Hoops

Taipans-Wildcats Semi Finals series thread

Time will tell.

Bill's right, there's no question that barring foul trouble or them just having a really bad night, Cairns should struggle to contain the Cats' backcourt.

But the question is whether Cairns' frontcourt dominance can counter that.

Bill off the ball more like it

Hawks couldn't handle Randle.

Can the Taipans handle Cotton AND Prather together?

That should give you the clue.

Going to be interesting to see how the games are reffed. With the one notable exception, Jawai generally gets a raw deal. If the Refs let the Cats get away with mugging him every time he gets near the basket, he can be contained.

At the other end, will they continue to role out the "little guy protection" for Cotton? Or will they be less inclined to blow the whistle in the finals.

Which games are you referring to?
The Kings game we played a broken team. Yes we play well at home as front-runners against a crippled opponent. No surprises there.
The United game I thought was far from our best. It was ugly and not impressive IMO. We out-shot Melbourne from outside the arc and still barely scraped home.

I believe we've got another level left in us, which is good because we'll need it to advance.

We’re a lot more free. We know we have the chance to compete for a championship so all of the pressure is off our heads.

Is that a good thing?
With the pressure on, the Cats stepped up and played two of their best games all season.

haha just like death and taxes.

Let us hope we don't see the same incompetent officiating that marred 2 (3 if you ask Wildcat fans) of the regular season matchups....

See the ref roster doesn't fill me with much optimism....

Wow, a Wildcats thread derailed by an inane and irrelevant discussion about the 36ers - there's a turnaround!

technically, yes it is.

Podge, its not that hard. You mentioned both games, giving specifics for both. I responded to your comment about one of the games, and gave specifics. You saying "I was talking about the other game" is not a response.

congratulations. You just played yourself.

"But facts.... Randle and Sobey played 30+ minutes in Adelaide. They weren't tanking. If you think they were, put down the box score and watch a replay of the game.

Even when Randle only played 11 (the rest of the started played close to their regular minutes) they were playing to win. "

Sorry, you were talking about both, and I responded to your comment about the game in Cairns, where the bench was being played for large minutes in the fourth.

Fight fight fight

I was talking about the Adelaide game kiddo, hence why the location is mentioned in the post......

"So Joey didn't have all his best troops on the court during crunch time in Adelaide?

Nice story Anon. next."

You were talking about the game in Cairns, where they had their bench on for a long time in the 4th. Nice shift of the goalposts though.

and they did neither in Adelaide, they played to win.

Seems like some people are struggling to understand the different between tanking (i.e. intentionally losing) and not doing everything possible to win.

Zodiac, the point i was making was that the starting 5 got their run in cairns, minus Randal, obviously he was giving the bench guys minutes but the intent was to win. They weren't tanking.

The game in Adelaide, no one was resting.

Even when Randle only played 11 (the rest of the started played close to their regular minutes) they were playing to win. Again, watch the game... don't just look at the box score.....

I think you're right there Dazzamaniac

So Joey didn't have all his best troops on the court during crunch time in Adelaide?

Nice story Anon. next.

They aren't that good though.

"Even when Randle only played 11 (the rest of the started played close to their regular minutes) they were playing to win. Again, watch the game... don't just look at the box score....."

Who was on the court when the game was there to be won? Not the best five guys that Joey could have put out there. Maybe you should watch the game instead of just reading the "minutes" column.

I dont think they tanked but they certainly weren't focused on winning.

This series could go either way in my opinion. Both teams have had tough schedules leading into the playoffs. The Taipans played 10 games in 29 days with double headers (1 home and 1 away) in each of the last 5 rounds. The Wildcats played 9 games in that period but had one round where they didn't have to travel.

Interestingly, it seems that the Wildcats (even though they were in Melbourne on Sunday) were allowed to miss the MVP awards night on Monday yet Fearne, Gliddon, Trice and Worthington flew down from Cairns to attend. I wonder if Fearne knew the Wildcats had been excused and if he was given the same opportunity ?

This game will be harder than the 2 previous home games against the Wildcats as they are now at full strength and Prather seems to be back to his best. I think they are going to be very hard to beat with the one question mark I have on them being that I'm not sure they are as hungry for a title as they were last season whereas the Taipans certainly are.

The Taipans however, can be very shaky if it gets close at the death - as recently as the last home game against Adelaide they did their best to keep Adelaide in it at the end. They have been particularly vulnerable all season when they have started off well and built good leads and have been a far better team when they have had to chase down a deficit.

