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Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United |
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2018-19 NBL Grand Final, Game 1 |
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| Venue: Perth Arena, Perth, WA | ||
| Match time: Fulltime | ||
| Perth Wildcats | Melbourne United | |
| 81 | SCORE | 71 |
| 14 | Q1 | 13 |
| 15 | Q2 | 20 |
| 31 | Q3 | 14 |
| 21 | Q4 | 24 |
The NBL grand final series is here, and after demolishing their opposition in the semi-finals, it’ll be the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United to clash for the trophy. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Game 1 from 10:20pm (AEDT).
The Wildcats took out the NBL minor premiership, but given the top three teams were all tied on win-loss records, the percentage factor to decide home court advantage in both semi-finals and the final was huge.
Perth finished the season with outstanding play across the board, and demonstrated more of that during a 2-0 drubbing of the Brisbane Bullets in the semi-final series.
Their win at home, backed up by a usual tenacity and effort in defence was outstanding, with Brisbane scoring an all time NBL-low of just four points in the final quarter of the game.
Perth were pushed harder in Game 2, but they still got the job done and had an extra day off leading into the five-game grand final series.
Melbourne were never really put under pressure in their semi-final series against the Sydney Kings. Game 1 saw the outfit come away with a stunning victory at home, before they ran away down the stretch of Game 2.
This is a series of contrasting styles. While Perth aren’t shabby on attack, they are a defence-first outfit, and with Josh Boone and Damian Martin leading the way, it’s not hard to see why.
Melbourne, on the other hand, have weapons all over the floor. Casper Ware has been on an unbelievably hot stretch of form, Chris Goulding is still one of the best shooters in the league, and containing Josh Boone in the paint will be a mammoth task for Angus Brandt and co.
Perth don’t have the offence to go with them, so they will need to unsettle Melbourne’s shooters through an aggressive defensive strategy, but even that may not be enough.
Prediction
As much as you’d think this series is going to be home sides all the way, Melbourne just have too many weapons on the floor unless Bryce Cotton gets going. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see overtime in this one, with Melbourne poaching it on the buzzer.
Melbourne by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 1 in the 2018-19 NBL grand final series from 10:20pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 10:20pm (AEDT)
Venue: Perth Arena, Perth
TV: Live, Fox Sports and 9Go
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, Kayo sports
Betting: Wildcats $1.75, United $2.20
Perth Wildcats
Point guard: Daniel Martin
Shooting guard: Bryce Cotton
Small forward: Greg Hire
Power forward: Nick Kay
Centre: Angus Brandt
Bench: Mitch Norton, Terrico White, Jesse Wagstaff, Clint Steindl, Tom Jervis, Rhys Vague
Melbourne United
Point guard: Casper Ware
Shooting guard: Mitch McCarron
Small forward: D.J. Kennedy
Power forward: David Barlow
Centre: Josh Boone
Bench: Chris Goulding, Tohi Smith-Milner, Craig Moller, Alex Pledger, Peter Hooley, Sam Short, Sam McDaniel, Jenky Vois, Daniel Trist
Bernie
Guest
... and we all saw Marto's clean pick that got called as a foul. No predictions please umpires! Marto picked that ball clean as, '...like a Year One's index finger up the left nostril!' He certainly picked it clean!!! :-)
anon
Roar Pro
Agreed
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah absolutely. It's unbelievable, and the funny thing is, they have had seasons where guys have been injured for long stretches, this being one of them. They looked all money to miss the playoffs at points, but they just always get someone to stand up from somewhere, start winning games, and turn things around. It's really quite unbelievable.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for Game 1 of the 2018-19 NBL Grand Final series. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We will be back with Game 2 on Sunday from 2:50pm (AEDT) as Melbourne try to hit back on their home floor. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for that Damo. They needed to take care of business today, but yeah, Sunday is a different beast. The Wildcats defence was really impressive tonight, but it's hard to see none of Melbourne's shooters going big on Sunday after tonight.
