MVP lifts lid on 36ers’ lengthy film review

Tipped by many as genuine championship contenders, the Adelaide 36ers have instead stumbled to five wins from their opening 11 games, and the pressure is mounting.

Sunday’s shock home loss to an undermanned Brisbane Bullets only turned up the heat, with whispers that the 36ers’ review of the game was far more intense than the usual post-game breakdown.

“It was a lot longer,” six-time MVP Bryce Cotton told SEN SA.

“I wouldn’t say it wasn’t as precise. It was more so kind of watching the entire first half for the most part and talking through the game as we’re seeing the different lapses that we saw.”

The Bullets threw up a unique defensive strategy, daring many of Adelaide’s players other than Cotton to shoot, and it seemingly paid off.

Cotton said coach Trevor Gleeson runs those review sessions, with the rest of the group following his lead.

“Trev’s usually doing the bulk of the talking,” he added.

“Every now and again guys will chime in, whether it may be a question or a response to something, but even if we are saying something to each other as teammates, it comes through as a form of accountability, not necessarily attacking the other.”

Adelaide will look to get back on the winners’ list when they host an Illawarra Hawks side that has won two straight and seemingly turned its season around.

For Cotton, the fix is a simple one.

“Score more points,” he said.

“It’s a matter of trying to put two halves together, basically.

“I think a lot of times we play in spurts; there could be a variety of reasons for that, but we need to figure out a way to put forty minutes together.”

The 36ers’ Round 8 clash with the Hawks tips off at 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and 9Go!