The idea that Melbourne will be easy to beat because they are out of play-off contention isn't one I necessarily agree with.

Goulding and Ware, who when let off the leash and allowed to play relaxed and freely, could put on a shooting show.

This game is so rigged that the nbl has ordered the refs to cane Melbourne so Perth finish 2nd and have two home finals.That charge call against Cadee on Martin last night said it all.That call was one of the worst this year.Martin was always moving sideways so how can that be a charge.

It will be interesting to see who refs this game.I'm guessing it's the three worst in Chris Reed,Townsend and Beattie.There all f in cheats.Good luck Melbourne you need it with if those wankers are in control.

"This game is so rigged that the nbl has ordered the refs to cane Melbourne so Perth finish 2nd and have two home finals"
Johnson.... Get your hand off your Johnson.

MU will start brilliantly I suspect but against a team that has everything to play for, it would be difficult.

Cats know it is season ending if they lose. But that is not the spur, it is playing below expectation.

Also. Cotton and Prather seem to have found some synchronicity and will wreak havoc if MU don't have the answers to this.

This will be the game where ware and Goulding go perfect from deep threes.

Johnson the nbl has butchered charge calls all season, I'm not certain that call is what undid Sydney, even poorer roster construction that Perth did that some time ago.

You may recall in previous years the wildcats losing a game or two on the back of some very United favoured decisions. Specifically the no call when Majok blocked Beals arm.

That was a clean block.

Damn you're a one-eyed flog Dazz.

Horrendous start to this thread.

Personally, I'm looking forward to this one as a lead in to what should be a bumper finals series.

With any luck, Perth don't make it.
IMO, United, Kings and Wildcats do not deserve it.

Having said that, neither do NZ....

Really on one star in the playoffs and that will be Randle, for the supporters of the teams that make it good luck. You need stars in playoffs and not to have the 4 big market teams isn't good look imo. Needs a Sydney or Melbourne to have interest in the league.

I won't be watching with much interest, would love to see Randle v ware or cotton and lisch. Good luck to all the team's that make it

Tend to agree with you there cats 4 life. Bit dissapointing that the biggest market will be Perth - if they make it.

Great for the fans of the teams that will be there, and it just shows that money doesnt buy success. Smaller market teams have a big place in the leagues success, so dont underestimate their value. However it would have been handy from a commercial view if Sydney or Melbourne were there also. I dont think the NBL would be overly happy with the makeup of this years playoffs, from a commercial standpoint.

Im sure just quietly the league is hoping Perth can get in - for the crowds if nothing else.

CG43's looked a bit limp in the past couple of games. I wouldn't be surprised if he's rested, instead of continuing to push the ankle that's been bothering him all season.

But if he does play. Watch out. Him and Casper are both overdue for one of their regular downtown shows.

Forget about markets.

I'm hoping Cairns or Illawarra can do it for the little guys!

"Im sure just quietly the league is hoping Perth can get in - for the crowds if nothing else."
That would be a short term gain, long term gain is a smaller club succeeds, boosting interest into next season.

Jaron Johnson gets his revenge if Perth don't make it, his terrible pass with 10 seconds left against nz that let Webster hit the game winner will be the difference if Perth don't win.

They're professional athletes, when the ball is thrown up, the instinct is to win. Heck, this is the instinct even on a Wednesday night social league.

Cats need to win this one to make it now hawks have flogged bullets.

That is right - Perth need to win to make finals - if they lose NZ do.

But i think Perth finish 2nd if Adel defeats Cairns
and 3rd if Cairns beat Adelaide.?

Goulding will play. Melbourne should win easily.

As a Utd season ticket holder I'm obviously hoping for a win regardless, but can't help but think it's the last time we'll see a few of these guys playing in the NBL and a couple of others "taking their talents" elsewhere thanks for a less than harmonious team culture

This game will be determinative of the playoffs.

I have this feeling that if Perth make the playoffs they will win the championship. So hard to play there so only need to win one away to win series.

If Cairns had lost vs 36ers and Perth had finished 2nd I would say they were a good chance for the championship, but with their NQLD woes - I can't see them beating Cairns at home.

