Frontcourt fires but not enough for 36ers v Phoenix

The Adelaide 36ers couldn’t have asked for much more from the big men pairing of Isaac Humphries and Daniel Johnson, but it wasn’t quite enough in front of a packed Adelaide Entertainment Centre against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday night.

The 36ers were on a high coming off a double overtime victory against the Phoenix also on their home floor on Sunday night, but there was the downside that the star of that overtime period Josh Giddey had been ruled out from playing in the rematch.

That did provide an opportunity for others at the 36ers to step up early in the new season and in the end it was the frontcourt pairing of Humphries and Johnson who were particularly impressive combining for 39 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots.

It wasn’t quite enough, though, with South East Melbourne desperate to bounce back from Sunday's loss to end up handing Adelaide the 89-83 defeat in front of a right on capacity crowd of 6,946 at the Entertainment Centre.

ROUND 2 PREVIEW V SE MELBOURNE PHOENIX

THE COACH REFLECTS – ROUND 1

JOHNSON SETS IT UP, GIDDEY INSPIRES 36ERS OPENING WIN

Despite a limited preparation for #NBL21, Isaac Humphries was outstanding for the second straight game for Adelaide finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists on 10/15 shooting.

Daniel Johnson had a fascinating battle with Mitch Creek and still had another 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to back up his 62-point opening round.

Tony Crocker added 12 points for the 36ers, Donald Sloan 10, Sunday Dech nine (six rebounds), Jack McVeigh nine, Brendan Teys three and Keanu Pinder one.

Sixers coach Conner Henry saw some encouraging signs but ultimately his team is just having to work too hard to score right now and he's hoping to develop some better offensive flow.

"We've got to get some easier baskets. We're not getting some great looks and we're having to grind everything out, and that's tough to do when you then ask the boys to back it up on the defensive end," Henry said.

"Our offence is a work in progress for all of us right now and we're going to have to figure that out, but there were some encouraging signs. 

"I thought Isaac played really well, that's two games in-a-row and he's getting his feet underneath him, and I liked his and DJ's ability to share the basketball in deep to create some good looks. 

"But we're not getting really any transition points, any easy open looks so we need to increase our pace and we did miss the young guy tonight, he pushes the ball when he gets it all the time. It will be good to have him back on Friday to see if that helps."

Signs were good early for the 36ers with Donald Sloan connecting from downtown before Sunday Dech did the same, and with Daniel Johnson and Isaac Humphries scoring inside to balance it out, the opening five minutes were encouraging.

Tony Crocker then continued the good signs nailing a three before Jack McVeigh craftily scored and the home team was up three. Despite the seven offensive rebounds in the first quarter for Adelaide, South East Melbourne still led 21-19 by quarter-time.

McVeigh then hit a three and scored inside for a good start to the second quarter too as he kept the Sixers within touch but the Phoenix's lead would grow to as much as eight heading towards half-time.

But some important baskets to Sloan and then four quick Johnson points steadied the Sixers ship before a Brendan Teys and-one play and a couple of Crocker free-throws saw the margin just four at the main break.

Johnson might have had just six points at the half for Adelaide, but it didn’t stay that way long. He nailed a tough turnaround jumper by getting the friendly roll to open the second half.

He backed it up with some free-throws and then consecutive three-pointers to turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point Adelaide lead in the blink of an eye.

It was ex-Adelaide captain Adam Gibson who got the Phoenix back on top with a pair of threes, though, and his new team was up 10 by three quarter-time.

Humphries and Johnson weren’t going to go down wondering and whether setting up their frontcourt partner, or scoring themselves, they combined for six quick points to cut the margin to six.

South East Melbourne responded but Adelaide had another charge this sparked with a couple of buckets from Crocker. This time the Sixers got within five but the Phoenix hit the next seven points. 

The 36ers gave it one more crack and were within eight when they had the potential of two free-throws and possession. That didn’t eventuate and the Phoenix went on to seal the six-point win.

Adelaide has another short turnaround to hosting the New Zealand Breakers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

Henry is expecting Giddey to return all going well.

"I believe he is trending that way to play, I don’t have the final answer on that right now," Henry said.

"We're getting him through all the protocol for the concussion and I think he's testing fine there. He says he feels really good and he was able to get through a little bit today which the doctor prescribed so I'm hopeful that he'll be back."

2020/21 Hungry Jacks NBL Season - Round 2

ADELAIDE 36ERS 83 (Humphries 20, Johnson 19, Crocker 12)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 89 (Sykes 24, Adnam 17, Creek 15) 

BOX SCORE

Click here for the game highlights.

Watch the Adelaide 36ers Press Conference with Conner Henry and Isaac Humphries here.

ADELAIDE 36ERS UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, 22 January 2021 
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v New Zealand Breakers
Tip-off 7.00pm

Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v New Zealand Breakers
Tip-off 7.00pm

Saturday, 30 January 2021
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide 36ers v Sydney Kings
Tip-off 7.30pm

Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketek.

Adelaide 36ers Memberships are available, for more information click here.