Sorry title should read Fri Feb 3. Can a mod please fix?

McKay should still have a role to play with his rim protection though - it would negate one of Kendle's biggest strengths.

Hopefully Casey is fit for this one, Craig is hard to stop as is...

Lose this and they can plan there holiday!

Interesting to see how Kendle handles Damo and the Cats' D.

Owned?
In their last game, on Brissy's home court, they were overrun by a tired Perth.
On Perth's home court, with the Cats's season on the line, with their injuries I don't give Brissy much of a chance.

The battle between Prather and Craig will be close.

Similarly, it will be interesting to see what happens up front.
Knight is definitely "on one leg." I'm just hoping McKay can get free and start having an impact. He's had some great games, and some pretty ordinary ones.
I am looking forward to the duel between Tommy and Gus.

But overall, I just think Perth will be able to control the game better. Martin will terrorise Kendle, whilst at the other end Brissy will struggle to contain Cotton.

Don't think Kendle has seen Damo's D before so should be interesting.

Is Martin fully mobile now? I missed a couple of games. I thought his knee seemed a bit stiff, and he was generally off the pace a little on his first game back.

As for Brisbane owning Perth, I thought Craig has played great defense against Prather, and also managed strong offensive performance at the same time. Perth had been over reliant on Prather in past games.

Nobody's suggesting that Perth are at the top of their game. Knight IS on one leg, Prather's production has lessened, and Mckay can run hot or cold. But neither are they gutted by injury like Brissy.

If Perth can do less jump shots and more layups, it will definitely increase their chances.

Think Matty knows be cannot afford to through up these shots as he wishes.

Haha yeah so I noticed.

Perth has looked outplayed by Brisbane this year.

As for all clubs injuries are mounting for cats, Mckay called out of the last game grabbing at a hip, Knight (despite his alleged soft nature) has not been the same player since that fall vs Sydney, Prather seems to have no lift and lost his ability and/or willingness to drive and finish (a few more foul shots when he gets hit might help incentivise him).

Brisbane could take this one, Perth only ever seems to turn it on when their backs are against the wall, and even then it's at best a half of good quality basketball.

Cotton needs to stop settling for long of the dribble looks, he is so much better when he uses the screen and attacks the paint. (Yes i know our offence generates nothing for anyone but he alone could change that with some more drive and dish)

Pains me to say it but if Kickert gets hot and drops 5 3pt bombs that could be the game.

I think Kickert will be a marked man this time.

Damo is back to his normal self. Prather has recovered according to Gleason. Matty played a bit less selfish last game.

Wagstaff is getting better balls from his mates.

Jameel has to fire ... as he,too, knows it is the biz end.

Cotton is about caught on with the deep plays and he will be smart on the balls this time.

Sorry, the Cats are going to the line, expect the worse for teams playing them. 2nd place is expected by the management by this weekend.

Should also depend on which version of Princess wagstaff turns up; the one who drops 3s at will when he's fired up in the last quarter, or the one who wanders round like he's concussed.

An interesting subplot in this game is the fact that Kickert needs only 1 more made 3 pointer to be the lone member of the NBL's 50-40-90 club.

I expect Perth to handle the injury ravaged Bullets rather easily. If they jump to an early lead and the Cats get their tails up it could be a blowout.

I believe if Jerome Randle shoots 3/3, 4/6, 5/8, 6/10 or 7/13 etc from long range to finish the season he will join the 50-40-90 club too (assuming he doesn't go cold from the other areas).

Santamaria will know regarding Randle. He's all over that sort of stuff

That's quite the look that Tueta's rocking...

Bless his Cotton socks

Brandt's doing it all in the post

What a threat he's becoming

COTTON IS LIT

I know this gets brought up most Perth home game threads, but christ Brad Robbins... stfu with the "we" bollocks m8. This ain't like NBA Fox Sports telecasts where each team has its own callers. It's pretty shitty. Yet another reason to hate Perth. Gawwwwd I despise em.

Perth fans are classless really. Craig was fouled by Martin no doubt. Martin came rushing in and banged his shoulder into Craigs head. Head can naturally fling backward in those situations.

Anyway lets play the NBL drinking game:

- Drink 1 neck everytime Gleeson complains to the refs

- Drink 1 neck for everytime the commentators talk about Martin's defence

- Drink 1 neck for everytime the commentators mention the crowd or the atmosphere at Perth Arena.

