Agreed, Dunkman. And it seems that ladder position is reversed if Sixers do get this one (is that what's called a "double-points-game"?). Really, quite a lot to play for.

Trying to find reasons for my choice of Adelaide. Maybe their 3 big's, a couple of active wings and an exceptional PG and 2 adequate back-ups, with more to gain from a win and at home.

Open air game will affect total points

This is the first year Phoenix have hosted an open air game isn't it?

Sobey the key, if he goes off SEM win, simple.

Correct Word14. They've never played open roof before. Were meant to play in Perth last season but roof got closed at last minute due to smoke from fires.

Hot start by SEM, Humphries got make those under the bucket.

Harrell best plus, minus in the competition

Great quarter, my both over 110 points is looking good. SEM look so much better under King than any previous coach. It's taken time but jobs for the boys from top down now looking gone.

Can anyone tell me the areas Sixers are so much better in which justify getting rid of Ninnis?

While the refs aren't doing the Sixers any favours (as is always the case at John Cain Arena), the same problems continue to occur. It doesn’t even appear the team is trying to fix the defensive issues.

Whoever is in charge of the Sixers defence needs to be sacked NOW.
SEM are missing shots because they have TOO much time to think about it. At least pretend you're trying to play some D Sixers. This is not better than what Ninnis delivered last year. Not by a mile.

the same problems continue to occur. It doesn't even appear the team is trying to fix the defensive issues.

The refs called the 2nd qtr completely differently to the 1st qtr. Everytime a Sixers defender breathed on a Phoenix player in the 1st qtr it was called and then SEM were allowed to get away with some incredibly physical defence in the 2nd qtr. Very frustrating to watch and probably even more frustrating for the Sixer's players and coaching staff. Wouldn't be surprised if Wells gets T'd up in this half.

@Perthworld, unfortunately the Sixers don't have one of the NBL GOAT to cover the cracks.

Sixers season in a fair bit of trouble now if they can’t make an unlikely comeback here.

Marshall and Cadee are turn styles, Martin is a dud import.

I was hoping Martin turned a bit of a corner last game, but nope, hasn't happened.

Sixers it back to 12, so there's a very slim chance they could pinch it, but I don't see it happening.

Letting Drimic leave and getting Cadee before last season was one of the more idiotic moves the Sixers made.

Marshall has the physical tools to be a good defender, I'm not sure why he is so deficient in this area. Maybe a symptom of the Sixers organisation being such a basket case over the last few years - it has probably had a negative effects on young players like Marshall’s development.

At least they've made a game of it but agree their D is awful.
Harrell needs to step up. He has 1 rebound

Watching Marshall often feels like it's just a toughness thing with him. Doesn't want to fight and be physical to work through screens and constantly drops back and leaves guys open because of it.

Andddd it's back out to 18

Ninnis is better than wells, had them playing a much better style

May end up being SEM vs Brisbane vs Tassie for 5th and 6th.

Pathetic is about what you'd call that performance.

The shooting from deep by like Marshall, Rasmussen and Davis is gross. Rusmussen can't even hit free throws and has taken the 3rd most 3's for the game...

Davis has had all the defensive pressure put on him, no one has stepped up to help him. King is a marvel to Phoenix., team defence and team offence. They keep going like this and they will trouble all. Only weakness is one quality big short.

Sixers got lot work to do, rely on too few to do to much. Much to Gazes opinion, Cadee is not the answer. Sixers problem also is no way Davis is there next season, to much money elsewhere.

Adelaide fans carrying on as if they won the championship last week after they beat the Breakers.
How garbage are the breakers lol

Have Adelaide actually got within 20 on the road this season?

Vs Cairns lol

But yes absolutely trash performance again

Sixers last 5 road games:

86-106 (SEM)
83-102 (BRI)
93-113 (MEL)
82-109 (NZB)
79-106 (MEL)

Thats all 20 point losses and all giving up more than 100 points each game. It's an insult to Sixers fans we have to put up with this crap. The 'standards’ are through the floor.

Have Adelaide even had a convincing win at home? Most games have been made to be hard work. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if they turn it around, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if they finished second to bottom. Same pattern. Same narrative. Same result.

