36ers prepare for massive Taipan test

The Adelaide 36ers will welcome the Cairns Taipans to the Leisure Center on Friday night with revenge on their minds.

The 36ers were beaten 101-97 by the Taipans in Far North Queensland last month, with Cairns import fullback Rob Edwards scoring a game-high 31 points.

After a hard-fought 77-73 win over reigning Tasmanian champions JackJumpers last Sunday, Adelaide will return home with a chance to make it five wins from their final six games.

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KEY
Edwards was the difference between the two sides in Cairns last month and how Adelaide adjusts the Taipans’ defensive structure will be key.

The Taipans will be without point guard Taran Armstrong again against the 36ers, and Edwards stepped up to the challenge last time out, something the 36ers are well aware of.

His game-high 31 points came courtesy of a poor six-of-eight performance from the three-point line, and combined with Sam Waardenburg’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, Cairns battled back from a double-digit deficit to claim a four-point lead.

Sunday in December looms as the first match for Edwards, but also expect Nick Marshall And Lat Mayen spend time guarding the import of taipans.

SECRET
Along with Armstrong, the Taipans are also missing import big man Tanner Groves, which will mean a lot more court time for Kairin Galloway and Akolda Gak.

Both Galloway and Gak can stretch the floor and hit the three-pointer, which would be an intriguing battle against Adelaide’s big man rotation. Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphreys And Jarell Martin.

Head coach Mike Wells understands teams are looking to stretch the floor against the Adelaide defense and how the 36ers contain the outside threat will be key to the outcome of this contest.

In Armstrong’s absence, Cairns will also have point guards Kyle Adnam and Ted Dufelmeier available to impress.

DEPTH MAP
Adnam/Dufelmeier
Bradshaw/Antonio
Edwards/Stattmann
Waardenburg/Galloway
Gak/Higgins-Titscha

FINAL WORD
Adelaide will have to learn from their second-round mistakes: The Taipans hit 15 three-pointers, so expect the 36ers to make defensive adjustments.

The 36ers limited the JackJumpers to 73 points last Sunday, but Wells said the defense still needs to improve.

Limiting Edwards’ influence will be key: Pedro Bradshaw had a massive double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds last night against the Illawarra.

Adelaide would like to continue another winning streak and defend their home ground, which could see the 36ers finish in the top four in the NBL.