The Perth Wildcats have picked up a crucial road win by 22 points in their NBL semi-final series against the Cairns Taipans, with a chance to book their place in the grand final at home on Monday.
Cairns Taipans 69
Perth Wildcats 91
The Cairns Taipans shocked everyone by claiming a semi-final home court advantage and now they will look to make the most of it against the Perth Wildcats. Join The Roar for live scoores and coverage of Game 1 from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Cairns might have the home advantage for the finals, but the pressure starts now for the club who many expected to end up with the wooden spoon in 2017.
Perth are the defending premiers and haven’t missed a semi-final series in 31 years, which is a staggering effort. While their form has been up and down all season, they finished strong, with a few wins, and the Taipans will be right up against it.
Aaron Fearne’s men will be confident though. They came up with a pair of wins in the final round of competition against minor premiers the Adelaide 36ers and have been tough to beat at home all season.
There are no two ways around just how defensively orientated this match – and series for that matter – will be. It’s the two best defensive records in the league squaring off and their season series has been no different – gritty, close games that have been decided in the final moments.
While that series was split down the middle, the Taipans will be confident. Their defence has been fantastic and they have been particularly difficult to beat on their home floor.
The offensive side of things has been controlled by Travis Trice, who has put up plenty of points, while Nate Jawai is a force to be reckoned with. The combination on display from those two, with veteran Mark Worthington getting involved, has been fantastic to watch.
On the other side, the experienced Damian Martin has been leading the Wildcats charge. The difference when he has been out injured has been staggering.
While they had to beat Melbourne United in the final game of the season to qualify for the playoffs, which they did in less-than-impressive circumstances, their form over the last month and a half has generally been solid.
The addition of Bryce Cotton has given their offence a new sense of purpose, with the new import taking out the league scoring title, while Casey Prather started to rediscover his touch in the final game of the regular season.
If the Wildcats can choke the Taipans’ vulnerable offence and then execute a run-and-gun offence, a victory looks like a sure bet, however the Cairns offence has improved plenty.
Prediction
The Taipans will use the momentum of their last round victories to get on the board first here. I’m not comfortable saying that’s going to springboard them to a series victory, but in a low-scoring match they should pick up the win.
Taipans by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first match in this semi-final series from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems Pete! Hopefully you can tune in again on Sunday and Monday!
Pete
Guest
Thanks loads for this Scott. Great job keeping us without tv coverage filled in on the game.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That wraps up The Roar's live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Finals series this evening as the Perth Wildcats picked up an important road win over the Cairns Taipans. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. It'll be Connor Bennett in the chair to guide you through Game 2 of the 36ers vs Hawks series, that one getting underway at 3pm (AEDT) on Sunday. I'll be back Monday night at 9:30pm (AEDT) for the Game 2 of this series. Before then, I'll have Rugby League World Club Series for you on Sunday at 7am and stupid o'clock on Monday, before the NBA All-Stars game at midday Monday. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cairns had a few good patches, just not consistent. The Wildcats defence is a class above, as is Bryce Cotton. I've got the Wildcats now to win in straight sets, while the 36ers will have to wrap it up back at home - but I suspect they will.