Good Nick: Break gives 36ers chance to re-ignite season

On Tuesday evening, the Adelaide 36ers will officially start their NBL26 Finals campaign when they host South East Melbourne in Game 1 of the Playoff Series.

When the ball is tipped at that Adelaide Entertainment Centre fixture, it will be 16 days between games for the Sixers.

While some teams have commented on the length of time between games, Adelaide has used the time to its advantage.

It’s allowed them to recharge, reset and freshen up ahead of what the club hopes is a historic run towards their fifth championship and first since 2002.

“[The break] and training have been really good and competitive for us, getting us ready [for what to come],” Sixers big man Nick Rakocevic said.

“Our intense session has allowed us to figure out exactly where everybody’s heads and mindsets are, ahead of the games against South East Melbourne.

“They’re a great team, who’s been playing well, especially pushing the pace on offence, so defence is going to be our focal point.

“It’s important everybody is on their Ps and Qs, because it’s Playoff time and this is the time of the season everyone wants to be on the floor for.

“I’m really confident in our group and what we can achieve.”

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While the team from the City of Churches has been hungry for success all season, import Rakocevic admits the Ignite Cup Final defeat has taken that to a whole new level.

“That [loss] definitely plays a part in [our hunger], and it’s definitely a driving factor for us,” he said.

“[In the same vein] we’re not sitting here dwelling on it. We played some great basketball that day, in a back-and-forth contest, but it just wasn’t our day.

“We learnt from it, and since then, our intensity has only gone up.

“Our team now knows we have five more games to win a championship, and that’s our main goal and has been all season.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position, so now we know if we take care of business, we can be champions.”

That kind of silverware is music to the ears of the Adelaide faithful, who haven’t enjoyed championship success since Phil Smyth’s side won in 2002.

Further to the pain of the 36ers, they haven’t witnessed a home Playoff game in eight seasons, with the significance of that not lost on Rakocevic and his group.

“It [playing a home Finals game] is a huge deal,” Rakocevic said.

“It's a huge deal for the staff, for the management, the coaches and for the Adelaide fans and community [at large].

“Them supporting us this whole season means a lot to us, and we don't take it for granted.

“Having that home court advantage absolutely helps. It's a difference-maker.

“Just to be a part of this [with everyone], so far has been incredible. It's a blessing, but you know we're not finished.

“[We’ve been] through all the ups and downs of the season together and owe it to one another to try and get our hands on that hardware.

“Everyone wants to be a part of wining team, and to do it with a group like this, would be a truly amazing experience, because there are only so many times in your life where you can say you were part of a championship-winning team that did something special.

“No one person is bigger than the team, and achieving something like that gives everyone a connection for life, and no one can take that away from you.”

Game one of the 36ers’ Playoffs Series with South East Melbourne tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.