Jaylen Adams and Ian Clark still up in the air as the duo remain unsigned, the addition of Walton Jr. may prove […]If you like the content that Rookie Me Central provides and don’t want to miss any of it, then sign up to receive our newsletter today.
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