Hoops

Pre-season - Perth vs Cairns

Sounds like Johnson is the real deal. Add prather and the cats could be back

Haha fstos, coming from a Taipans fan, you're exactly right. From memory we have a history of looking potent in the pre-season only to go limper than than a wet dishrag in the season proper. Soft like Charmin baby

39 fouls to 27 :O

Sounds like a super scrappy game? Anyone there to watch?

4 taipans players fouled out as well

Thankyou Train

Live stats for game 2 here
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/71150/18/05/43/72Y2B2dIBByg/

Cairns look pretty decent. They have always been the underdogs and over achieved. If they can do what they did behind the arc as they did with Perth and throw Jawai in the middle they should get a lot of wins.

*crickets*

Don't let the Snakes scoring outburst fool you.

It is pre season and Fearne doesn't want anyone to scout his wonderful offensive sets so he is obviously letting the guys play and express their talents a bit.

I am very confident that when all the hard work at training pays off and his disciplined offense clicks into gear they will be hitting that 70 pts or so a game that we all know and love.

People were saying that about the Kings' import guard at this stage last year. I don't even remember his name.

Trice already showing his class. Could be a MVP contender

You can't compare two guys rebounding stats from different teams like that. One guy might have better rebounding teammates or have a team that misses more thereby giving more rebound opportunities. Alternatively one defense may force more missed shots than another

Was impressed with McKay too. I think he will play some power forward with Brandt and Knight splitting time at centre

I was pretty impressed with McKay's stats. Looks to be a very good pick up for Perth. Perth's 3 point shooting was a bit of a concern 4/15, compared to Cairns 15/37.

Perth were without Martin, Kenny, Hire and Prather so I don't think there is too much to get worried about.

Did Brandt get injured ? He played 10:29, all in the first half I believe.

"Lucidity and the ability of the Taipans to crack 90ppg" will now be the title of my autobiography.

If Cairns beat last years champs, that means they will win the title this year

#advancedstats

Lucidity and the ability of the Taipans to crack 90ppg? ;)

I love pre-season :)

moc drop.

lucidity is fleeting Wookiee, I doubt my form with translate to the season proper :)

Haven't seen and clips or highlights yet, I'd be surprised if we didn't see something early next week.


Freethrows - the sanity bus left long ago brother.

Brandt could be a really strong rebounder, the Kings were unfortunately a woeful rebounding TEAM (to borrow Mock's emphasis), and Brandt probably has some bad habits he needs to shake... and Perth is (unfortunately) probably the best place for that to happen.

*feels uneasy at Podge being the voice of reason and all-out winning with logic and statistics*

ah well, it's the pre-season, always time for things to settle down :)

Sounds like a decent hit out... I don't suppose there have been any hightlights or clips posted? Perth and Cairns are usually pretty good on the social media but both seem to have dropped the ball this time around...

Nice work, Podge. You may need to re-read my 3 simple steps for certain posters, just to stay sane.

Mic dropped. Facts always win over emotional based feelings.

(note: 'His first 4 starts' is in reference to his college career)

well if you're going to bring Einstein into this, I'll drop some facts:

Brandt avg 9 rebounds a game in his first 4 starts, before he did his knee. He dropped to 4RPG the next season, but he was working his way back to full fitness (oh and he avg 12ppg at 50%).

He avg'd 5.29 rebounds a game last year - which was more than Jervis and Jawai. Knight avg'd slightly more at 7, but Matty played 7 minutes more per game.

Now I know the stats don't necessarily match with your feels, but the reality is that Brandt is a pretty decent NBL player. He gives the Wildat's great depth and versatility at 4/5.

good one EINSTEIN he wasn't a good rebounder at the Sydney Kings or in 5 years of college either. Is he going to get good in the next month before the season starts? I THINK NOT

Yeah mock ease up. It's preseason, everyone just feeling themselves out here. Plus look at Brandt as insurance for when knight does get injured which will happen. He would be a cheaper option than some people think aswell, so there is the business side to his signing.

here's an IDEA Mock, DONT read TOO MUCH into pre SEASON GAMES. There's a reason they CALL it the PRE SEASON, because it happens before the ACTUAL season.

Brandt is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! Not for the wildcats anyway. He should get more rebounds for his size. Luckily the GREAT MAN KNIGHT is there to keep him from getting too much time.

Any One go to the game? Interested to hear how all new imports played.

Carins 51 Perth 45 Half time

dammit live stats!!!!

...and the live stats froze, classic

McKay seems promising, 10pts 5rebs early on

Seems like it's Taipans vs Wilcats atm.
6 Taipans have already hit a 3 and we're only a couple of minutes into the 2nd quarter

Should be a great season.

Legend thanks! Cairns are going to be top 4 this year, imports are great. Underrated team.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/71150/18/05/43/72Y2B2dIBByg/

Anyone with a stats link?

Any idea when Prather will come? Would love if they could show all pre season games from all teams, I can't see a reason why not?

5 weeks to go, still feels feels like a lifetime. All that matters who wins post season not pre season.

Yeah, would love it if there was a stream, some new faces that would be great to get a look at...

Any live streaming or recording?

If this finds its way onto youtube I'd be very keen to take a look at the 5 new imports

Any live stats?

Taj McCullough led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points including several highlight reel jams and he added six rebounds and two steals, while Rod Grizzard finished with 12 points and ten rebounds and Blagoj Janev was a perfect three of three from downtown for his nine point contribution.

New Zealand got 13 points and ten boards from import Gary Wilkinson, Alex Pledger had 12 points and eight rebounds and Corey Webster finished with 11 points for the Breakers.