Major Issues Emerge After ‘Win or Bust’ Team Underperforms ‘Ridiculous’ Flaw Contender Must Address: NBL Verdict

36ers season ends with blown lead | 02:21

The race to the NBL championship is down to four teams with the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers eliminated from contention.

Watch every game of the NBL Semi-finals LIVE on ESPN, via Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Of course, attention now turns to which of the four remaining sides — Illawarra, Melbourne, Perth and South East Melbourne — will go all the way.

But first, Damon Lowery gives his say on the week’s action including what needs to come next for the 36ers and Kings, who Bul Kuol described as a “win or bust” team in October.

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

Play-In Game: South East Melbourne (85) def Adelaide 36ers (75)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – Ben Ayre was electric off the bench. The Phoenix were struggling to score, and Ben kept the scoreboard ticking over with 17 points in 20 minutes, including the dagger 3 with just over a minute left in the game to ice the win.

HARDEN UP – Joe Wieskamp has found himself in an almighty shooting slump in these Play-In games. After recording 4 points on 1/6 FG vs the Sixers, Joe is now 1/16 in his last 2 games. Good news is, you move on to the Playoffs.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – The second half defensive pressure was elite and it created all kinds of havoc. Ben Ayre was instant offence off the bench, and the un-guardable Matt Hurt proved he was just that.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Couldn’t hit the water if they fell out of a boat, scoring a franchise-low 26 points in the first half.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – I’d make sure the chairs in the halftime change room were bolted down, because after that first half performance, they would’ve went flying.

2 – Convince my team that we don’t have to get down 21 points before we decide to play with some defensive intensity.

3 – I would show Joe Wieskamp videos from his college days at the University of Iowa to remind him that he’s a sniper who shot 41% from deep for his career.

Joe Wieskamp of the Phoenix attempts to get his shot away. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

ADELAIDE

HOOYAH – Jason Cadee announced his retirement last week after a 15-year, 424-game career. Jason is one of the good guys. He’s a consummate professional, totally selfless, and from the outside looking in, one of the best teammates anyone can hope to have. All the best in retirement man.

HARDEN UP – Captain DJ Vasiljevic had a game he’d rather forget. With only 3 points at the half but with his team up 19, everything looked under control. But in the second half the wheels not only fell off, they exploded, and DJ didn’t score again, finishing the game with 3 points on 1/6 shooting.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – In the first half everything went right, holding the Phoenix to a franchise-low 26 points and racking up 45 points on the other end. Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell did whatever they wanted in the first half.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Everything in the second half went wrong. Turnovers, terminal offence, and poor defence allowed the Phoenix to pile on 59 points.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – I would’ve made sure Montrezl Harrell got the ball in his favourite spots early and often in the second half.

2 – I would’ve used my size to punish the Phoenix every time they played small ball.

3 – With a 21-point lead early in the 3rd quarter, I would’ve demanded that they actually pass the ball more than one time in a possession. Way too many one pass offences and quick shots.

Jason Cadee of the 36ers reacts after the NBL Play-In match. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Play-In Qualifier: Adelaide 36ers (95) def Sydney Kings (88)

SYDNEY

HOOYAH – If Cam Oliver gets major minutes, he gives you major production. 37 minutes played and a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double.

HARDEN UP – Kings Ownership. Can you please make sure next year’s team has tall dudes in it? And by tall, I mean over 6’9. Small ball was not designed to be played for the entire season.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Undersized, you won the rebounding count on sheer heart and will. Your fight back after being down 10 at the half to be leading going into the fourth quarter also showcased great effort.

WHAT WENT WRONG – The offence once again became too terminal, and the majority of the heavy lifting was left to Jaylen Adams. Shooting 26% as a team from downtown is never good, and you let DJ Vasiljevic, aka the ‘Human Torch’, torch you for 25 points, including seven triples.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – Actually run some plays that are cleverly designed to get certain players shots, instead of spreading the floor all the time and waiting for Jaylen Adams to make everybody look good.

2 – Demand three imports next season and one of them has to be tall. And by tall, I mean…

3 – Never ever get in a post-game press conference and blame my players for anything, and I definitely wouldn’t say anything that remotely sounds like an excuse.

ADELAIDE

HOOYAH – Montrezl Harrell, the ‘Monsta’, filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, 1 water bottle pouring, and multiple goodbye waves to the Kings fans.

HARDEN UP – Jarell Martin, it’s great to see you on the floor for 25 minutes, but it wasn’t great watching you only grab three rebounds. Get on the glass, big fella.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – The big three were big! Kendric Davis, Montrezl Harrell, and DJ Vasiljevic gave the Kings the business, combining for 67 points.