"I have this feeling that if Perth make the playoffs they will win the championship. So hard to play there so only need to win one away to win series."

Yeh but they only have 4 away wins for the season, 3 against eliminated teams

lets not get ahead of ourselves...

It all comes down to this.

Tank has done his best to screw us, (and Karma's a bitch) so we must beat MU, period.

The Cats are good enough. Are they hungry enough.

The interesting thing for Perth is that they have had 2 big wins by 20+ points recently. Yeah I know that they were wins at home and against Bullets and Kings but Perth have not shown the ability to put away teams all season until those 2 recent games.

Martin, Cotton and Prather are starting to look good and there have been good contributions from Hire, Wagstaff, Redhage and Brandt.

If they can belt United on the road then I might be more confident of them being a threat in the finals. I guess we will soon find out if thy have truly turned the corner or just fluked a couple of good games.

Ok so Cairns jump Perth. They get home advantage and can be danger.

But if Perth can beat Melbourne in Melbourne, then look out Cairns.

Btown - true.

I guess its just hard to always deny that championship pedigree. (Ala kind of the same way I think about the Spurs come NBA playoff time).

Perth are junk.

I think Yernited will win this.
A stack of both rosters will be moved on before either team plays again....and for good reason.

Perth easily

They're aren't in the habit of losing games like this plus Prather and Cotton have learned how to co exist

Perth to win in a close one.

Here we go !! Lets do this Perth :P

Looks like Perth trying to attack low looking for early fouls in Melbourne bigs.
Melbourne is jack city from three

29 points in a quarter ain't gonna win you games

Exactly as I suspected. CG and Casper combine for 7 3 point attempts in first quarter. Just throwing caution to the wind and letting it fly.

Where was this free flowing, confident style over the past two games?

Hope they bring Casper and Boone back next season.

It's infuriating as a United follower that Shane Heal- and every person not named Dean Demopoulos- can see the bleeding obvious...

Please no Brendan Joyce. After his effort with Opals I don't want him anywhere near United.

Did the ref just tell players to stop talking to each other...oh dear

Refs are a mess both ways here. Calling everything they shouldn't and little they should

There's the third on Cotton. Well done refs. Ware gets the most rubbish calls

Couple of dumb dumb fouls by cotton and now on 3

Lol that foul on McKay. No one will be left on the court for either team if calls like that get made

Wouldn't be a wildcats game without an out of bounds controversy

Clearly of water foot. Well done easiest call to miss

United making a living at the line. Cheap fouls on Damo and cotton will hurt in the second. Not sure how either team is meant to defend penetration, seems to be a guaranteed foul no matter atm

If this goes down to the wire then you'd think Perth would have that extra 5% hunger and get the job done. You would think. But, United has 10,000 people behind them and The Cats are missing 3 players they had on Friday night. So should be a great second half!

Felt like every possession both ways lead to a foul.
Did that whole crowd come to watch just Goulding shoot every time he touches it haha.

We should have an unwritten rule on hoops.com.au:

Cats fans should never, ever, complain about refs.

Melbourne could get a lot of calls but that would just even it up for what Cats get in most games at Perth Arena.

Marvin's motivational half time message for Gleeson:

https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder682/500x/27658682.jpg

Wow poor randle, what a shitty agent he had.how is undrafted better than a guaranteed spot. His mate isiah killing it from the last pick.

LV making a late charge for the Akil Mitchell award! :P

J "There's the third on Cotton. Well done refs. Ware gets the most rubbish calls"

It was a clear foul

Michael alien. Pathetic demos fourth for that. Lv did you like that call? How about if lish did that?

The commentary in this game is appalling! No idea with whats going on.

Ware with another magical foul drawn? Lv how should the players defend him?

Bahaha that call in blanchfield was as bad as the McKay one,

Refs making themselves the center of attention.

United have totally taken out Perths transition game. That is the difference between this game and the game vs the Kings

Agree the blanchfield call was just as bad.

Melbourne "nothing to play for"? They're down 0-3 vs Perth in the season series, I'd say there's something to play for.