Oh deary me. Burgers for Sem. Sixers not characteristic. Rate much better than that. Cats and Sem are genuine play-offs. No one stopping BC but wow lot to lije with Sem..
Sixers need to regroup. Did they over think by sacking ninnis and faith in the group. Wasn't good look. Also tough when coming second.

Sixers played terrible D tonight ,then offence shocking too ,for a moment we might get within ten but too many turnovers cost us. It's whispered that Davis won’t be playing NBL next season, he’s been pushed shoved and yet refs letting it go . Rez might get one more nba contract . As for Martin ,might retain him as cheap 3rd import so Wells be looking again for pg. Our next two games are must win .Guys must step up now .Disappointed turned it off after phoenix got back to 20.

Here is a stat that coach has a lot do with, Sobey 9 assists, he get a lot more media coverage scoring big scores on losing teams but today was as good a game I can remember Sobey playing and yes winning.

Insipid Sixers. This love affair with Rasmussen has to stop. Whoever the genius was who decided he needs to play more than Cadee is an idiot. With players out you need Cadee to produce and he can only do that if he plays. All you've done by playing Rasmussen so much is destroy Cadee's confidence. Cadee has had 30pt games before and you need that production from him now, especially with guys out. Rasmussen ain't giving that to you. One of the dumbest decisions in a long, long time.
Actually it's not, it's the 36ers we are talking about here. Lack of coaching experience and depth starting to show itself. Words only cover for so long. All at sea.
Ohhhh, and if you're going to play Rigoni, PLAY him. A minute here and there does nothing for him, or the team. Wtf is that about?
Clowns.

With only six home games left (only one of which includes NZB or Cairns), it's really hard to see a pathway to 6th spot for the sixers.

Rasmussen was only minus 6 in 23 minutes, Cadee minus 7 in 5 minutes, you need defensive players, Mayern and Humphries were also ok, the rest were woeful.

The poor old adelaide dirty tricksters. Same rubbish each year, gm is crap and coach is no better. Great to see.

Cadee must play more.. wily old vet. No value on bench. If you sign such a guy gotta play. Can be poor man prather if given minutes.

Wells might have watched the AFL and now thinks if we tank all the games especially when away we will get better draft picks.

"Letting Drimic leave and getting Cadee before last season was one of the more idiotic moves the Sixers made."

No it actually was the correct move. Sixers needed a back up point guard. Drmic probably wanted big money.

"Insipid Sixers. This love affair with Rasmussen has to stop. Whoever the genius was who decided he needs to play more than Cadee is an idiot"

Agreed!

"Rasmussen was only minus 6 in 23 minutes, Cadee minus 7 in 5 minutes"

Cadee needs longer minutes to make a difference.

Isn't coaching about being the puppet master? Holding all the strings in your hand and trying to manage the skills and talent of the players in the court? Wells obviously has no strings under his control. The team has gone rogue. That is the most significant difference with Ninnis and Kubank. They understood the importance of mastering the team.

"Wells obviously has no strings under his control. The team has gone rogue. That is the most significant difference with Ninnis and Kubank. They understood the importance of mastering the team."

Please tell us about how Ninnis mastered the team when he took Adelaide to last on the ladder during one of his seasons? The season before that his record was on par to how the team is currently going.

Also how is it Wells fault the suspensions as well as injuries of players? That is the real difference to how they are going.

It is sad we still have these Ninnis fans still holding on to their fake imagination.

Adelaide finished last season 7-3 playing genuine team basketball. They've started this season 7-9 playing as a bunch of individuals.

It's all about the clubs signalling.

They sacked a men’s coach because he wasn’t to 'the standard", then a few months later appoint him as the women’s coach?

The team before the injuries stank except when playing at home. The explosion in Melbourne was nothing about players, it was poor coaching. It was predictable and good coaches deal with it before they get 2 imports suspended for 5 games, As for injuries, it’s how you handle your players, get 2 suspended, poorly utilize another star on the roster and something is going to break.

Wells has no skin in our game and each week it shows.

