“Hired to be fired”: Candid Wells' perfect response

Mike Wells saw the Adelaide 36ers rediscover their identity on Saturday night, returning to top spot in the NBL with a win in Melbourne that looked far more like the team that had spent much of the season setting the standard.

After holding first place for the better part of two months, the 36ers had felt the pressure build. A last-gasp loss in Wollongong on Thursday left them having dropped five of their past seven games and slipping to second on the ladder.

Facing a tough assignment against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena, Adelaide responded with a performance that edged them back toward their best basketball and restored belief.

Central to that response was a renewed emphasis on their front court. Nick Rakocevic, Isaac Humphries and Zylan Cheatham were brought back into focus, combining for 52 points, 25 rebounds and five blocks in an 87–76 victory that lifted the Sixers back to the top of the standings.

For Wells, it wasn’t just the result that mattered, but the way it was achieved.

"I think (what was most pleasing was) our journey to be able to play Adelaide 36ers basketball again and we've been trying to find that rhythm again here for a little while," Wells said.

"That was the team that you saw for the majority of the season, we were organised and guys were communicating and it started on the defensive end."

After experimenting with smaller lineups that featured just one of Rakocevic, Humphries or Cheatham alongside four guards, Wells reverted to a more traditional look against Melbourne. This time, Adelaide consistently had one of Humphries or Rakocevic on the floor, while Cheatham logged a game-high 35 minutes.

The payoff was immediate, with the big-man rotations providing stability, physicality and clarity at both ends of the floor.

"Whatever my big man combination tonight was, it was outstanding and I've got to give credit to all three of them now," Wells said.

"We've got quality minutes the last two games with Z (Cheatham) and Ice (Humphries), and then I sub and it's Nick and Ice, and tonight we had to sub it a little bit different and Nick and Z had multiple minutes, and the combinations were outstanding and made it easy for me as coach."

Wells reiterated his belief in the trio, a stance he has maintained since the early stages of the season.

"I said early in the year I thought I had the three best bigs in the league and I feel like they're very, very talented and Ice had 10 in the fourth and had to hang in there with fouls and he kept battling."

Cheatham’s physical presence and activity set the tone, while Rakocevic’s growing rhythm was another encouraging sign.

"Z went 19 and nine and then what Nick did tonight, there's been a little rhythm to his game and what's going on, and I couldn’t be proud for those guys, for the bigs with their size and athleticism to hang in there and battle."

Wells was unfazed by the speculation surrounding his position that dominated headlines during the week, accepting it as part of the reality of the role. His focus now is firmly on ensuring Adelaide builds on what it produced in Melbourne.

"Coaches are hired to be fired, buddy, that's what life is and I know the deal with being a head coach and shouldering the responsibility, and if the team doesn’t play really well that comes on me," Wells said.

"As a coach, the longevity of this job and the way it works is that 99 per cent of us get fired and the other one per cent of us the phone just doesn't ring anymore, that's how it works and that's what we sign up for and I wouldn’t trade it, and love it."

Rather than dwelling on the noise, Wells believes the group is well placed to stay grounded, with the win providing a timely boost in confidence.

"To be honest, now I don’t think it's going to be hard to keep this group grounded, they love hanging out and we just needed a nice win to get our group feel good again."

"Tonight was our most complete effort in a long time and that's the most pleasing thing."