'Flynn factor' overpowers Sixers

Impact ... Jonny Flynn stars on debut for Melbourne Tigers against Adelaide 36ers. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

The "Flynn Factor" was huge last night at Hisense Arena as Melbourne played Harlem Globetrotters to Adelaide's Washington Generals in a humiliating 96-66 NBL rout.

Merely the presence of new Tigers signing and 2009 No.6 NBA draft pick Jonny Flynn lifted Melbourne as it put on a show after a slight opening stutter where the 36ers looked like making a game of it.

In what was the 6000th game in NBL history, Melbourne turned around a 23-point loss to the Sixers in the season opener behind 24 points from Chris Goulding and an 18-point, 10-rebound double by import Seth Scott.

The worry again for Adelaide fans was not the loss so much as the manner of its ultimately meek capitulation, hardly inspiring to view with Perth Wildcats in town at Adelaide Arena on Saturday.

Flynn had 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting, 10 assists and eight rebounds to generate players running around him.

Adam Gibson started on him, Jason Cadee spent time defending him as well before Mitch Creek had a crack at the former Minnesota Timberwolves playmaker.

It was not so much what Flynn did, what he created or how he shot. It was what his confidence and ball assurity did to his Tiger team-mates who had lost four straight games before last round's win over Townsville.

The Tigers looked overly "Flynn-conscious" early but after Adelaide snuck to a 7-5 lead, they started to settle.

Goulding took it upon himself to take control of Melbourne's offence, grabbing a defensive board and driving forward to strike a jumpshot.

Flynn, who had fed Scott and Goulding for earlier buckets, slipped a sweet pass to Liam Rush and Melbourne had the lead.

Goulding continued to dominate, finishing with 11 points in the first quarter as Adelaide's offence spluttered, needing individual efforts.

By the first break, Melbourne was ahead 19-14 despite Flynn off to a 0-of-5 shooting night, Adelaide with Gibson on two early fouls and the signs already worrying.

Anthony Petrie swished a triple to start the second period scoring but whenever the 36ers threatened, Melbourne had the answers.

Flynn was given a charity trip to the free throw line at 8:31 with a dubious foul against Cadee to open his scoring with two genuine freebies.

But Melbourne was playing with greater purpose, Luke Schenscher battling for three offensive rebounds in succession around four shot attempts before the Tigers fouled him.

An open jumpshot by Gibson with 3:02 to the break kept the 36ers in touch at 30-35.

But Flynn clearly identified Adam Ballinger as a quality jumpshooter and Scott as a reliable scorer.

He fed Scott for 37-30, missed a drive which Rush tipped in, then hit Ballinger with a dish for 41-30, Adelaide reeling.

That stayed the buffer to half-time and a 13-4 run to start the third made this academic, Flynn passing to Scott for a dunk, Goulding hitting a three in transition and Melbourne putting on a show.

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