Adelaide may have made the biggest roster improvement of the season with Roberts in for Jacobsen.

Shorter and Moore will be much more serviceable as a tandem than Randle and TFerg.

Top 2 is a respectable position given the teams perfromance last season.

Chemistry and mental toughness are their keys to success this season.

You just can't be confident about incoming unknown imports until they've started playing. Even established, name players have been underdone, poor team players or struggled with refereeing.

Not discrediting a guess at ladder finish, but the new three could be anything in between Christopherson and Randle. Look at United's recruiting last year - it included Devin Williams, Ramone Moore and another guy whose name I can't even remember - did he even get on the court?

Cedric Jackson?

Perth Wildcats

Added: Lucas Walker, Devondrick Walker, Derrick Cooke Jr
Lost: Shaun Redhage, Casey Prather, Jamel McKay

Starters:

D. Martin
B. Cotton
D. Walker
D. CookeJr
M. Knight

Bench
J. Kenny
D. Kernich-Drew
G. Hire
J. Wagstaff/L.Walker
A. Brandt

Verdict: Wildcats have retained one of their most valuable pieces in Bryce Cotton. Without Bryce the Cats don't win back to back. But that's because Casey Prather kept their heads above water all season. All the fruit is now in the Cotton basket, and only time will tell if Devondrick Walker can fill Prather's shoes.

The Wildcats have recruited well in D.Walker and Cooke Jnr, the downside is D.Walker is a completely different player to Prather and Cooke Jnr doesn't look to be the rim protector McKay was.

The loss of Redhage may also become a factor as the Wildcats do not have a veteran go to guy to rely on when nothing else is working. You won't get Redhage's play making ability from Hire or Wagstaff, you might get his flopping tho.

At least NBL fans get a full season of Cotton, who is one of the top 3 guards in the league.

Finally the Wildcats core is still in tack, and while aging they know how to win. Chemistry is second to none and will be hungry for an illusive three-peat.

Leading scorer: Cotton/Devondrick
Leading rebounder: Cooke Jr
Most Insane dunks: Cooke Jr
Club MVP: Cotton
Sixth man: Wagstaff

Ladder finish: Top 4

Shaun Redhage

Jamel McKay

All the fruit is now in the Cotton basket

the Wildcats core is still in tack

an illusive three-peat.

"OP said continue with Cairns, not Perth."

I believe he said Cairns etc.

Cedric Jackson?

Brisbane for 8th.

I think all is going well, people know their stuff here, you genuinely find the good fans on these threads, with the exception of some clowns. Pardon the pun (if you get where my name comes from haha.)

"As in C is after A... you know, alphabetically."

Does your alphabet not have B then if you are pushing Cairns being the next team alphabetically?

Last I heard, the Breakers going with only 2 imports and going to delay filling up that last roster spot hoping Tai Webster might change his mind. If he won't sign then they're hoping for a local SF to complete the roster.

For Wookiee's essay, I heard they've added Darcy Malone and Deng Acuoth as their DPs mate, you might wanna include that in the breakdown. Just avoid mentioning Jesse Sanders too much eh ;).

Word is NZ just signed Barnaby Joyce.

Isaac - I think Breakers unless they get a top kiwi or half decent import with that last spot.

NZ have been really quiet, first time in a decade. What is going on over there?

Side note if Cotton is top 3 who are the other two? Dare I ask how you have them ranked??

Perth write up wasn't bad either.

Cotton top 3, I'd say he's the best SG in the league right now based on past performance and form.

I said top 3 just keep it fair and ambiguous ;)

Good write-up on Cairns. But it was written before anyone saw Carrera play. He played last night and looks like he is going to be very very good. Almost makes Wortho look like "Mr Nice Guy" on court :)

Numbers weren't brilliant, but he's only been here 5 minutes (and Smith for 4) and we'll get another look at him on Friday night.

Gordon G - more insight from the pre-season game would be appreciated. what else can you divulge.

B.O. Not much really, quite a few of the guys are also playing Marlins in the QBL and we have a semi-final against Townsville on Saturday, so they were all taking it pretty easy.

Scoochie is still learning the plays, Nnanna is still being Nnanna (6 assists - game high) and Carrera looked like he was enjoying playing.

Tevin Jackson is one to watch, but the standout fill-ins were Tamuri Wigness, playing as a back-up PG. Only played 12 minutes, scored 6 points, and he's 15. And Kody Stattmann, only played 9 minutes, 5 points and an assist - he's 17.

Careera had 9p, 6r, 2a on 2-8 fg, 0-2 3pt in 19:33.

When I go to the Marlins games my friends and I have a sweep on when Tevin Jackson is going to have his first argument with a referee. He just needs to learn to shut his mouth and keep playing, regardless of how bad the call is. Following the ref around shaking your head and mouthing 'no' for 2+ minutes does you and your team no favours.

If his shot continues to improve and he can maybe be a bit less selfish with his shot selection he could go far..

Tevin doesn't have arguments, he has 'spirited discussions'

:)

@Train, that's very very funny...............Ha!

I am not going to post the whole roster etc, but I think this could be Melbourne's year!!

Ronald Roberts who at 6ft 7 has a 4ft vertical leap. Gonna be pretty good to watch.
Strange how Joey really wanted to get another high school guy in to replace Jacobsen.....

....but he couldnt find no one. We caint help it if we're lucky..

Nate is finishing rehab from shoulder surgery.

36ers crawling thru mud , barbed wire , knocking down walls , climbing mountains and ropes etc , here at camp.. gonna be hard to beat.....