Serious....Serious problem for Perth. Hope he has a speedy recovery and is back in time for finals...if they make it.

That just means he'll be back next week, dont worry.

This season really sounds like it's going off the rails for Perth. Sometimes when teams have been up for so long the arse just falls out the bottom of it and with the Martin injuries, Kenny injury, JJ no Ingram yes JJ shenanigans and watching the 36ers the other night come back from nowhere to almost beat them on their home court with favourable calls needed to get them over the line it did feel like watching Hawthorn last season.

Yes, they kept winning the close ones and just getting over the line but you could tell the beast had run it's race and it's time was coming to an end.

The question has to be asked though, will they cut an import to get a PG/Combo guard or just struggle with what they have?

I can't see them going that long using Hussey and Wroe and Kenny is not back for a few more weeks.

If it's literally 12 weeks, then they'll probably look at moving on one of the non-Prather imports.

From Wildcats.com.au

The Perth Wildcats have signed guard Cal Bruton, who previously played with the Brisbane Bullets and Geelong Supercats.

From Wichita State University, the flashy point guard looks to bring his game out West and show the fans the type of exciting streetball game he learned when playing in Queens, New York, "I'm excited to begin a new chapter in my career here and hopefully we can win a few championships"

Bruton may be cleared in time to play against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday at Perth Arena.

I hear Cedric Jackson might be looking for a new job :P

The fear of this being the case is exactly why I haven't been engaging in any of this Perth=playoff certainties bollocks over the past couple of days. Only takes one moment with one critical player to throw a pretty big spanner into the works.
Honestly I'm relieved it's "just" 12 weeks.

Just as a reference, our 5th-last game of the regular season is 12 weeks from when he got injured. Our last game is at the 14 week mark.

Sack Damo's knee

From the Wildcats' email:


Scans reveal MCL tear for Martin

Perth Wildcats captain Damian Martin has been ruled out for 10 to 12 weeks, after scans today revealed a grade three MCL tear in his left knee.

The injury was sustained in the third quarter of Saturday night's win over Adelaide at Perth Arena.

Martin won’t undergo surgery, with club medical staff opting to rehabilitate the joint.

Wildcats staff will begin looking at injury replacement options.

This'll do the trick when he gets back.

Poor bugger though the past two seasons he's just had no luck with injuries.

Release hussey sign markivich for 12 weeks proven ability to get into sets about if a has been but reliable

maybe he should settle, no point continually trying to come back even when you're not physically ready. Perth should have gone for a combo guard instead of Jaron Johnson. Travis Trice would fit much better in a Perth Uniform.

If Tueta is actually available that should be a no-brainer, he has shown he can play.

I knew selling all those bobble heads was a bad idea.

Even say assuming they drop McKay and go for an import. Who's floating around?
Who could we get as a local to replace either Martin or McKay? And who could we get as a replacement guard if we went that route?

Tueta will be available once Ili's 100%. And absolutely he should get a contract with the Wildcats, he's not a distributor PG but he doesn't look out of place. And he's not a Kiwi.

I agree on Markovich, he was still good when healthy. What's he been doing?

Markovic would be ideal. Can hit the three and has a wealth of experience.

There are no quick fixes. We just need to go with what we got

@790 - Do the maths!! If he is out for the full 12 weeks his next game would be Jan 28th. He has already played 5 games and there would be 5 games left when he gets back. IIRC a player needs to play at least 8 games to qualify for the finals (It may be 7).

It'll be close, hopefully he is back a couple of weeks earlier than that.

I agree on Markovich, he was still good when healthy.

The Cats are looking at signing local kid Dazz Dazzercise to a short term player-coach role. Just need to see if he fits under the SALARY CAPS. Gleeson thinks he has remarkable court vision, almost as if he is watching a different game than everyone else.

Lol

I WOULD play for pies.

And if you think Jawai was an "immovable object" just wait till you see my low centre of gravity.

Those comments on mental illness are offensive.

I'd like to see Devin Booker

Make it happen Nick

Well at least his jaw will be right when he returns but as for a replacement, I'd like to see more of Hussey, I really like his poise and he looks like he deserves an NBL gig... yeah I know he has played 3 minutes all season but he has impressed me way more than Wroe who I think has been a huge disappointment.

I don't think we need to make any decisions just yet and show a weeks more faith in Wroe/Hussey with Prather and JJ doing some ball handling

It's a bit of a concern, that even with only 8 teams in the competition, the NBL has exhausted its local point guard spots. Or is there plenty of PG's out there and clubs are not looking in the right places?

I suppose we could restart the whole "Australia doesn't produce PGs" debate?
I guess part of it is, that if you're a decent experienced player, without a contract, you try to find something else, like England, if you're eligible. Or an assistant coaching gig.
Or maybe you get on with your life and get a job. It's not like we're the NBA, and anyone would drop everything for a short-term contract.

There are plenty of guys around from the SBL/SEABL type level, but how many of those are ready to step up?

Matt Burston could be a good local option for a replacement for McKay, if the 'Cats decide to go for another import guard. Remember he was a starter as late as last year. He is a very good defensive-minded centre and would be a good adjunct to Matty Knight in the front court.

@886 - so that's 7 then. Thanks for that :)

so surely its finally hoggytime?

Matt Burston could be a good local option for a replacement for McKay, if the 'Cats decide to go for another import guard. Remember he was a starter as late as last year. He is a very good defensive-minded centre and would be a good adjunct to Matty Knight in the front court.

Simple, just need to "de-activate" McKay and get a combo import guard until Damo gets back then re-activate.

SIMPLES

LOL

Still reckon they should put in a call to Steve Holt

By the sounds of it they are going to make do with what we have and are not looking for an import replacement. Article states Kenny should be back in a week or 2.

"Gleeson ruled out the possibility of signing an import to fill the point guard role.

"Jaron Johnson has done everything we've asked of him, he had a great game on the weekend, right now we’re going to back our own," he said.

“Hopefully Jarrod’s back in the next week or two.”

http://www.wildcats.com.au/perth-wildcats/trevor-gleeson-backs-squad/

Yeah, I think they'll back Kenny when he' fit, and shit-canning JJ (again) or McKay would be rather extreme.
But they still have the option of an injury replacement for Martin. Interesting to see who they come up with. 12 weeks is certainly time to have a hunt around, and for the replacement to settle in and get up to speed.

So who's available? (Apart from Holt under the "Asian rule")?

What would you look for? Someone who can backup the point and also shoot a bit?
Do you try to find somebody who will actually add something, or just a body to fill the space, or are you looking for insurance???

Has Tueta shown much?
Is Burdon worth another chance?

Any Aussies in Europe likely to be let go?

The article I linked above mentioned Mason Bragg. Not sure if he is a local replacement or another development player.

Everard Bartlett?

what about MIKE HELMS!!!

Will Gleeson get another coaching job if Perth don't make Finals?

No - because injuries wasn't his fault.

Yes - because he messed up the SG role, which led to Kenny injuring his groin which in turn led to Damo injuring his Jaw and now leg by way of Butterfly Effect.

You don't want to be the coach that broke the streak.
It has now become a force that just keeps on rolling, the longer it goes, the worse it gets.
As the saying goes, its a bit like a balloon (or virginity) once its gone it aint coming back. You can't just say "hang in there for another 30 years and we'll build it back."

Still hoping the Cats can pull a rabbit.