Isaac
Years ago
McQuade says 36ers 0-2 this week
The NBL's game preview oracle doesn't fancy the 36ers' chances this week. Matt McQuade has tipped Adelaide to drop both games by double figures. Are those of us thinking that they could snatch one of the two games too optimistic?
Round 11 Previews on NBL.com.au
Still, Cairns is 6-1 at a home gym rapidly becoming a fortress, and even though Alan Black would no doubt consider this a danger game for his troops he would still walk into that arena with great confidence against a Sixer ballclub in dire straits. While Phil Smyth publicly states his team can still make the postseason - and of course he's right - he must be wondering how he can pull an old, tired and ineffective ballclub out of the mire.And then they back up against Townsville the following night.
Townsville is currently 5-1 at the Swamp ... Meanwhile, Adelaide has already been written off by none other than the esteemed writer for the Adelaide Advertiser. Boti Nagy, who correctly surmised that if the 36ers can't beat the Breakers in New Zealand, how can they expect to beat their next three opponents on the road Cairns, Townsville and Sydney, who have a combined record of 17-2 at their respective gyms? ... Playing Townsville on the backend of a tough road double, with virtually zero preparation, looks like a recipe for disaster. Phil Smyth knows the Crocs will attack his aging unit right from tipoff and where they are most vulnerable in transition and on the perimeter.A strong hope in the Crocs game is Nick Horvath and an opportunity to take advantage of Andrew Rice in Daniel Egan in the paint - unless he gets mugged by Larry Abney of course. And the question on Horvath's fitness remains - he lasted 10 minutes at yesterday's training and is on a 'reduced training schedule'.
McQuade finishes on a pretty sour note:
Look for the Crocodiles to bash another nail into Adelaide's coffin with a solid victory.After Phil Smyth had one-on-one chats with each player, can they show some fight?
I'd like to reverse my tip from yesterday and say they'll win in Cairns, and lose in Townsville.
