Adelaide captain Mitch Creek defiantly warned rivals that the 36ers won't back down to bullying in the finals, reinforcing his team's one-in-all-in mentality after a 95-92 loss to the Illawarra Hawks in an intensely physical clash on Saturday night in Wollongong.
The 36ers (17-8) have already clinched the minor premiership and the loss to second-placed Illawarra (13-12) was just their second in the past 16 games.
"We'll protect our troops and protect our team no matter who it is," Creek said.
Adelaide coach Joey Wright received a technical foul early in the second quarter and said later "there was a lot of contact going to the hole that wasn't called".
Players from both sides frequently hit the deck, while Hawks import Rotnei Clarke and Sixers guard Brendan Teys were called for a double foul after tangling in the third period.
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The incident energised Clarke, spurring him on to a game-high 25 points.
"Whether it's him or [Hawks seven-footers AJ] Ogilvy or [Mike] Holyfield, it doesn't matter how big or small they are - we'll protect our own," Creek said.
"I don't think we fired him up. That's off Rotnei's own bat. He's not a mellow guy who doesn't say anything.
"He's a passionate guy. I don't think we provoked him at all. He wasn't happy with some of fouls he had and we weren't happy about some of the fouls we were given."
Wright said the Sixers would be prepared for anything from rivals.
"It was a physical game, and if the playoffs are played like that we'll probably have to make some adjustments as a team," he said.
"If they're going to change the way they call it, then we have to change the way we play."
The Hawks are the only team to beat Adelaide three times this season.
"We can compete with the best team in the league," Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge said.
"We showed we do deserve to be in the top four."