But in general terms I agree, Perth looks a bit hungrier at this point. And *should* win. But, they've been poor on the road. Intriguing!

How soft are some of these fouls?

Anderson, Blanchfield and Barlow just can't defend anyone. Mattie Knight looks like an all star and Prather is doing whatever he likes. I fear for Melbourne in the 4th.

Casper v Cotton. Great. Hope they both return next yr

Ware with the nerve to ask for more calls!

Are these refs in finals, gonna be a free throw special. So many soft calls every which way

Ware with the nerve to ask for more calls!

Then hits Cotton in the face with an elbow. No offensive foul...

Even up on the out of bounds?

Square up OOB call. Good lord the refs suck haha

Water pushes the defender foul on the defender?

I'd love to see what Ware could do with an actual coach.

Ware not water lol.

Great game, I hope Perth can get over the line, it would shake up the finals...

Crap D by United leaving Wagstaff wide open for second 3 in a row

McKay's pretty much been the difference. Having a huge game.

McKay and Wagstaff I think have ended it in the fourth with time running out!

Obviously Prather has been great all game...

McKay is a beast, and Casey is just casey

Just like last season United's last 2 games leaves a sour taste in the mouth

Silver lining- DD will now go. You'd think.

Watching the recent time out for United, the coach has lost them, Blanchfield could not look lest interseted

Boone wants another contract in 2017-18, huh?

Difference between Goulding and wagstaff? Both laid out one is an and one? Just curious, not saying it's wrong

So we're playing Illawarra in the first round? And Cairns have home court against Perth?

Not over yet

Take it to the hoops cats ffs

Booze's the only Melbourne player who understands he's playing for his next contract..

Going to dem finals

All season that's a charge. Like it or not that's inconsistent

Boone will certainly expect a big contract now.

Wasn't expecting United to give them a scare like this a few minutes ago...

Casper Ware

or

Kyrie Irving

Far out, Martin should have kept his feet charge or not. Always defend the shot, can't do anything on the floor

WAIT...

Clutch!

He had 12 seconds. Why jack up a shit shot like that?

Would have been something if Ware could have nailed that 3 point bomb, but in the end Perth have another crack at it...

Great fight by United, they didn't roll over

Moving ahead, Perth is about to meet Cairns in one of the fiercest, scrappiest, possibly lowest scoring semi finals ever!

Melbourne should bring back this same roster, with Moore back in for Kromah. With a new coach and a clean run with injuries they could well take out the comp next season.

This league always jacks it early, think it's to get another crack on the chance of offensive rebound

Is Perth or Cairns second?

Is Perth or Cairns second?

YEEEESSSSSSS!!!! What a game! Prather was a total beast!

YEEEESSSSSSS!!!! What a game! Prather was a total beast!

Cairns is 2nd I believe with a table with Hawks

A bloody good win,now onto to Cairns and if we can put up the same sort of effort today we may be a sneaky chance to get past them.

31 years straight is an awesome effort.

Yesssss!!!!

Perth Apparently staying on the east coast for the week.

I have no finger nails left, my nerves are shot and my heart is still pumping.

Booooooooooooooo. lol

How was Gleeson down the stretch? I have never seen a more petrified man.

Congrats Cats! Impressive to keep the streak alive, 31 straight appearances... mind boggling and fully deserving of respect.

I suppose DD is gone now. You sure you don't want Brendan Joyce LV? ;D

Perth finds a way, somehow. Hopefully the whistled go away in the playoffs, much easier to be consistent.

Is there a favourite?

Cats are going for the flag.

Great game.

Have to take my hat off to Melbourne.
Compare their effort to the Kings on Friday.
With nothing to play for, MU played like a TEAM determined to win.

Also gotta say that Boone has been a surprise packet. Very impressed with his contribution.

Perth won all 4 games against Melbourne by a total of 10 points with margins of 2,2,3,3

Errm....you have flat out said you would not follow United after what they did to the Tigers. Whats changed?