WHAT WENT WRONG – The Kings are vertically challenged, yet Adelaide still lost the rebounding count. Don’t quite know how that happens.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – For losing the rebounding to the Sydney ‘Smurfs’, I would give my team an option – you wanna do rebounding drills for an hour, or rebounding drills for two hours?

2 – Continue to celebrate Jason Cadee after he announced his retirement – and hit him up for some free jocks at his new underwear gig.

3 – I would sit down with Kendric in the off-season and have a conversation about what can we both mutually do to grow and continue this relationship moving forward.

Seeding Qualifier: Perth Wildcats (122) def South East Melbourne Phoenix (105)

PERTH

HOOYAH – I thought I was watching a John Wick movie, but it wasn’t Keanu Reeves unleashing holy hell, it was Keanu Pinder. It took Keanu only 25 minutes to drop 35 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks, only missing 2 shots for the game. Keanu was perfect from the three-point line (3/3) and perfect from the foul line (10/10).

HARDEN UP – The Perth High Performance Centre (formerly known as Challenge Stadium) seats 4,500, but only 2,975 people turned up to the game. RED ARMY, I’m told you’re 14 thousand strong, where were ya? Do you have a leader or spokesperson that could shed some light on the subject? You couldn’t send some of the ‘soldiers’ down to represent and fly the flag? You left your boys hanging like wet clothes.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Perth turned the game into track meet and all but dared South East Melbourne to keep up with them. It was great to see major contributions from all five starters, each scoring in double figures.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Blowing a 16-point lead to end up trailing at the half. Who was guarding Angus Glover in the first half? Apparently, nobody.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – I’d keep Keanu Pinder in the starting lineup…forever.

2 – I’d address the fouling issues. Giving up 35 free throws is ridiculous.

3 – I’d get management to book out RAC Arena for the whole month of February in 2026.

Keanu Pinder had a big game. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – If ‘Gus’ is on the team bus, you’re doing a good job of coaching. Angus Glover is a proven big-time post-season performer. ‘Gus’ came off the bench and exploded for 20 first half points, including 5 triples, finishing with 25 points in 25 minutes.

HARDEN UP – Joe Wieskamp, your first Finals game was one that you’d rather forget. One-point in 26 minutes of action and 0/10 from the field. Good grief!

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Your fight back after getting smacked in the face early in the first quarter and falling behind 20-4 was strong. Injecting Angus Glover into the game early changed the momentum of the contest.

WHAT WENT WRONG – You left your defensive discipline in Melbourne, with too much costly over aggressive fouling in the backcourt and fouls late in shot clocks. For a team that preaches defence, giving up 122 points is of critical concern. Defence is supposed to travel, but yours didn’t make the trip out west. You sent Perth to the foul line 42 times and they hit 39 of em. You also had no answer for Keanu Pinder, as he treated you guys like traffic cones. And I’m looking at you Matt Hurt – you’re quick to remind everyone of how un-guardable you are (which I agree with), but can you guard? Keanu Pinder didn’t think so.

IF I WAS COACH:

1 – I would give my assistant coaches permission to put me in a sleeper hold if I challenge a foul in the first 19 seconds of the game again.

2 – The next player that has a foul called on them at any stage in the first quarter, if you look over at me and beg me to challenge it – I’m immediately subbing you out and putting you in a sleeper hold.

3 – Matt Hurt, there’s a sleeper hold with your name on it if you give me another two-rebound game.

Matt Hurt in action. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

NBL

HOOYAH – The Gazeys were another hit. CENTREPIECE in Melbourne’s sporting precinct was an awesome venue, the entertainment was lively, and the food was delicious (especially the dessert). Liam Santamaria delivered a beautiful tribute to his good mate, the late great Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams.

DOUBLE HARDEN UP ALERT:

HARDEN UP – The regular season ended on February 8, the Gazeys could’ve been on February 9, which would’ve allowed all teams to attend, and we would’ve got to see Bryce Cotton accept his MVP in person. Instead, it was held on the 10th, and the Wildcats and Phoenix missed out because they had to play in Perth on the 11th.

HARDEN UP – The three referees who went to Perth and turned the game into WhistleMania. Y’all blew the plastic off the whistles, calling 55 fouls which resulted in 77 free throws in one game of basketball. Every single form of contact is not a foul, please calm down.

You can watch every game of the NBL Semi-finals LIVE on ESPN, via Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.