Hoops

Wildcats @ Blaze, Game 2

If people are going to jump on the "lets hate somebody" bandwagon and I don't agree with their reasons, I'm going to say something. Sorry that I just don't accept the majority opinion and move on.

I've let it go.

Dude, we were talking about flopping. If you have heard a rumour that would make HAHA jizz in his pants then that's fine, but it's entirely irrelevant to the discussion.

Besides, I don't base my thoughts on people based on what others think.

That's compelling evidence! It proves he took a dive when Demos barely touched him.

I won't ask who but for what reasons?

I'm still not agreeing on the Demos play. I think you guys are exaggerating Redhage's actions. And Demos hardly copped anything from the crowd - we won't waste out booing on a nobody like him!

After the Cats-Pans game, Rychart twittered something like "Robbins called me a flopper and said I am bad for the league. Well Perth has the biggest flopper in the league in Redhage"

Good to add a bit of spice to the next encounter.

While I dont think Redhage is a flopper I have to agree with X on the Demos one. Redhage saw him coming, braced to take the hit and still went flying backwards. Totally agree it was a foul on Demos but I still feel that Redhage made the most of the contact and 'chose' to go to ground. Probably not so much to get the call from the ref (it was always going to be called on Demos) but more to help fire up the home crowd, and it worked. Demos was then added to the Harvey and Goulding list and copped an earful all night.

Redhage is just one of those players I love to hate. If I was a perth fan Id love him, but Im not so he gets up my nose and I love to see him have a bad night! Its great to have players like that - and luckily for Perth they have a team full of em! (yeah Im still pissed off about last night)

So TC2 - care to enlighten this non twitterer what Dusty said?

You are over-stating the Demos incident. His size and weight is irrelevant - Demos ran straight in to a stationary player and he fell backwards. it was the only call of the ones I mentioned that he didn't have to sell.

I realise that it's league-wide opinion that Redhage is this and that but that doesn't make it true. Hell, Dusty Rychart's recent tweet was the most hypocrtical thing I have ever read.

I know that he plays for the fouls and is often the centre of confrontation but he is certainly not the biggest flopper or actor or anything. The guy plays hard, he gets held and bumped a lot. I'm not claiming mistreatment either - Redhage has lately picked up early fouls in games for the same things so it's not like his opponent is too manly to try and draw attention to the goings on.

Xztatik, you made the comment after game 1. I did respond but you probably didn't see it so we'll go back to that.

Watching the replay, Redhage was on the ground three times in the game. The first time was when he was starting to run down the court on a possible break when Vukona stepped into him. Not a huge hip and shoulder but enough to impede his progress. There is no problem with selling that call.

Second time when part time player Demos made zero attempt to go through his screen and slammed straight in to him. He couldn't have even flopped if he tried because he was going down no matter what.

Third time was after a series of fumbles and saves between the teo teams. Redhage found himself unguarded for a short time and was calling for the ball. Goulding comes from nowhere and knocks him off balance. Again, no problem with selling that call because he was fouled.

So that's why I don't think he is a flopper. If it's ok for these defenders to hold him, push him, bump him, do whatever to him because they can't stop him any other way then there is no problem with him selling the call. It's not like he takes a Hinder-esque approach to things and acts like he is shot when there is zero contact.

Why is Redhage a flopper? Because he gets knocked over three times in a half by clumsy and/or physical defenders?

Quick, someone accuse Redhage of being a flopper.

Not so sure about that being correct away from home me. To date this season home court has been a huge advantage - with all teams - so I think the Blaze are at least an even money chance, if not slight favourites at home (yes even though I am biased)

Gibbo and Goulding didnt handle the extra pressure applied by Perth and didnt get into the offence until too late in the shot clock. Needed to see more decent screens set high to free them up - but Vanderjagt seemed top be the nly one who was actually doing a decent job in that department! Really missed Ubaka and his explosiveness to blow past a defender who is up in your face and get into the lane. Will be a big call tomorrow night for Joey as Ubaka still isnt quite ready but is keen to play.

Agreed with Petrie, will need to use his speed and look to score or draw fouls and get to the line

IMO though it all comes down to the guards hitting their shots. If Gibbo, Harvey and Goulding can hit early then it all opens up for the Blaze and the crowd will be in full voice to hopefully help get the team over the line and back to Perth for game 3