Wells still backs healthy 36ers to be best

Mike Wells remains confident the Adelaide 36ers can be the best team in NBL25 when at full strength and that's exactly what they'll be once they likely face the Sydney Kings in a cut-throat Play-In Game.

Just as Wells was finally getting to see what his full squad was capable of, they had to play the last three games of the regular season minus Jarell Martin.

The 36ers were unable to continue the momentum they had built with a loss in their last home game of the regular season to the Brisbane Bullets, before losses on the road to teams above them, the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Perth Wildcats.

Prior to that and Wells had figured out the eight-man rotation that he had full confidence in being able to take the 36ers a long way.

That consisted of the starting five of Kendric Davis, DJ Vasiljevic, Lat Mayen, Montrezl Harrell and Isaac Humphries with Sunday Dech, Jason Cadee and Martin ably supporting them.

By shortening the rotation, the loss of one player from that group of eight becomes more significant but if you take out the frustrating loss at home last Friday night to Brisbane, Wells was relatively happy with much of what they did against the Phoenix and Wildcats.

"I don't think we're playing for that bad except for our last home game. That's the one that will haunt me forever," Wells said.

"That one was really, really hard, but other than that this group since December 30 has competed at a really, really high level.

"We've won those road games and we've competed and made runs on the road, and been in position to win every game.

"We wanted to be the best version of ourselves by the end of the season and I think we will be healthy for that Play-In Game 100 per cent, and our guys will be ready. I think we have the confidence to believe that we can win anywhere at any time now."

Wells has guaranteed that Martin will return for next week's Play-In Game which looks as though will see the 36ers take on the Kings.

The winner will advance to play likely the loser of a Wildcats-Phoenix match up with a spot in the playoffs then going on the line.

Wells is looking forward to having that full group back together and he has full faith in them quickly rediscovering winning form in a match up featuring two teams having lost three straight entering the post-season.

"We've had some different line-ups without Jarell but when I've got my top eight I feel like we're the best team in the league," Wells said.

"That's an interesting statement with everything that we've gone through and what our overall record is, but I think the group believes in themselves, we have found some rhythms being in small ball and we were definitely playing more match up basketball tonight than we usually do."

Above everything else, Wells is proud that given all the obstacles both externally and self-inflicted they have had to deal with this season that they have ended up making the top six.

Now that they are there and with Martin's return meaning they are at full strength, he sees no reason they can't be still alive as one of the last four to play following the FIBA break by winning twice next week starting in Sydney.

"I'm super excited about the opportunity in my first year to be able to get us to a Play-In Game and I think the group will be ready," Wells said.

"I have a tonne of respect for Sydney and what Goorj does there, but we have played well there and the time that we lost to them was right here in this (RAC Arena) building in Game 1 of the year and I still feel that one.

"You want your group going into the playoffs confident and you want them ready to compete, and you want them to be healthy.

"You have to be really good and healthy, and then you have to get a little bit lucky which is the way it's always been. I know we are there with the first two and then we'll control our attitude and our energy, and we'll be ready to compete whenever that game is."