I'll start by saying that I thought Hunter played exceptionally well, and that the due criticism that will be directed Adelaide's way should in no way subtract from that.

That said, last night was one of the worst losses in the club's history. Adelaide has now lost three in a row, seven of their last ten, and the gravity of our blowout losses has meant that despite a 15-8 record we have actually been outscored overall this season.

Adelaide needed to win last night to stop a slump and was facing an average at best road team missing its leading scorer and best bench player. There is no excuse for not winning this game. Yet, we committed five turnovers in the first six possessions, never even bothered to address Gordie Cullen defensively, left Aaron Trahair wide open ALL NIGHT, and restricted the one Adelaide player who was a factor all game (Brad Hill) to just 12:32 playing time. A despicable performance from Phil Smyth.

Willie Farley needs a rocket up his arse at the moment. Dusty had what I though was a very solid and effective game, though it would be nice to see him play 38-42 minutes instead of 30-32. David Cooper has been terrible for the last two months. Oscar had a rare shocker, though this was due in part to his having to play the 4 and 5 instead of the 3, where he plays his best basketball facing the bucket. Jacob Holmes was brilliant, and Smyth has to get out of this habbit of leaving him out of the game for 5,6,7 minutes at a time. Mark Nash moved well without the ball, and Brett Maher was rock solid.

Trahair then Davidson embarassed Farley, and Russell Hinder was efficient and deadly from the perimeter.

Interestingly enough in the last quarter when Adelaide scored back to back baskets to cut it to 97-83, Adrian Hurley actually called a timeout. This allowed Hunter to maitain its control of the game, and they executed flawlessly in the final 8 minutes of the game, despite a furious charge from Adelaide. A lesson for Phil Smyth here I think.

We now have Melbourne then Sydney on the road and I haven't seen anything that suggests to me that we will win either of these games.

It will be interesting to see what Boti Nagy has to say about last night, whether it will be an honest article or the typical Phil Smyth mouthpiece effort.

Anonymous, I would rather respond to someone who has the courtesy of identifying him/herself by something a little more meaningful than Anonymous. However I will respond by saying I was very disappointed with last night's game. The effort level looked to be almost non existent. The team is definitely in a slump at the moment. Hopefully its only temprorarily and they can pull out of it pretty quick. Let's not forget though, the fat lady hasn't sung yet. Let's also not forget that three of the major players are currently carrying injuries.

EC who is injured at the moment?

Maher and Forman are both carrying injuries, who's the third?

Farley, Rychart & Forman. I didn't see the Wollongong game on Friday night but with the style of play Wollongong plays and the fact that the Sixers did so well in that game suggested that they also would have been playing a very physical and intense game. This would have aggravated any injuries already there. No doubt they saved their most physical performance for that game expecting that the next night would be a push over against the Pirates. The Pirates were much fresher and it went in their favour.

As far as a happy team goes, 3 losses in a row would have contributed to their happiness levels.

I don't know what sort of committment to the sport other team players have, but most of the Sixers have been playing continuously for atleast the last 15 months with barely 2 weeks off. It does not give you a decent enough break to heal injuries. I know that I don't perform too well when I'm sick. I don't think anyone does. It would be nice if they only played for the Sixers but then it would be nice if we could pay them a decent enough salary to be able to say that you can't take other contracts in between.

For anyone not at the game for EC to say of the Sixers "The effort level looked to be almost non existent" speaks volumes about the performance last night. Check the forecast tonight because EC admitting the Sixers were awful is usually followed by a cold day in hell.

I think I enjoyed watching the Under 20 game more than the main event.

Btw, as far as I heard, the Hawks loss was the best loss you could possibly have.

Little comfort right now, but at least there is maybe hope of improving. The team can't really get any worse.

the way they made that loss it was like we had won the game.

Without Holmes the 36ers would have been stuffed. That seems to be the case alot lately yet Phil seems happy for him sit, like Mutley said, for long stretches of time. Farley's not playing well, either is Rychart. We need some talls. Rychart is a great player but at only like 6'7, he's too short to play against other PF's, and that showed last night. Maher, Holmes and Nash have been our only good players lately. BTW I noticed Jacob is second in the league in FT percentage, and has shot the most out of all players in the top ten.

The best part of last nights game was Cullens Tomahawk in the first quarter........................
Schhhhweeeeeeeeeet!

i think they were lucky they just got 4k there. The way the place was when i turned up it looked really empty. Apart from the game the whole night was just flat, no one got into the game (guess there was not much to get into) but it was just a weird vibe, it almost felt like a preseason game.

Brett has definately seemed to be a step slow on defense and offense compared to previous seasons.. Ive observed this most games. However he has still had a fantastic season, and cemented his status as the most clutch player in the game.

Most nights, if he doesnt bring it scoring wise, he will rack up the assists - and he always puts in the effort on D. He is the least of our problems at the moment.

Anon,

If you had seen the game, you wouldn't put the blame on Brett. Mahersy did everything he normally does (except for a few more uncharacteristic turnovers). Only thing you can ever really blame the guy for is not taking evey shot and every drive all night long. If he did, I am sure he would score 40 most nights, but the team would cease to exist (though it was almost non existant anyway on Saturday).

