It will be tough for any teams this season. I'm surprised NBL aren’t considering top-6 because the last time the NBL had top-6 was in the 2009 season when we had 10 teams. After that season NBL has had 8/9 teams with the top-4 finals format till now.

If it’s the same finals format like usual I suspect anyone can win the NBL championship. It’s whoever can make the top-2 which has a real chance winning the title.

Good to see the Wildcats play more on the offensive end. Be interesting to see how they go with a less defensive minded team.

Perth have consistently been top 2 in defensive efficiency and in rebounding percentages.

It would be risky to move away from that.

6 paragraphs when you could have just written "home cooking"

:p

And Joey so conclusively proved during these his time in Adelaide
Defence wins championships

It's no coincidence, that the 2 most successful coaches in NBL, both pushed defence

Hopefully scomo is smart enough to realise that the NBL is different to the NBA

Every season we see offence kill defence until the start of the new year when coaches seemingly have worked out ways to stop said players through new defensive schemes, this season will not be any different as teams will lose games and feel the need to change things like turnovers and rebounding along with defence.
Im looking forward to seeing attacking play

WIll be interesting to see how the Wildcats operate this season.

Last season they were dead last in PACE but were first in Offensive Efficiency.

Pressure's on Scomo in year 1. Expectations are high because it's a quality roster, but more importantly it's Perth.

Simple answer to the heading. 'Cos their roster looks awesome."

This Wildcats roster has to take the mantle of best-team-on-paper from MU (last year, don't think MU are even 2nd, so far, this pre-season).

And when Cotton is neutralised (just kidding), there are some damn fine imports available on the list provided in other thread. And Ennis, who isn't on that list? and others who may get waived.

Whom ever they choose, as their new, 3rd import, and if Plumlee returns, Wildcats will be able to field an all American 5 on the floor. Long time since that's been a possibility. From memory, the last team that could do so was also Perth?

You don't want to bank on Vic Law as a consistent source of threes. With a starting five of Norton, Cotton, Frazier, Law and Hodgson, you only have maximum two guys who are bona fide from deep. And that's giving Frazier the benefit of the doubt despite suspect 3pt numbers in recent years.

The problem with saying teams with a good shooting bench are good shooting teams, is that those bench guys aren't the ones dominating court time.

Personally I think Perth is in a bit of trouble (relative to their lofty expectations) with their roster as currently constructed. With a new coach and deep pockets, they probably won't hesitate making roster changes if they're underperforming. Yes there's home cooking, but they've had the same coach - an NBL all-timer - for the best part of a decade. This is a completely different team, and for the first time in a long time Perth doesn't have that ultimate continuity which it's hung its hat on.

Illawarra (once they get a 3rd import, even if he's mediocre), Sydney, SEM (once they sign another, even if mediocre), and New Zealand. I'd argue that those teams are all better on paper than Perth. And three of those sides have returning coaches.

I think this season will be the least 'tough against Wildcats' since the time Cotton arrived.

It's a quality roster but so are several others.

How long is Blanchfield out?

For team balance I'd expect Travers in the 5 and Frazier off the bench.

RobT, you're an idiot saying that Wildcats will be able to field an all American 5 on the floor. Plumlee is still "only" an Americano.

[My Bad!]

Wildcats Championships in Coaches first year:

1991 Murray Arnold
2010 Rob Beveridge
2014 Trevor Gleeson

Lineup Changes in Championship years

2013/14 - 5
2015/16 - 4
2016/17 - 5
2018/19 - 5
2019/20 - 3

2021/22? - 4

I'll also add that the home cooking factor is largely a Trevor Gleeson thing, for mine.

Gleeson, although pigheaded and boisterous, has the respect of the league. He is also both respected and revered by its officials.

I'm expecting less home-cooked meals in Perth this season.

363

How many of those player changes were core players though? I don't know off hand, but the 8-11 aren’t as influential as the 1-7, obviously.

Also, 363, coach. Coach is probably more important than a star player

"Coach is probably more important than a star player"

Bogut, ware, and Gaze proved otherwise

In recent years, after each championship the Wildcats seem to lose someone 'significant*'

Below are the ones that came and went.
- Ennis.
- Beal (2 Championships)
- Prather (2 Championships)
- Terrico White (2 Championships)

The only import to stay was Cotton (lost count).

However they have lost from their local contingent :
- Redhage
- Knight
- Jervis
- Hire
- Martin
- Vague
- Kay

There's about 2 singlets to retire at least in that list.

Credit to the Wildcats and Gleeson, each time they have to do a re-tool, learn from mistakes (DeAndre Daniels / Tokoto), fill exits (Lose Knight get Kay).

And just because you splash the big money to get names, it doesn't guarantee success, see Sydney Kings and United under Demopolous.

* to their club.