THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL) officially begins its fifth round of action on Thursday night, with the fixture opening with a clash between the Adelaide 36ers and the SEM Phoenix at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Both teams have enjoyed solid starts to the season over the first four weeks, with the two sides losing just one game apiece in the opening month of play. However, the battle for a top two-spot is incredibly tight, so every win is massive in the context of the standings.

Although the Sixers will enter tonight’s clash as favourites, they were shown to be vulnerable last week, and the Phoenix will be eager to emulate the success of the Brisbane Bullets‘ road win over the Perth Wildcats last night.

Adelaide 36ers vs. South East Melbourne Phoenix

Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Thursday, October 16 @ 7:30pm AEDT

The Sixers have been one of the stronger teams to start the season, winning their first three games on the back of one of the biggest offseason signings in NBL history with their acquisition of five-time MVP Bryce Cotton.

However, Adelaide was brought back to earth last week with a 24-point loss at the hands of the Sydney Kings, despite the Sixers having home court advantage in a game that had plenty of build up. They were not allowed any space on the offensive end, and the Kings simply always looked in control to hand Adelaide its first loss of the season.

It was a result that was built on excellent defensive coverage of Cotton, who was held to just seven points on 3/10 shooting from the field, which is just the 12th time in his career he has only scored single-digits in the points column. The Phoenix present another challenge given their defensive success this season, but expect the superstar guard to bounce back regardless given his pedigree as a player.

The Phoenix have placed themselves in the top four in the standings after four rounds with two wins and one loss to their name (excluding the loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in an exhibition outing). However, their two wins have come against struggling teams in the Cairns Taipans and the New Zealand Breakers, so tonight presents a true challenge for their championship credentials.

The Phoenix have been a strong defensive team to start the season, with this change led by John Brown III, who has consistently set the tone on that side of the ball. With plenty of offensive weapons on the floor for the Sixers, he will undoubtedly play a key role in South East Melbourne’s chances of getting the job done.

Another player to watch for the visiting side will be Wes Iwundu, with the former NBA wing set to suit up in the NBL for the first time tonight. He looks set to thrive in the Phoenix’s system, given his excellent defensive traits and aggressive style of play on that side of the ball. He will certainly be able to lock down his opponent, and if he can take the next step offensively, it could be a season-defining signing for South East Melbourne.