But facts.... Randle and Sobey played 30+ minutes in Adelaide. They weren't tanking. If you think they were, put down the box score and watch a replay of the game.

Even when Randle only played 11 (the rest of the started played close to their regular minutes) they were playing to win. Again, watch the game... don't just look at the box score.....


"cairns were always going to win the last 2" - is a statement that originated somewhere between your small and large intestines.

My biggest concern, and I'm only speculating, is that the Cats have already played their finals. That was a massive game against MU, and I reckon the collective sign of relief probably spawned a high-pressure system.

Same could be said for Cairns. They've played playoff games for the last month now

There's absolutely no reason that ether team can't win this.
All their games have been close. Perth's last loss was without Knight, Cairns' earlier losses were without Mitchell, etc.

My biggest concern, and I'm only speculating, is that the Cats have already played their finals. That was a massive game against MU, and I reckon the collective sign of relief probably spawned a high-pressure system.

Cairns are only there because they faced a 36ers team that already had their number 1 spot wrapped up and were resting players, that being said they are coming good at the right time.

"The commentary team on Sunday mentioned they believed they were flying straight to Cairns"

Brad Robbins suggested that...I don't think he had any sort of idea what was happening, rather just speculating on what they might do. There would be no need for them to head to Cairns five days early.

"Are the Cats in Cairns now?"

The commentary team on Sunday mentioned they believed they were flying straight to Cairns, however there was an article in the West today stating they had been excused from the Awards night so they could fly home and prepare...so who knows.

I'm wearing my Perth goggles and I'm not taking them off until we're eliminated. Perth to sweep Cairns 2-0 ;)

Series was close, taipans got Perth twice at home once without Prather and last game knight was missing so with a full team I'm confident we can get the all important game 1

Reid, That clown couldn't see from 1 mtr away the ball came off Ware's foot then couldn't see the ball came off Wagstaff's foot.
This has been the worst season for ref's in the last decade.

And won't Joey be happy to see Hogan?

Are the Cats in Cairns now?

Perth should attack nate from the high post, get McKay to draw a couple of quick fouls utilising his speed.

If Perth rocks up for 3/4 per game they can win this. Unfortunately that has been an impossible task all season.

Although it seems obvious key players avoiding foul trouble will be key, cotton, damo, prather for perth and Gliddon and Nate for cairns.

It's that all too comon computer glitch, 1D10T error!

probably an organic interface error.

Don't know why NBL app schedule was so wrong, closed down app and reopened and it has been updated with new schedule.

@kobrulz
I am just going off the calender schedule on the NBL app. Looks like another oversight from the NBL techies.
It lists Adelaide at home Game 1 on Thursday 16th and game 2 on Monday 20th with game 3 in Illawarra on Thursday 23rd.
It lists Cairns playing game 1 in Perth on Friday 17th, game 2 in Cairns on Sunday 19th with game 3 in Cairns on Friday 24th.

I think you've missed the fact that none of what you said is true.

Adelaide and Cairns both have games one and three at home, Illawarra and Perth have game two at home.

Why do Cairns play first game away? Adelaide plays first two games at home and third away if required, yet Cairns draw is the opposite,despite finishing 2nd on ladder, playing away and then at home. To me they are disadvantaged as they have to travel, play game 1 and then travel back for game 2 only 2 days later.
Yet Adelaide can wrap up their series without travelling to Illawarra. Is there a reason for this that I have missed?

Taipans should win this series. Game 1 obviously crucial but they get that, cats won't recover. They didn't look at all good against united, barely doing enough in a playoff game for them. Taipans will grind it out better. Low scoring series.

"Reid is the worst ref in the league...... I can't wait to view his mediocrity in person once more. It gives me tingles down my spine, and if i'm telling the truth a slight tingle in my loins."

lol!

Bless your little orange socks, Kingpodge, you are a credit to the board :P

thanks for the roster Anon

Emergency Toni Caldwell is actually her full name.

Reid is the worst ref in the league...... I can't wait to view his mediocrity in person once more. It gives me tingles down my spine, and if i'm telling the truth a slight tingle in my loins.

Seeing Vaughan is doing both games I suspect it will be a 2-0 series win to the Wildcats win with Cottono, Marto, Knighto, Shawno and Jesso out flopping Wortho :-)

"Emergency Toni Caldwell"

Good to hear. Cats will have a chance now!