I feel for Adelaide fans.
That was pathetic.

hypothetically, how would adelaide people feel if the Sixers license was given to a new adelaide franchise, and the Adelaide NBL team was totally reinvented

It's not the name it's the owner. This minimal effort almost zero defence stuff has gone on under different coaches and different players since 2018. That was when the owner took Mitch Creek to the Supreme Court to try and have his NBA contract voided and we haven't made the playoffs since. That's when this all started.

Firing Ninnis after Vasiljevic and Humphries had already re-signed was yet another boneheaded decision.

"Adelaide finished last season 7-3 playing genuine team basketball. They've started this season 7-9 playing as a bunch of individuals."

Ninnis record was a dead cat bounce. Explain his bottom of the ladder season then if he is such a great coach? Also your memory is also fading you because I wouldn't say Ninnis team played genuine team basketball, it was get the ball to Kell and let him jack up shots. Lucky for Kell his shots went in. There was also the game in Cairns where they were up 16 in the 3rd and still lost the game and two away games they got pumped.

This seasons team plays quality team basketball however struggle defensively and on the road. The same as last years team


"They sacked a men's coach because he wasn’t to 'the standard", then a few months later appoint him as the women’s coach?"

Aren't they different owners? So what exactly is your point here then? Lets pretend they are the same owner, the reality is Wells is a better coach. Anyone that knows anything about basketball would agree. The only ones that are denying that are Ninnis's friends/fans.

"The explosion in Melbourne was nothing about players, it was poor coaching"

Not true at all. The only players that got suspended were those with attitudes that couldn't control themselves.

"As for injuries, it’s how you handle your players, get 2 suspended, poorly utilize another star on the roster and something is going to break."

Not true once again. You just continue to make up stuff. Wiley also got injured during Ninnis coaching, does that mean it was Ninnis's fault?

"Wells has no skin in our game and each week it shows."

No you only say that when they lose.

The club made the right decision. Ninnis is a good guy but the club went for the better coach.

We went 8-7 under Ninnis last season, this season we're 7-9 under Wells who has a better roster too and you think Wells is a better coach? We're 1-6 on the road, that one win was by 2 points and 5 of our 6 road losses have been by 20 points.

Ninnis is obviously not a great coach but Wells is showing why he spent 30 years as an assistant without every getting a HC gig until now.

Zodiac why are you so oblivious to all the outs the team have had? You don't think having their main players out more than any other team has had an impact on the results?

The same oblivious mindset is up there with you totally forgetting the Sixers made the grand final with the same owner. You can't knit pick timelines. "Hey everyone just forget when they made the grand finals with the same owner and listen to me"

I don't get why anyone talks about Ninnis coaching Sixers to the wooden spoon what, 15 years ago?

Are you suggesting that he hasn’t learnt anything since then? Are you saying that YOU are still the same person you were 15 years ago?

Very different game, different players, different organisation behind him, ... Anyone who hasn’t evolved would struggle to coach even kids’ rep.

It was always going to be a tough stretch for Adelaide, but that doesn't mean they can’t show a bit more resilience and focus to stay in games. Teams like Melbourne and Tasmania would adjust to deal with injuries or suspensions and get a couple of wins to get through it.

Does Harrell even want to be here? I noticed the way he just sits away from the group and basically pushed off the assistant coach.

Worth noting that Wells had them reasonably placed before injury and suspension crisis, but as many have said, you can’t just scrape by at home, and lose by 20 on the road forever.

Melbourne lost three in a row for the first time in years since Goulding and Lee have been out, not certain that backs up your opinion. The debacle that happened against united and the following suspensions is what has hurt Sixers and Harrell still sucking his dummy over it yesterday doesn't help. Imo Harrell doesn’t get any favourable calls either which makes him chew more on his dummy. It’s a pity as he’s one great player and entertainer.

Dunkman, that's fair enough to point out, and I was a bit lazy by just throwing out a couple of teams that came to mind, but my point was more so about how you need to be a disciplined and defensively competent enough to deal with it to at least offer a chance, something Adelaide are not. Melbourne will be fine and are still well placed, Adelaide are not.

I don’t know what to make of Harrell to be honest, he’s a hard guy to work out.

I think they should start Martin and move Humphries to the bench as an impact big.