Thank you Perth, the win will pay for my anywhere between 1 to 4 home final seats , so at least one Adelaide supporter says well done ! :)

Now have to go put some money on Cairns once th3e market opens up :)

Streak alive, now the season starts, full team and no doubt cairns are tough but they would be the team I would want to play in the semi-finals.

Congratulations to the boy's! Tough season and that's why every one hates us! Best part and it's not nice to say is they beat nz as well.

Pressure on cairns, we get a free hit on Friday!

Blachfield 0 for 7 in 33 minutes and Anderson 3 for 9 did not help. But it was at the other end where they could not stop Perth.
Could not defend the on ball and were exposed badly.
Perth worthy finalist and will scrap to the end.

Trolling^^^

Great to see Prather continue his good form on the road.
And great game from McKay, especially against Anderson and Boone.

Yep Kobe, the final margin today was two. Spot on m8

So, as Anon posted, Perth won twice by 2 points and twice by 3 points.

For some reason I was thinking they were listed chronologically, rather than by size of margin, and couldn't remember the specifics of the others. Carry on!

So in the end those atrocious decisions that handed the cats their second home game against cairns DID end up costing someone a grand final also berth. It just happened to be New Zealand rather than Cairns :-)

"Also gotta say that Boone has been a surprise packet. Very impressed with his contribution."

Can a guy with NBA career highs of 26 points and 20 boards be a surprise pack?

LOL, exactly.

Boone is a class act.

Imagine if DD had of given him minutes when he first came. *facepalm*

I hope someone signs Boone for next season - he is a stud.

So in the end those atrocious decisions that handed the cats their second home game against cairns DID end up costing someone a grand final also berth.

"Boone is a class act."

You mean he's not a flog?

Hahaha ^

Also gotta say that Boone has been a surprise packet. Very impressed with his contribution.

Can a guy with NBA career highs of 26 points and 20 boards be a surprise pack

Keep digging a hole if you want Dazz, he played Euroleague last year and was leading rebounder in the VTB United league, one of the best comps in Europe.

@Anon:

[Errm....you have flat out said you would not follow United after what they did to the Tigers. Whats changed?]

I never said that. I've always been a bball guy first and a Tigers/Spurs guy second, so 3 years ago- when most Tigers fans burned effigies of Larry Kestlemen and erected voodoo dolls dedicated to the man, I decided to give United a go. I've subsequently found my passion is lacking. I barely feel dejected today at all. When the Tigers seasons ended I was always filthy. In fact I distinctly remember being up until 4am when they lost to Adelaide in 2013/14, going through the replay and counting all the dodgy foul calls early in the game that contributed to the team losing their way before the game even really got going. Fairly certain that was a work night too.

I have no great passion for United - I just follow them because they represent Melbourne and they're my opportunity to watch bball live in my city. But, I only attended 3 games this season (by far my least for over 15 years- although it was more circumstance changes than lack of interest)

[Also...You said you were going to take delight in Utd ending Perth's streak, how does it feel?]

Honestly? It will feel even better when the Taipans- who I've backed all season- a small town team who've never won a championship, beat Perth in a gruelling series.

[Good to see LV wish the other team well....oh wait...]

Why would I wish them well?

I'll be jumping for joy if Cairns or Illawarra win the championship this season. Even Adelaide would be acceptable- Randle is pure superstar and their style is fun to watch.

If Perth win, the probability is that there will be a severely damaged remote control ending up somewhere at my place, wherever it lands....

I don't mind a competitive slog, especially when my team is winning.

Saddens me more to see Todd B just standing in a corner and failing to even create space.

Martyn's D is a thing of great beauty and you should feel as privileged to watch it just like I feel lucky to watch JR and his exquisite game play.

31 ....Wow.

I'm a Cats fan and I'm not shocked at the hate ...we've been clearly the most dominant team in the history of the competition and we have not done this with a mob of shrinking violets either.

We've had numerous big personalities Redhage, Fisher, Vlahov etc, we have a hostile home crowd and we've stopped a lot of seriously talented teams in their tracks when it comes to finals.

I embrace the hate .....hoping we can start a new chapter in the Book of Spite this play off series.