- Drink 1 neck for everytime the commentators talk about Knight's injury histort

- Drink 1 neck for each time McKay travels or fouls

Good call MACDUB!

Anyone know if Tueta lost a bet?

HIRE IS LIT

Just one of those games. Brissy were outclassed, and once the lead got pushed out, the pressure is all on them, and Perth just able to play their own game. You know that when Perth hits 61% from beyond the arc it's a special night.

Great to be able to limit the minutes of the starters, because now comes the big ask of the weekend, backing up against Cairns in FNQ. Matty Knight looked ok, when he returned to the bench. Hopefully he's well enough to play and can have an early impact against Cairns.

NBL match report says that Gleeson said he's fine and not concussed.

I wasn't a fan of the booing either

Not a big fan of the booing either but lets be honest here, any home crowd around the league does the same. Good to see Perth firing even with 2 of 3 imports not firing.

I'm all for some booing in general, don;t get me wrong!
I just don't get why it happens right after the crowd is shown a replay of actual contact. That's 2 games in a row it has happened - last time being Ware copping one.

No, you've got it wrong, clearly Craig is the dirtiest player in the history of the NBL, and only ever scores points by flopping, and besides its all the refs' fault.

And it irks me that we wasted one of our rare good shooting nights on an opponent we didn't need it to beat.
But it was still fun :)
Perth Wildcats 62% from outside the arc ... what are the odds of that?!

Good win by the cats and got some decent minutes deep into the bench to keep fresh.

highlight of the night: ref signaling redhages illegal screen to the bench, smacked his own butt like a 50s pinup girl.

Nice post anon.
Hire was big tonight. He's actually been pretty handy beyond the arc this year. Still like what I saw if Brandt tonight - Perth need him to be aggressive. The result was what I would expect of a playoff team against a team hurt so bad by injuries.

And it irks me that we wasted one of our rare good shooting nights on an opponent we didn't need it to beat.
But it was still fun :)
Perth Wildcats 62% from outside the arc ... what are the odds of that?!

And on a side note, what kind of dim-witted muppet decides that FRIDAY night, with 12k people at the Arena, is the best time to shut down the trains?

The reason Craig got booed is beaches for those in the stands knight got cleaned up on an illegal screen and for all around looked concussed. On the next play Craig exaggerates the contact, it wasn't to his head at all and gets the call. Classic nbl refs butchering the situation.

Anyone see the Kenny out of bounds call? Looked in by a mile at the game

The reason Craig got booed is beaches for those in the stands knight got cleaned up on an illegal screen and for all around looked concussed. On the next play Craig exaggerates the contact, it wasn't to his head at all and gets the call. Classic nbl refs butchering the situation.

Anyone see the Kenny out of bounds call? Looked in by a mile at the game

"And on a side note, what kind of dim-witted muppet decides that FRIDAY night, with 12k people at the Arena, is the best time to shut down the trains?"

There was also Chinese New Year celebrations at Elizabeth quay. Absolutely moronic planning.

Which train line was shit down ?

Also if redhage went down like Craig would you all be explaining in detail the "contact" that occurred?

"your name is train, surely you'd know ;)"

Haha, I'll pay that

Northern trains only run as far as Stirling, then buses only run as far as Joondalup.
So if you live north of there and catch the train to work (as my daughter does) you're stuffed.

And this after the government keeps encouraging people having a night out to use trains, rather than DUI or wait 3 hours for a taxi. Uber will be doing well tonight.

Anyone see the Kenny out of bounds call? Looked in by a mile at the game

F$@k, we say it every game but the refs are f$&@kt. We won by 31with half a bullets team. But geez, shocking and the three amigos will decide the champions not the players.

Actually thought the refs were okay, a lot better than recent games. Only issue was so many illegal screens making parts of it a shit game to watch, but at least the calls were balanced to both teams.

‏@PerthWildcats
Matt Knight hasn't travelled to Cairns and will miss tomorrow's game as a precaution, after taking a knock to the head in last night's win.

we're stuffed

It just means that Brandt and McKay will need to step up. I'd still expect us to win. We got to rest a lot of the starters in the fourth last night.