The Illawarra Hawks will be out to turn around a heartbreaking first-up loss, but it won’t get any easier in a grand final rematch with the Perth Wildcats away from home. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9:30pm (AEDT).
The Wildcats, gunning for their third straight championship got the title defence off to a sound start last weekend with a heavy win over the Brisbane Bullets.
Perth are always a strong side on their home court, and they didn’t disappoint in front of a record home crowd. Opening their season with some conjecture over imports, they came away with a ten-point win.
What the scoreboard doesn’t tell is their dominance. At times, they were much further ahead and the game was all but over halfway through the final quarter. Winning from behind for a road team at the Perth Arena is close to the toughest task in the NBL.
Illawarra’s last visit to the colluseum in the west was less than impressive. They were thumped in Game 3 of the grand final series by a Bryce Cotton-led Perth, going out in straight sets and will have revenge on the mind.
Of course, stopping Cotton is going to be more than just half the battle for the Hawks. He had 24 points on 7 of 15 shooting last week, including an impressive five from eight behind the arc.
The Hawks answer to Cotton is undoubtedly Rotnei Clarke. The scoring guard is back for another season in Wollongong, and was part of the solution last year. After a slow start, he came off the bench, and even though the Hawks didn’t get a win last week, he was brilliant when he came on.
Rob Beveridge’s men went down by just a single point to the Cairns Taipans away from home last weekend, but there were plenty of positives to take from the contest.
While Clarke led the way with 26 points including eight three’s, AJ Ogilvy was brilliant in the paint. The stalwart has been in good pre-season form and will be key to the Hawks chances.
On top of that though, and probably of more relief for Beveridge was the performance of new imports Demitrius Conger and Delvon Johnson.
If the Hawks can dominate the paint, then they have a better than average chance here. Stopping Damian Martin’s creativity, overcoming the defence and slowing down the ever-improving Angus Brandt will be easier said than done though.
Prediction
It’s impossible to back against the Wildcats when they are playing at home, but this might be closer than a lot of people tend to think.
It wouldn’t even be a surprise to get some overtime.
Wildcats by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this grand final rematch from 9:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Damo
Guest
Ah. Ok, I'll avoid that word then in the future (unless i really mean it!) See you next time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries mate - the word 'cheat' gets held up with auto-moderation. Yeah - just about every game feels like a cracker in this league though! See ya next Friday!
Damo
Guest
Apologies for the almost double post. Some weird shenanigans with the blog and my phone. Next week cats v Melbourne will be a cracker though the same with Ade v Melb tomorrow night. These 3 look like the early front runners.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar this evening for our live coverage of the 2017-18 NBL season as Perth picked up victory in the grand final rematch over the Illawarra Hawks. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Our game of the week in Round 3 will be the Perth Wildcats (again) taking on Melbourne United. That's the widely tipped grand final for this season, so be sure to join us next Friday from 9:30pm (AEDT) for that one. Sam Walker will also have live coverage tomorrow from 1pm (AEDT) of the Brisbane Bullets and Phoenix Suns in NBLxNBA series. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hey mate, Yeah, it's a shame we are only doing a game of the week + finals this year, but that's the way it goes. Perth vs Melbourne will be on next round for us. Fantastic second half. Shut down the Hawks brilliantly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hiya Damo, Didn't see your comment mate - sorry. Yeah, unfortunately it's only one game a week + all the finals this year for NBL. It's a shame, but it is what it is. It was interesting. Perth lost a lot of momentum taking them all off. Clarke is a freak. Why he can't start I don't know.
Damo
Guest
Hi Scott. Didn't realise you were blogging! Good 2nd half by perth though I was surprised how much time their bench was given in the 2nd qtr. Just give Rotnei best 6th man award now. It's almost cheating!
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Kay looks for a pass to the corner for Coenraad, but the ball goes over the sideline. Turnover on the inbound, a couple of missed threes and then a foul will send us up the other end on the rebound, with Brandt going to the strike. He misses both, and that'll do us. The Wildcats then, clinch victory at home in the grand final rematch. An absolutely wonderful second half performance from the hosts. They locked down the defensive end of the court and just didn't give the Hawks a chance. Illawarra, matter of fact scored just 21 points in the second half. Not good enough, but they recovered after a slow start to be in the game. We can't write them off just yet - there's no tougher place to play than the Perth Arena. Clinical performance from Perth though. Ten-point win at home. Perth Wildcats - 74 Illawarra Hawks - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Full court press, but the Wildcats get through it and just run the clock. No foul, and then it's Walker making the easy bucket. Now it's over. Wildcats - 74 Hawks - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' 46 seconds on the clock. Lead reduced to 8 as Clarke makes both. Maybe it's not completely over. Wildcats - 72 Hawks - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Wildcats lose a ball over the baseline, then it's Clarke going on the drive straight through the paint. Heavy traffic and Walker commits the foul as he crashes to the ground. Wildcats - 72 Hawks - 62
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Brilliant defence again from Perth, but Conger with his brilliance will get the job done for a bucket out of the post. Wildcats - 72 Hawks - 62
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Walker makes one. Wildcats - 72 Hawks - 60
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Perth bringing it up the floor. Martin to Cotton, then it's Walker through the lane and he draws a foul on the shot. Will go to the line for a couple. Wildcats - 71 Hawks - 60
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Poor, poor defence right here and Brandt will make another dunk. He has 17 points - brilliant game. Now Conger with a tough bucket through the paint. Wildcats - 71 Hawks - 60
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Wildcats now go from Cotton to Walker and then Brandt goes through the open lane for the dunk. Poor defence, but a great read from Walker right there. Now it's Kay to Clarke and he drops a three. Wildcats - 69 Hawks - 58
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Johnson misses both. Wildcats - 67 Hawks - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Good pressure from Delvon Johnson now. He is all over Brandt like a cheap suit that time and forces the miss. Brandt then commits a foul on the board as well and we will walk the floor. Wildcats - 67 Hawks - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Conger with a miss through the key now. This one looks to be just about over. Wildcats - 67 Hawks - 55