Sixers coach Wright to reward NBL effort
Dec 24, 2017 - 4:31 PM Adelaide coach Joey Wright has promised to reward players who display effort rather than be governed by names and reputation after the 36ers' shock Christmas Eve capitulation to the Cairns Taipans.Without injured quartet Mitch Creek (hamstring), Ramone Moore (ankle), Anthony Drmic (knee) and Adam Doyle (foot), the Sixers needed players to step up.
Instead too many were nowhere to be seen in the 94-75 loss, notably Daniel Johnson, Nathan Sobey and Shannon Shorter.
The star trio combined for 26 points, at 28 per cent, and 11 turnovers.
Import Josh Childress (20 points and 13 rebounds) was the standout for the vanquished hosts.
"The guys who stepped in did their job but it was our main guys who play (major) minutes who didn't do their job," Wright said.
"I will play a guy who'll play hard (rather) than a guy who just ebbs and flows.
"If we know what the effort is, you can coach from that point of view.
"Josh did his job; he was all over the court, offensively and defensively.
"We needed Shannon to step up, we needed Sobey to step up and we needed DJ to step up."
One man who did was tenacious Nelson Larkins who scored seven points off the bench and applied ferocious defensive pressure on the Taipans guards.
Wright said Larkins' work-rate will continue to be rewarded.
"For sure, that's what basketball is about," he said.
"He plays very similar to his dad (former NBL guard Wayne Larkins) who I played against back in the day.
"He gave us great lift off the bench. He got in there and played with the passion that these guys should be playing with at all times.
"The kid puts extra hours in and works harder than anyone in our team.
"He's definitely going to challenge guys for minutes."
Source: AAP
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