At the end of the day it kinda boils down to the fact that the weaknesses of the roster that everyone saw at the start of the season (top heavy, no depth) were 100% spot on, still there and have been massively highlighted in the last 3 weeks or so with Davis/Harrell suspended and then DJV and Dech getting hurt. The complete lack of scoring punch from the guard position at present has allowed teams to complete zero in on Davis in a way they couldn't as much when DJ was on the court.

I wouldn't have fired Ninnis, but given the squad I don't think he'd have faired much better given the way the season unfolded either. Basically with the team the 36ers have it's completely reliant on being 100% healthy and having their top players play 34-36 minutes a night. If they get that they can be a good team, but they haven't, so they're not.

There needs to be a continued investment in local guys though. Marshall/Rasmussen both look like they're 1-sided players, which makes them situational at best and we're currently playing them big minutes. I don't see it with Gritschi at all, but he's young, so I'll give him a bit more time. Mayen is OK, but there's not anyone I see on the roster that looks young and like they'll develop into a really good player.

"Zodiac why are you so oblivious to all the outs the team have had? You don't think having their main players out more than any other team has had an impact on the results?"

The 25+ point road losses were happening with Harrell, Davis and Vasiljevic.

"The same oblivious mindset is up there with you totally forgetting the Sixers made the grand final with the same owner. You can't knit pick timelines. "Hey everyone just forget when they made the grand finals with the same owner and listen to me"

I didn't forget anything but you certainly seem to be forgetting what happened in 2018 immediately after that GF.

"I don't know what to make of Harrell to be honest, he’s a hard guy to work out."

Typical NBA bully downhill skier. I haven't been impressed with Harrell since day one, he's bad defensively and his attitude stinks.

"I think they should start Martin and move Humphries to the bench as an impact big."

Martin shouldn't be rewarded for how poor he's been playing this season. He's gone at the end of the season we need to prioritise Humphries.

"Ninnis record was a dead cat bounce."

Not really. His first five games they were 1-4, no bounce after CJ's sacking there. Best basketball was after Ninnis had time to work with the team.


"Also your memory is also fading you because I wouldn't say Ninnis team played genuine team basketball, it was get the ball to Kell and let him jack up shots."

Not really. Kell averaged 12 shots a game under Ninnis.

Even if you give wells the 3 games the imports missed with suspension, just exclude them from the record for argument sake when judging wells.

They are 7-6, under wells, which isnt better than the 8-7 ninnis did last season, and they have a better roster this season. Wells has 2 all nbl 1st team level imports in davis and harrell at his disposal.

This years team doesnt look all that cohesive at either end of the floor imo, looked more of a cohesive team under ninnis last year.

People bring up ninnis first stint 15 years ago, his 1st year he made playoffs even with import changes/julius hodge saga. His 2nd year, it was a fairly cheap roster, the starting c matt burston missed a bunch of games, he had 2 imports one being a washed up cortez groves, they were on track to make the playoffs (or get very close) before import pg john gilchrist (averaging 20p 5a) did his knee with around 8 games to go, they didnt have the depth to cover it, werent allowed to replace gikchrist, and lost all of the remaining 7 games to finish last.

So not exactly all the fault of the coach, especially if we are giving wells a pass on the games when imports suspended and making some allowances for this sesson injuries to guys like DJV.

Not saying ninnis is the perfect coach, just dont think wells is better.

This team is wildly incosistent, dont always look together, and some pretty poor effort and body language at time and this started before the suspensions and injuries.

I hope they turn it around, go sixers, if mike wells is truly a high level coach he should be able to get this roster into the top 6.

CJ was such a bad coach anyone would have been an improvement. He had totally lost the playing group. To his credit Scotty was able to stabilise it a bit, but was really just a caretaker coach. While Tatum had a longer run, he was able to really turn things around, today being a prime example. God knows how things would have gone with Scotty, but he just didn't show that massive improvement in the final part of the season, despite the record, but even that was average. And he got the gig being a yes man only to get screwed which was ironic. The club is that dysfunctional that it names a head coach, then hires his replacement shortly afterwards. Can see if a coach is on their last legs and a succession plan is brought in, but that was ridiculous.
I think Wells has done ok, the melee incident and injuries hasn't helped, plus Martin being a total dud. Having 3 bugs playing nearly the same position when the team needs a quality 2/3 has shown unevenness. And hopefully the club pushing Marshall as the next great local hope is nearing its conclusion, but seems like Rasmussen is the next project doomed to fail.
The one consistent thing in the whole decline has been the owner. Whether the Creek saga, bringing in JVG, firing coaches in bizarre fashion, his fingerprints have been on it all. And yet another season looks like it's going down the drain. Looking forward to the usual end of season review, same old story that happens every year. Wouldn't be surprised if Wells moves on by his own accord and we'll be back at square one.
As for Scotty getting the Lightning gig, who else would take it? They're nearly just as bad, especially with the way they treated Lucas.