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results The Perth Wildcats have picked up a crucial road win by 22 points in their NBL semi-final series against the Cairns Taipans, with a chance to book their place in the grand final at home on Monday. The Wildcats were the dominant team throughout the entire encounter and despite a few small runs from the Taipans, they were down double digits early in the contest and never really got back into the contest. Casey Prather started the show for the Wildcats before Bryce Cotton took over. He ended the contest with 35 points, but the Wildcats were up by ten at the end of the first quarter. At that point, the Taipans weren't doing a whole lot wrong, but they just weren't in the same class as the Wildcats, whose defence rose to the fore. The Taipans did tighten the ship in the second quarter, only dropping to an 11 point gap at the half, but frustratingly, they never were able to capitalise on the runs they started throughout the quarter. At one point they had the game almost level, but were blown out again at the back end with Cotton receiving some good support in the way of Matty Knight. Cairns got the second half off to a shocking start, at one point dropping behid by 20 before coach Aaron Fearne finally intervened with a timeout. On the other side of that, the Taipans went on a 9-0 run and had the lead back to single figures not long before the end of the third quarter, but from there it was one-way traffic once more with Cotton again leading the way. The longer the fourth quarter went, the worse it got for the Taipans at both ends of the floor and in the end, a 22-point loss doesn't do the match justice. Statistics Field goals: Taipans (22/53 @ 41%), Wildcats (29/62 @ 46%) Three points: Taipans (3/18 @ 16%), Wildcats (7/20 @ 35%) Free throws: Taipans (22/27 @ 81%), Wildcats (26/28 @ 92%) Rebounds: Taipans (33), Wildcats (33) Assists: Taipans (11), Wildcats (16) Steals: Taipans (6), Wildcats (9) Blocks: Taipans (1), Wildcats (1) Turnovers: Taipans (15), Wildcats (10) Points in paint: Taipans (30), Wildcats (28) Second chance points: Taipans (3), Wildcats (8) Points off turnovers: Taipans (11), Wildcats (17) Bench points: Taipans (29), Wildcats (17) Stats Leaders Cairns Taipans Points: Travis Trice (15), Mark Worthington (11), Nnanna Egwu (9) Rebounds: Mitch McCarron (7), Travis Trice, Nate Jawai (4) Assists: Cameron Gliddon (5), Travis Trice (3) Perth Wildcats Points: Bryce Cotton (34), Casey Prather (22), Matty Knight (14) Rebounds: Matty Knight (6), Bryce Cotton, Jameel McKay (5) Assists: Bryce Cotton (5), Damian Martin (4), Matty Knight (4) Final Score Cairns Taipans 69 Perth Wildcats 91
Nudge
Guest
From what I saw Perth looked very good and Cairns very ordinary. Perth are virtual certainties for the GF but Adelaide still with some work to do. I reckon Adelaide v Illawarra on Sunday is a 50/50
Scott Pryde
Expert
Report and stats to follow shortly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
No surprises here. Bryce Cotton is player of the game with 34 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME This just winds down. The Taipans can't make anything happen, Kenny dribbles the game out and that'll do us in Perth. A dominating 22 point win for the Wildcats and the Taipans have a lot of work to do before Monday night on the road. Cairns Taipans - 69 Perth Wildcats - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Taipans with a miss and the Wildcats now slowing it down before Wagstaff finds room for an open three. He sinks it with Fisher and Tevin Jackson on the floor for the Taipans now. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Wagstaff makes both. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 88
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Wildcats with it through Prather and he crosses over, sends a ball across to Heuir and he misses the three. Weigh a miss for the Taipans and there is a foul on the rebound. Wagstaff goes to the floor and it's against Egwu who is now fouled out. Into the bonus and we go to the free throw line for Wagstaff. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Just about garbage time now. Both teams starting to empty their benches. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Loughton now looking to try and pass out of the post, but he finds Prather. Perth slow things down and Cotton misses before Wagstaff gets the board and Cotton misses again. Taipans turn it over, Cotton turns it over, Weeks pulls up for three in transition and it's an air ball. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Wildcats through Cotton and Wagstaff before Martin slows things down, then drives and makes the little fadeaway. This is looking done and dusted now. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Cotton makes both at the line on the unsportsmanlike. Perth to have the ball back. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 84
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' That's a good defensive set there from the Taipans and Prather misses. The Taipans with a miss and Cotton gets a long rebound before racing down the floor. McCarron takes him out of the air and that's an unsportsmanlike foul. Could have been ugly there. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Gliddon makes both free throws. Taipans - 69 Wildcats - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Timeout on the floor. Taipans - 67 Wildcats - 82