The Sixers always look better and more dangerous when Maher is on the court.

A number of people commented on the great game by Hill. Can't say I am really warming to his style of game. He is coming off the bench to rest Maher in the point, but playing as a (drive and) shoot first guard on nearly every play. He is not creating team opportunities and never looks like dishing when on the drive.

People just liked his game this week cos he hit a few more of the drives and the umps called some (rare) fouls in his favour. Hill has a lot of potetial but is currently not looking to play team ball. Team structure seems to disappear when he is on the court (or more likely when Maher is off the court).

I think one thing that fans would appreciate about Hill is that when the team is looking flat and not getting or making the open looks, he is getting the ball inside. Same with Holmes - take him out of parts of the Hunter game and the Sydney game and we would've had no options out there.

You are right in that Maher is the captain, and is responsible for the conduct of his teammates, and for getting them up for the game.

Maher creates even when he has a bad game - and he has had a couple this year no doubt.

The greatest criticiem is going to players that don't look like they are trying at the moment. You can never say that about Maher, even when he has a bad game. It will always be 'Maher had a bad game, but at least he gave his all'

Some of the other guys leave you wondering what they are bringing to the table.

A guy is allowed to have a bad game - nobody is bagging anyone here over a bad game or even stretch of games. It is consistently failing to make a contribution that is hurting this team.

Neither Dusty or Farley are a patch on their 04/05 form. We expect better from our imports and I honestly think we deserve better at the moment.

Farley is a championship winner and we know he can bring plenty to the team. But he is not looking like bringing anything to the table at the moment except some very ill-conceived shot selection and 5 minutes of effort.

Dusty has been one of Adelaide's most consistent players since joined Adelaide - a regular 20 and 10 player. But he is a quiet behind-the-scenes type of guy, not an impact player, and you cant ask much more of him. When he is not producing 20 and 10, you have to ask whether he is making any valuable contribution at all.

Dusty I think is in a form slump, and his confidence looks down. He is also suffering from having to cover for a non existent center. Farley s another issue, looks like he needs an attitude adjustment. He is just not fitting currently with this side.

Smyth/Breheny (signed for next year)

Maher (signed for next year)
Farley (signed for next year)
Holmes (signed for next year)
Hill (signed for next year)
Rychart (in negotiations to sign)
Forman (in negotiations to sign)

Considering the combined salary of these next four, does the club really have that much opportunity to change? You'd probably want to re-sign Cooper and Nash, and that doesn't leave much to spend.

Cooper
Nash
Rees
Hambour

I'm a bit disappointed Cooper doesn't take more shots. Sometimes he's completely open and doesn't even look from quite close in and then does that extra pass...and it gets picked off.
He' good at blocks etc, but misses some scoring opportunities that go begging.

XY
Don't go into shock but I agree 100% on your comments about Hill. His style of play does nothing for me also. For his age, he is a great player but far too inexperienced at NBL level to take on as much as he does. He has to be more of a team player and not try to do everything himself when he has the ball for the glory of scoring another 2 points. He continually drives himself into trouble to get to the hoop and gets the ball taken off him. He needs to stop just short of that happening and pass off the ball. He has to learn to play as part of a team.

I'm not going to argue your other points, but on the topic of height:

Pirates:
Cullen 210cm
Davidson 206cm (DNP)
Hinder 208cm
Melmeth 208cm
Eversteyn 216cm

Sixers:
Cooper 206cm
Holmes 198cm
Forman 205cm
Rychart 197cm
Rees 205cm

They had 4 guys on court taller than our biggest! Oscar, when defending Eversteyn, was giving up 11cm and 17kg!

Hinder at 208cm was 3 of 3 from outside for the night - arguably could have won Hunter the game.

To say that guys 205cm and above should not become 3 point specialists is crazy - Hinder was able to kill us inside and out.

Anstey cops a lot of flak for shooting too many 3's (which he does) but it does stretch the D when you can't just drop off their bigs when on the perimeter.

Nothing wrong with Oscar being a crack shot from distance, that is a big bonus. But I agree he needs to help on the defensive boards more and present an inside option on offense.

But O is getting better every season, and you can't be disappointed with his output this year.

Interesting comment made by Dusty in his latest journal.. sums up what most of us have been saying:

"This was the worst game that I have ever been apart and never want to be in a game like it again. We just were out played, hustled and muscled the whole time and looked like some passionless players out there."

Hmmm, lets be honest here folks...we have watched the 36ers fall over the line in at least 5 games this year. We are lucky to be where we are. Saturdays game v Hunter was...pitiful, there was no intensity at all, granted the crowd was quiet and it seems to me that the 6ers were the same. We have claimed the crowd get them over the line..and that seems quite apparent given the cr*p away record plus Saturdays pathetic attempt.
I dont know enough about the technicalities of the game, I am a lowly fan..but Saturday was embarrasing..and maybe Adelaide United look more enticing about now.

In the words of a sad and embarrasing shout...
"36ers...YOU SUCK"

Is Smyth intense?