Do I think the Sixers would be doing any better with Ninnis? Probably not due to roster construction.

Was his departure/sacking poorly handled from an ethical, pr and financial aspect? Absolutely!

"I think Wells has done ok"

He leads one of the worst defensive 36ers teams we've seen, and there is some stiff competition for that title. Offensively he is fine, uses his tools well, but in terms of getting a team to buy in, compete, sacrifice and defend he has shown next to nothing so far.

Ninnis is no star as a coach, but he showed far more with quite a bit less last season, and if this continues it makes Weston's position pretty much untenable.

I have no doubt that Weston will survive this season. Even after the JvG experience.

Article in the paper today that teams in Europe chasing Harrell (mentioned Panathinaikos) and tried to get him out of his deal here. I dare say that's Harrell's career from this point, over to Europe making some good money after his NBL stint is done.

He wouldn't last long in Europe.

Decided to have a look at the 2023-4 roster vs the 2024-5 roster.

2023-4
Imports: Trentyn Flowers, Trey Kell, Jacob Wylie

Main Roster
Jason Cadee, Isaac Humphries, Mitch McCarron, Kyrin Galloway, Tohi Smith-Milner, Alex Starling, Dejan Vasiljevic, Sunday Dech
Development Players
Fraser Roxburgh, Nick Marshall, Keanu Rasmussen, Jacob Rigoni, Akech Alir, Harvey White

2024-5
Imports: Kendric Davis, Montrezl Harrell, Jarell Martin

Main Roster
Jason Cadee, Isaac Humphries, Dejan Vasiljevic, Sunday Dech, Nick Marshall, Lat Mayen, Ben Griscti, Jacob Rigoni. Alex Starling (4 matches)
Development etc Players
Patrick Darcy, Fiston Ipassou, Keanu Rasmussen, Tom Kubank

The differences: Three new imports

Davis has been consistently good both offensively and defensively.
Harrell good offensively but not so good defensively
Martin, late start, still not fit and does not really fit into the team structure with Harrell. Most probably better off with last seasons Galloway. Mayen has had some moments but not getting enough opportunities to get consistency and consistency is perhaps why lack of opportunities.

Change Martin for a mobile 3/4 and team balance would be a lot better, but lack of 5 backup.

Core group of returning Aussies is Cadee, Humphries, Dech and Vasiljevic who get most of the minutes.

Development Players: Marshall and Rigoni upgraded to main roster - locals but no Brett Marr amongst them.

Games played and this is where it gets interesting and perhaps one reason why the team is disjointed

16 Games: Nick Marshall, Jason Cadee
15 Games: Isaac Humphries, Lay Mayen
14 Games: Kendric Davis, Sunday Dech
13 Games: Montrezl Harrell
12 Games: Dejan Vasiljevic
10 Games: Jarell Martin
8 Games: Jacob Rigoni
7 Games: Keanu Rasmussen

Defence is still the 36ers main problem and has been for several years under every coach during this time. There are a few good defenders in the team but overall team defence is just not up to par.

As commented by others, just about every team is impacted when a couple of main roster players are out injured. However for the 36ers it seems that playing away from Adelaide also has an impact. Need to win on the road and start doing it soon or yet another season gone.

The Ninnis Effect
As previously mentioned - get over it. He isnt the coach and theorising what may or may not have happened is just that. Yes coaches do make a difference. Ken Cole and Gary Fox with basically the same roster is an example of the extra 5% that gets a team over the line. However would Nissis have had the same effect with the 2024-5 version with the changes to the roster and managing the egos?