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THE Adelaide 36ers are under enormous pressure tonight against the Taipans in Cairns in what is the club’s milestone 1,000th NBL game.

The 36ers join foundation club Wollongong (initially Illawarra) Hawks and fellow 1982 NBL entrant Perth (formerly Westate) Wildcats in the 1,000 club and both those franchises won their 1k outing.

So forget that the 36ers need to win to arrest a season sliding into the mire, or the fact that in their last 36 games combined in North Queensland, Adelaide has seven wins and 29 losses – a 19 per cent strike rate (or 81 per cent strike-out rate, if you prefer).

Lovely fact from @NBLFacts that one, given the significance of the number 36 for the Sixers.

Of course, here’s another nice numerical touch.

Of those seven wins, only one has been by more than six…

But instead of looking forward to tonight’s outcome, today in Adelaide we looked back on 999 games and the amazing fact the 36ers’win-loss record is 555-444.

The Advertiser newspaper asked me to nominate the 10 best players to wear the 36ers’ red … white … blue … gold … by position and it was a fun exercise.

For the record, my starting five all-time is Darnell Mee and Brett Maher in the backcourt, Robert Rose at small forward, Mark Davis at power forward and Paul Rees in the centre.

They would be backed by the 1986 “Invincibles” backcourt of Hall of Famers Al Green and Darryl Pearce, with Martin Cattalini at small forward, Kevin Brooks at power forward and Bill Jones in the middle.

MR RELIABLE: Bill Jones starred in the 1986 championship run.

Some great players missed the cut for sure.

I expected some support for Mark Bradtke in one of the centre spots, Willie Farley at guard and David Stiff at power forward.

MARK I: Mark Bradtke was unlucky to miss out

But, surprisingly, I had Reesy’s selection queried and some love for Butch Hays!

HAD SOME LOVE: Butch Hays was on someone's list of unlucky absentees.

Frankly, Paul’s selection was one of the easiest. Three championships as a starter for the 36ers says all that needs saying.

GREEN ALL GO: Hall of Famer Al Green was simply amazing.

The respective backcourts were the best of their distinct eras, Davis’ selection a no-brainer and Jones pipped Bradtke because he was the 1986 championship captain and played like it.

NO-BRAINER: Mark Davis was one of the easiest selections.

Mark’s achievements grew in his post-36ers days, with titles at Melbourne (two) and Brisbane.

Rob Rose was the only one not to win a title with Adelaide but he took it pretty close in his first year with a trip to the Grand Final.

Rose, in my opinion, is the most complete competitor and talent to wear the Sixers’ red, as it was then.

He was cast from a similar mould as the incomparable Leroy Loggins, still the best NBL player I have had the pleasure to see in action.

The Cat became a bona fide superstar in Adelaide and KB’s performance as the Larry Sengstock Medallist in the 1998 championship simply took the breath away from opposition South East Melbourne Magic coach Brian Goorjian.

Can the 36ers win match No.1000?

There’s not a lot to suggest yes.

Then again, Brock Motum has been inexorably linked to Joe Ingles, right down to the fact when Brock left the NBA’s Utah Jazz this year, it was Ingles who replaced him.

In his first NBL game (with South Dragons), Ingles set a record for an Australian with a 29-point debut.

Motum debuted with 28.

Ingles won the first match of his NBL career in his seventh game … against Cairns.

Motum has lost six games and game seven tonight is against Cairns.

Just sayin’ …

HERE tis from today's The Advertiser newspaper.