NBL 2013/14: SF Game 3 - Rampant 36ers send sorry Tigers packing
Credit: The Pick and Roll
The Adelaide 36ers are into to the NBL grand final series after a commanding 102-63 game three victory over a toothless Melbourne Tigers outfit in Adelaide.
The Sixers, missing star import Gary Ervin after he dealt Chris Goulding a low blow in game two, led by nine after the first quarter and ran riot from that point on, with the Tigers never in the contest.
The home side won every quarter comfortably and, despite some tough calls going against their opponents throughout the night, seemed to have the drive and desire after the Tigers had taken game two in Melbourne.
Daniel Johnson (23 points, 6 rebounds) led the way in a stellar performance, while backup point guard Jason Cadee relished in the extra minutes vacated by Ervin as he finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Melbourne’s Chris Goulding (6 points, 1-5 FG) and Mark Worthington (7 points, 1-13 FG) were non-factors as their team's season derailed alarmingly quickly.
Early foul trouble to Scott Morrison (3 points, 5 rebounds in just 11 minutes), Lucas Walker (11 points, 4 rebounds in 17 minutes) and Adam Ballinger (8 points, 6 rebounds in 19 minutes) put the visitors on the back foot as Adelaide built a 49-27 halftime lead which effectively ended the match as a contest.
The Sixers shot at 52% from the floor and 50% from deep, compared to Melbourne’s dismal 26% from the floor and 22% from the perimeter, in the most comprehensive victory in a finals decider in recent history.
The Tigers were completely outplayed all over the floor as Adelaide won the rebound count (49-36) and assist tally (22-12) by a long way, which saw the visiting bench emptied with time to play in the third.
Adelaide will now look forward to a grand final series with Perth as Melbourne have all winter to lament on their spiritless exit.
Adelaide 36ers 102 (Johnson 23, Cadee 19, Petrie 13) Melbourne Tigers 63 (Walker 11, Greer 9, Tomlinson 9) Attendance: 4,024 @ Adelaide Arena