The Perth Wildcats put their season on the line in Game 2 of the NBL semi-finals against the red-hot Adelaide 36ers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9:30pm (AEDT).
The Wildcats were comprehensively outplayed in Game 1 of the series, with the 36ers fast style of play leaving them shaken.
Perth have always been the picture of perfection in the NBL, especially at finals time, but Trevor Gleeson’s men were rattled in the series opener, unlike they have been anytime in the last three finals campaigns.
Adelaide finished the regular season with a bang, finding some form over the final few weeks and made every bit of their home advantage count on Saturday. They got out and ran at every opportunity, racking up fastbreak points like they were going out of fashion.
Despite that, it was their defence which led to attack. Perth’s shooting was woeful at times and with Adelaide crashing the boards and putting extra emphasis on winning the rebound count, their fast men – Nathan Sobey, Mitch Creek and imports Ramone Moore and Josh Childress simply couldn’t be stopped.
The telling factor was having six players in double figures for points. The 36ers have plenty of depth on their roster – indicated by Moore being their sixth man – and for the Wildcats to hold that level over 40 minutes, everything needs to go right.
Of course, there is the possibility playing at Perth Arena will shake the 36ers around.
If Perth are to get back into the series, they must defend better first and foremost with that effort led by Damian Martin.
From there, they need to play the game at their pace. In Adelaide, they got sucked into playing a faster style which simply doesn’t suit them. If they can slow things down, play the half court game and have both Bryce Cotton and JP Tokoto stand up, they will be a chance.
If the 36ers are allowed to play their pace though, it’ll be a sweep with Joey Wright’s men looking to earn themselves more time off ahead of the grand final series, which begins on February 16 – next Friday – against Melbourne United.
Prediction
The Wildcats will turn things around to an extent and certainly won’t get blown off the court like they did in Game 1, but after such a big drubbing, it’s hard to see them turning things all the way around, even at home.
36ers by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for liv ecoverage of the NBL semi-finals from 9:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
TheLaw
Guest
I’ve never seen a foul committed outside the three point line, then let a two point lay-up count. It’s a contradiction, because if he was in the motion of shooting it’s three free throws from the line, obviously he wasn’t shooting the ball, therefore as such there is no shooting foul, lay-up with four steps doesn’t count, throw in from the side.
Kris Swales
Expert
Rolling from Knights-Manly into this cracker - decent night at the office!
Nudge
Guest
Thanks Scott. Amazing win for Adelaide. Not sure who's going to play on Boone. No match up for him for Adelaide. Johnson not strong enough and Hodgson not athletic enough.
Robbo
Guest
Never counted them out. Got within striking distance and got it done. They learnt from that easy cut for Perth's last scoring play and got the points off turnover. Huge. We have the best finals match up with both qualifying teams. Go Sixers
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NBL finals series as the Adelaide 36ers beat the Perth Wildcats, knocking them out of the competition int he process. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I hope to be back during the grand final series, but either way, we will have live coverage of all five games. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GRAND FINAL FIXTURES Game 1: Friday, February 16, 7:30pm - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena Game 2: Sunday, February 18, 3pm - Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United at Titanium Security Arena Game 3: Friday, February 23, 7:30pm - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena Game 4*: TBC - Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United at Titanium Security Arena Game 5*: TBC - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena *If required
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was a stunning comeback. Josh Childress the key man with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Stunned silence at Perth Arena.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Actually Childress to the free throw line. Clock back up to 4.6. Childress misses the first. He then purposely misses the second off the front iron, Daniel Johnson grabs the board, throws it out and Adelaide manage to hang on! The 36ers are going to the grand final. What an amazing comeback. They were down by 18 points at quarter time and for the first time in many, many years, neither the Breakers or Wildcats will be in the grand final. It's Adelaide Melbourne in the big dance. Wildcats - 88 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' It took a long, long, long time, but the Wildcats finally foul. Cotton almost ended up with a steal, but it's a foul. Moore to the line. 3.5 seconds on the clock. Wildcats - 88 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Perth have to foul straight away here and then hope for misses, or to sink a three on the other side of a timeout and send it to overtime Clock back up to 8.5. Wildcats - 88 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Cotton misses the first, makes the second. One-point game. Wildcats - 88 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' This is it. Wildcats need to score here and Martin goes to Cotton who drives the lane and draws the foul throwing up the shot from under on Creek. He will go to the line with a chance to tie it up eight seconds from fulltime. Wildcats - 87 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Wildcats with a huge possession right here. Walker inbounds to Martin, then it's Bryce Cotton in position at the top. He runs the shot clock, then goes with a screen and Brandt is rejected before Childress goes coast to coast and scores. WOAH! That was incredible. Cotton found Brandt and he was rejected right in front. Wildcats - 87 36ers - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Timeout! It's squared up and we have a 45 second shootout. Roarers, who wins it? Wildcats - 87 36ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' 46.7 on the clock. Childress makes the extra and we are all square! Wildcats - 87 36ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' OH MY! Sobey misses the free throw, Tokoto can't handle it, Childress grabs the offensive board and then goes back up to score, drawing the foul as well! Wow oh wow! Wildcats - 87 36ers - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Cotton misses the extra. Sobey quickly back up the floor and he draws a foul, scoring in the process. Wildcats - 87 36ers - 84
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Wildcats dribbling up the floor and running time off the clock as we head into the final 60 seconds. Huge play and they make it count! A sensational bounce pass into the lane from Martin with Cotton on the backdoor cut. He drops the shot and draws the foul! Wildcats - 87 36ers - 82
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' 1:13 on the clock. Creek sinks both at the line. Wildcats - 85 36ers - 82