anon
Roar Pro
The 90's were an incredible time for basketball and Perth were in the thick of it. I know there are European soccer clubs that don't have playoffs and have been near the top for decades on end, you have successful college teams in America, but this is a very restrictive league with a salary cap. You have very few options to gain an advantage. It will never happen again in this country. The level of consistency. To not have ONE single slightly ordinary season, to not have a season derailed by injury or so on. 5-10 consecutive years is unbelievable consistency. I can't wrap my head around 33 years. It's a culture that needs to be studied.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep, Terrico got it. He was superb. Sunday is going to be very interesting. Cheers Jordan.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Perth Wildcats have taken care of business on their home floor in front of 12 and a half thousand fans, recording a ten-point victory over Melbourne United during Game 1 of the 2018-19 NBL Grand Final series. The first half of the contest was dominated by defence at both ends of the floor, with the lowest-scoring first quarter for the entire season to go with the equal lowest-scoring first half. Shooters were struggling from both clubs to put any decent points up, with both Casper Ware and Bryce Cotton struggling. Nick Kay and Angus Brandt were fantastic in the paint for the Wildcats, seriously limiting the impact of Josh Boone right throughout the game, who only finished with four points. The Wildcats were able to kick away during the third quarter, as Terrico White got hot in a hurry. He finished the game with 22 points and eight rebounds, which was enough to see him named player of the game. Perth really built their offence off their defence, and it showed, as Melbourne struggled to put up points, coming up with a series of empty possessions during the third quarter. The final term was more even, but the Wildcats held their opponents at arm's length, with the final two minutes turning into garbage time before this five-game series heads back to Melbourne on a short turnaround come Sunday afternoon. Perth Wildcats - 81 Melbourne United - 71
Damo
Guest
As always Scott, thanks for the call. Part 1 done for the Cats but obviously Sunday in Melbourne will be a different game. I'm still surprised that DJ kept playing, he looked very average. United have plenty left in the shed with all their big guns going quiet but that's as good as a team shutdown job you'll ever see in professional sport by the Wildcats. All the pressure on Melbourne now, the joys of home court advantage.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
I'd give MOTM to Terico tonight, he just had the magic touch. I the start of that 3rd quarter, we were all over the Tigers and you can see the crowd lifted. We won't have that on Sunday so, yeah. Thanks for the call Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Terrico White really led the way tonight with 22 points and eight rebounds. Unsurprisingly, he is the player of the game. Damian Martin with some really big points in the final quarter, but all of Perth's other starters were in double figures, while their defence really stood up strongly. Melbourne need to clean up turnovers back at home, but the limited impact of Josh Boone was noticeable tonight. Casper Ware had 19, leading the way for his club.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, that's the end in Perth. A couple of baskets for the road, but Melbourne have a lot to think about, and really, as do the Wildcats ahead of Sunday, because if they start like they did tonight, well, they can't exactly rely on Melbourne's shooters to be off the money at home. Nonetheless, a great win for the Wildcats, and they will head onto the road with a 1-0 lead, having taken care of business at The Jungle in front of 12 and a half thousand fans. Wildcats - 81 United - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, I can't think of any better. It's absolutely mad, especially when you consider how close the NBL has been for the last couple of seasons, and the competitiveness of the 90s.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The free throw misses from McCarron, and now, both coaches would just like the final buzzer to sound as we turn our attention to Sunday, where it's as good as must-win for United. McCarron fouled out now as well. Wildcats - 81 United - 68
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' McCarron back out there, as are Hooley and Vois. He draws a foul and scores there. Wildcats - 81 United - 68
anon
Roar Pro
Best organisation in Australian sport the Wildcats? 33 finals appearances. 1/3 of a century. Absurd in a salary cap league.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Wagstaff okay to continue then. He misses the extra. Wildcats - 81 United - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Wagstaff is really limping out there. Looks sore. Very sore. Starters starting to check out. There goes Cotton. Wildcats - 81 United - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Well, that puts a dampner on a great night, and probably goes to show why the starters should have been out of this about 45 seconds ago. Kay passes to Wagstaff and he scores, and drew the foul, but looks to have done his ankle falling awkwardly. Wildcats - 81 United - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Goulding makes two, misses the extra. Wildcats - 79 United - 66