PER $1.55
NZB $2.45

Margin -3.5

Over/Under: 164.5

NZ a tad underrated there IMO - they're a different team since Webster has slotted back in, but this should be a good even contest.
Webster & Jackson had their way with us last time, so Damo being back will be particularly handy for this one.
I share your concern about him, Matthew. I want to see him in a NASA-certified space helmet tonight.

Full face mask plus snipers in case Conklin is in the building at all.

Actually, the NBL needs to implement padded arm sleeves for Conklin, Dwight Howard style.

Perth can not afford another slow start like in NZ and play catchup. Granted they almost ran them down, but you are playing with fire by playing catchup ball against this NZ team which deadly on the offensive end.

Perth need to make someone other than Webster and Abercrombie beat them, especially without Wesley in the low block. Melbourne shut those two down in the second quarter last week and NZ struggled to score, but it's easier said than done for four quarters.

Pfff... Nate will smash everyone in his path and continue to get all the boards he wants :)

I also think New Zealand will he this one in a close one. Nate Jawai to be terrible, again

This is worth watching. Two top 4 teams going at it.

Can Charles Jackson stay out of foul trouble? I think he's a bit nimble and athletic for Jawai at NZ's offensive end, so if he can stay out of foul trouble he could be the one to do some damage other than the usual suspects.

I loved the Jawai-Pledger battles last time, can't wait to see them go at it again too.

15 & 10 in a very efficient 24 minutes against us, last game by Jackson.
I'd like to think we'll be more conscious of him as a result of that game. Sit him on his arse if he tries any of that sneaky crap (scoring and rebounding) against us tonight.

I'm hopeful NZ will get up for this one but aren't going to hold my breath.

"PER $1.55
NZB $2.45"

NZB $3.45 1-10...

Perth by 16.

AJ flying over with Breakers to check out Willeton pre-season training.

Wesley still not back for us?

Think Cats will get some calls and all the momentum at home. Should win this one, pity the odds arent more even though because they aren't $1.60ish sure enough for me.

Tai Wesley has an infected liver from his appendix surgery I believe.
He's probably out for a another couple of rounds which is a pity as his inside game would have come in handy tonight.

NZ will need to win the rebound count to have a chance and will need Pledger and Abercrombie to be aggressive offensively and Ced Jackson to not settle for jump shots.
Perth will need to shut down Webster, Abercrombie and Bartlett from the perimeter and box out for 40mins.

Tipping OT. Perth by 2 in the OT.

Webster to hit a three to tie in regulation.

I'm stunned how much Prather has improved

Pledger fantastic defence.

Jawai and Gleeson whinging but Pledger is simply playing great defence. Straight up and vertical.

Prather is nice and has found when and where he can get his shots.

Great to see Martin back

Refs are ruining this game

10 free throws for the Breakers to 0 for Perth.

Prather is a good story. A guy who looked lost but found his game.

Pet hate is how Perth's bench jump up and come running out on the court every time someone does something semi-good. Yes I know they're hyped but its so annoying! Haha.

As an aside, its pretty much impossible to defend the post. Can't breathe on someone without being whistled. Pledge did it well earlier but surprised they didnt call something.

The league is becoming way too soft on interior defence. Its borderline crisis.

Wow. That call on Charles Jackson where Matty got the and1. Seriously, you can't defend the post anymore. Might as well just give up the two and save the foul.

Perth finally using their superior interior to the Breakers. You have to beat a great team like the Breakers by using you're bigs.

Cedric Jackson might not be much of a jump-shooter but you can't underrate the role he is playing in Webster's current MVP form. Webster is able to thrive on the offensive end in part because of Jackson's ability to beat his man off the dribble and cause defensive rotations.

Also as an aside that Perth Arena courtside announcer certainly likes to talk ...

Looks like Prather has taken the ass kicking he got from Abercombie in NZ to heart.

Well done to the Cats.

I think the game was won in the 2nd when the Cats decided to use that huge frontline. Jawai and Knight just went to work from then on. This sets up a great game on Wednesday simply because Perth wins they get a 3 game buffer on the Breaker and take the series which could be huge at season end or if the Breakers win ties the series and pull within a game of Perth.

Eitherway it will be a great game.

Free throws.

Free throws.

Gosh. NZ were atrocious from the line. These guys play bball every day, and still barely crack 50%. Twice in that crucial last 5 or so minutes they missed both, and it was a huge blow to their momentum.

Still, good effort from Perth. Two quality sides.

Another dog act by the wildcats and Greg Hire, game was won and he shoots a half court shot on the buzzer I mean why do that, that's why Ervin and the sixers got angry about 2 years ago, and their fans wonder why their team has little respect from other fans.

@sixers147- this has been covered to death on this forum but I'll bite. How is it considered a dog act and are you trying to tell me your team does not do this ? It's s close league , every single point counts. If A team can play defense till the last second why can't the other team jack up a shot. There's just no logic there at all.

@Sixer147

Shooting a basketball in a game of basketball...Wow...how low can Greg Hire go.

Well done idiot.

Was wondering how much ref bashing would be waiting in this thread when I got home. Yep, a fairly appropriate amount. Didn't think they did a great job tonight.
Didn't think the Breakers did a great job down the stretch either. They could have stolen that one had they hit their free throws & layups.

Very pleased that Damo got through unscathed.

Hope Webster is ok.

Perth won, obviously it must be the refs' fault. ROFL

Cats were just too consistently better for most of the game. Had it almost in the bag by the end of the 3rd quarter.
Did their best to piss away the lead in the last few minutes, but for once things rolled their way.

As for the idiot anonytrolls above; as you said Webster was fouled well after he made his shot, ie clearly not in the act of shooting, so why on earth would he get FT's?

Not sure about Damo? Played a couple of minutes then stayed on the bench. Makes me wonder if he came back too soon and copped a jolt?

I think the league has descended back into 2012/13 in the past two weeks. I love this league but every game this round has been so scrappy it's difficult to watch. Refs make a rod for their backs by letting so much go and then plucking out a foul here or there. The poor players must have no idea what is and isn't legal at the moment.

So everyone's bashing the refs, and nobody's mentioned this?




That's just beyond terrible.

That was funny. I don't know whether they were still getting to position or just couldn't believe what they saw!!

The guy closest to the camera has a clear look at it. Don't know what the responsibilities of each ref are, though.

And yeah, I actually had to check with the person sitting next to me whether it'd actually happened, because I just couldn't believe something that blatant was missed by the refs and the crowd didn't seem to bothered either. I've only watched enough of the game on TV to capture that, but neither commentator seems to have noticed.

Haha, just noticed you can actually see Cedric Jackson being the only person in the building with a clue, and signalling to Vukona not to pass him the ball. And then immediately just rolling with it when it's thrown. Class.

Surely the dog act was Jawai recklessly elbowing Vukona in the face? ;-)

Paul, as Jawai hit Vukona in the moustache then the tribunal has until the end of Monday to find him guilty or otherwise there will be no evidence.

NZ's 13 missed free throws to the Wildcats' 3 really hurts.

Congrats to Perth on grinding out the win.
I also think it'll be a Wildcats Vs Breakers Grand Final.

Vukona did a double look back in dis-beliefe

Koberulz I did see that, totally forgot about it! Haha yeah so dam obvious, no one said anything and I was like did that even happen!