Grovermi$ter, what was abysmal about the narrow loss to the Crocs?

And what's this about a team plan to let opposing teams attempt threes? We might not shoot a lot ourselves, but I haven't heard anything about letting other sides have free reign from the arc.

Before last week Adelaide's opponents were shooting 28 threes per game compared to the league average of 20. Last round though they only allowed 45 in total, suggesting that they allowed more penetration than usual.

...should they be worried though?

I dont think so, losing on the road is no shame, but it's a very important game this week at home.

With two games separating 3rd from 8th I wouldn't be worried unless they dropped a couple more games

The way it is shaping up we will only need 5 more wins to make finals, 3rd spot will need 10 more wins

36ers are OK

There is chinks in the armor.. but I am not all too concerned. We are still a few games above 3rd and it would take a months worth of missfortune and another teams month of good luck to Usurp our spot from us.

We will need to make some improvements particularly defensively.. but I feel it can be done. Also 3 point shooting is a bit concerning... I would like to think it can be fixed. We have been the only team to beat Perth.. but if we want any hope of beating them in a play off series we will need to address these weaknesses.. I don't see Perth losing a series to anyone as it stands. I think we will make the play offs... and so long as we dont face Perth in the first round I am comfortable we will make the GF... But ofcourse.. the work doesn't stop yet.

Two things they need are to get second spot and be fit and playing their best at the end of the season. There are no titles for pre-Christmas dominance.

People just underrate the Crocs so whenever someone loses to them it's a OMG HIT THE PANIC BUTTON MOMENT.

Cairns' roster is stacked, but they are just playing abysmally (like Adelaide last year). Teams like that are dangerous and can beat any team on a random whim (like Adelaide always nabbing Perth the last few years).

Losing 2 road wins on the trot isn't great, but it's not an indictment either. You always want to get the split on a road trip, but when it's 0-2 on a trip, a couple of balls bouncing the other way and you could be 1-1 or 2-0.

When you have a stranglehold on 2nd place, minor indiscretions like this don't matter, it's the big picture that does.

"can we beat Townsville in a 3 game series if they sneak into the playoffs, knowing we have homecourt advantage?"

"are we going to be able to beat Perth twice in a series knowing THEY have homecourt advantage?"

That's all that matters.

Makes sense against the 36ers to make Ervin and DJ play a lot of D.

These 2 QLD teams have the personal to execute that plan.

I'm worried about the injuries
Not worried if fully fit

^That's me

36ers should shut anyone down who has any niggles. They have the ladder hold, depth and versatility to cover for anyone.

Frye has been ineffective lately. So you're right, Mick, just bring him back in the new year or something. Mitch's increased autonomy would also do wonders for his confidence, because he is the wildcard if they're going to win a championship in my opinion.

They won't miss a beat with Gibson replacing Ervin at the point either.

I'd think resting Frye and Ervin at the same time (plus I remember Boti saying there was a third injury concern, though I don't recall who it was) would be very risky if Cairns has its mojo back.

The only time we should become worried this season if if we get confirmation that there had been a minor mistake in the original drafting of the dynamic duo's original coaching contracst and the 36ers have discovered that they now have to honour the previously ignored 4th year of Marty's head coaching contract.

- and that he has boarded the plane to return.

Yeah if I was them I would be so embarrassed about what I had done to the 6ers I would want to get out of there as fast as I could.

You Adl fans shouldn't be too worried. You were never going to bit Cns last week, they put together a great game vs Perth the week before and gained the confidence they needed. It didn't help backing up after the Tsv game, you could see the Adl players were tired. Ervin looked ineffective (with his back injury). I'd be more concerned about DJ and Gibson's competing ego's. If Joey can keep everyone happy you'll be fine. BJ Anthony should be getting the ball more too, he is much more talented than I perceived, but the egos in the team will probably not allow that.

@nathan of nz:

Who cares if they drop another game? They need to get healthy. That was my whole point.

^ It's still Nathan of Perth, I bound by my bet till friday :P

And that's a fair point; no good winning an extra one or two in the short term if it leaves you with half-fit players for most of the season.

Wilson:

I'd be more concerned about DJ and Gibson's competing ego's

I wouldnt even rule out a win without the imports. You guys have a luxury of depth that you should capitalise on.

Gibson
Cadee
Creek
Petrie
DJ

Schensch
BJ
Teys
DP1
DP2

Is better than half of the teams in the league...

A win would be no means be ruled out, but it does give the odds a decent bump back towards the middle.

Daly is on the bench at home games as a sort of second assistant coach at the moment, so he's at least in the fold.

Just playing it how I see it Isaac. There was certainly some issues on Sat night re. DJ, I'm happy to put that one down to a tough road trip. But when Gibson makes a couple of shots his ego takes over and then he starts taking excessive silly shots. As a Cairns fan, I was happy to see him make a few shots because he wasn't going to distribute it as effectively cause he was more focused on his shots and "hot" hand. Cadee was the same, great first half but then didn't do anything, probably too focused on the team bonding session after the game.

36ers will play finals. It's just a question of whether we improve defence enough to win a finals' series. The current team has the same problem that the 36ers have had since the end of Smyth's era - we leak points at the defensive end. To win finals will need effective defence.

Thankfully, we have a good coaching crew and better offensive strategies that are working. The team chemistry seems to be good and the players seem to be playing for the team. Even Ervin, for all his tendency to want to be The Man at the close of every game.