Hoops

Wildcats @Bullets Jan 14

Tanking

What a comeback from Perth, but what a way to snatch defeat from victory by the Bullets.

They had that game in the bag, but if you don't want a win, don't tease your fans.

Buford started on Cotton, who imbounded and received the hand-off back from Walker, at that point Gibson switched as Bryce had gapped Buford who was also a chance to get hooked up on Waxy and allow an open look.

Gibbo defended it very well, got body on him and made him shoot a fadeaway over a hand, credit to Cotton for getting the job done. The real issue is how scared Brisbane played for so long in the second half, inexcusable.

Hahaha ... I have to pay that one

Good point, Chairman. Buford blocked one of Cotton's prior shots so cleanly that Cotton didn't even flail around, mimicking a seizure, trying to get a foul called. You know it's clean then.

Surely you've got to get Buford on to Cotton for the last defensive play? Gibbo played it well but doesn't have the hops to make that last shot as hard as PB would have.

The Cats have had a very tough schedule lately. They've were on the road for a month. They finally get a home game but it's on the Friday after a road double, and less than 48 hours later they're back in Brisbane playing again.
I thought it was extraordinary the way they willed themselves to out-work the Bullets today. That was some serious mind-over-matter shit IMO.

This coming weekend it's another home-away double (albeit the Kings), and then finally the following round they have just a single game, at home, to recharge the batteries.

But after rediscovering their defensive intensity today I'm picturing it happening from the opening tip this Friday. Sydney would be feeling a bit better about themselves after the way they competed with Adelaide, but it could be a bloodbath in Perth Arena on Friday night if the Cats are at full strength.

I dont think they are arrogant thinking they can beat anyone, they are losing games, losing leads.

How good was Perth's defence, especially that possession when they denied the pass with the ball just over the half. Imo Perth and Adelaide are the only two teams capable of locking down the defence like that which will win them games.
As for leaving too much time on the clock, shooting around the 5-6 second mark is ideal, allows tip in. No player is truly worried about leaving 4 seconds on the clock, takes an almighty effort to score in that time. Ridiculous that Trice is being blamed a bit.

'DCJ looked like he was having a very ordinary game but was 4/4'

I saw him miss the ring on at least 2 shots, there's no way in hell he went 4/4

"Wonder if they thought about it but thought it was way too risky with the way unsportsmanlike fouls have been"

If so, then that's a good outcome. Don't want deliberate fouling to kill the chance of a classic finish like that.

Nothing about points scored or his stats. I didn’t look at the stats till the game was done. Mind you I guess the whole wildcats team were guilty of having an ordinary game for a good chunk.

DCJ just saved his NBL career today

DCJ looked like he was having a very ordinary game but was 4/4 and had 8 points, 9reb, 4 steals, 1 block and no turnovers in 27 minutes. That’s a pretty decent game from the Cookie Monster. He has a very unorthodox shot, some of them look like wild shots but they don’t even look like missing. Even his FTs look ugly.

I hope he sticks in this league because I think he can develop into a great player.

Best game I have seen for a long time. Shame Perth won. :(

@ Zodiac; Even on the same roster, I think Tokoto is a better overall player than Cotton with how he impacts the game across the board. Not nearly at Cotton's level when it comes to volume scoring, sure, but overall he does a lot of things at a high level. I think Trice is better than Cotton overall, and Randle is at least close but I'd give the edge to Cotton.

Keeping the pressure on, we know United and breakers play 3 times, Perth always go shit at some stage of the season.

Perth would be happy to finish top 2, just great seeing clutch play's from the imports this season, he misses that then cotton is average?

Always a clutch player but he needs help, and Kenny and Cooke played to a T what the are meant to.

Brisbane vs Sydney

Which team would find the most effective way to lose......

If Cotton isn't scoring, he isn't doing anything for you. Trice plays OK D and is a playmaker as well. Again, not a better scorer than Cotton, but better at everything else (IMO).

Do you foul before the 3pt shot, lets ask pop. Its a chicken egg, no right no wrong, he executed well, so did cotton well played all round

@ Zodiac; Even on the same roster, I think Tokoto is a better overall player than Cotton with how he impacts the game across the board. Not nearly at Cotton's level when it comes to volume scoring, sure, but overall he does a lot of things at a high level. I think Trice is better than Cotton overall, and Randle is at least close but I'd give the edge to Cotton.

@ Kobe; disagree completely. Put up the shot with 2 seconds left and don't give Perth a chance to win the game. If you miss, so be it.

That 2nd half was even better than this thread.

First time in...I think ever, I can say well coached Gleeson (at least from 3 min to go in 2nd qtr). Cats played smart by not bombing away and trying to get the whole 21 points back at once.
He benched steindle after some horrible defensive efforts and clearly told Kenny he owed us.
Good win on the road.

That's the mainstream thinking, Kobe. But I've always found it flawed. You want the last shot to always be yours

4 seconds was way too much time to leave on the clock.

Comfortably the best player Angus. Who's the next best? Randle? I'd take Cotton over Randle any day of the week.

Again it's annoying how much he coasts through games but that's because he knows in crunch time he can get any shot he wants any time he wants. In the short time Cotton has been here I've seen him do this stuff a number of times now. It's not luck or just happening to get hot at the right time he just knows he's a level above.

Cotton is the best scorer in the league, but he's not the best player.

Manu, if you haven't noticed Cotton coasts during the regular season. It would infuriate me if he played for my team but he turns it on when it counts like the 45 point game in the GF last year.

Does he deserve league MVP? Maybe not. Is he the best player in the league? Hands down.

4 seconds was way too much time to leave on the clock. Hard to fault Trice for the tough stepback, but as soon as Perth called the timeout it was obvious exactly what was going to happen. I've never been less surprised by a game winner.

Derek Cooke > Jameel McKay

Yeah league's best when hot. Never not said that, but you've just got to look at the other 75 per cent of the game to see why there are question marks

Cookie didn't just keep the game in reach, he had a couple buckets to help them go ahead in the last 2 minutes. Big ups

Even when Brisbane were up 15-20 I had no doubt in my mind Perth would come back and win this game. The Bullets turn to shit when the pressure gets put on them and no team is better than Perth and executing both offensively and defensively down the stretch.

After the Trice shot that seemed to seal it I thought here comes Perth lob to Tokoto for the game winner at the buzzer or something. If Manu or anyone else was wondering why Cotton is the highest paid player in the league wonder no more.

I'm Kermit.jpg right now my friends. Kicking back, cup of tea, feet in the air.

Perth? I ain't a believer. Just make no moves in the next 7 days and I'll be a happy man.

I'm happy, thinking bigger picture, and you're happy for the one win. Everyone's happy and that makes me happy.

The way Brisbane have closed out games this year, it's not safe for them to celebrate until they've hit the showers post-game.

Another 4th Q collapse masterclass from Brisbane.

Trice??? Give me Bryce!!!

'Cats floating in and out of games is really bad. Cooke jr showed some though.'

Bit like Hawthorn in their dominant days. It's hard to be at 110% 110% of the time. You know they will turn it on when it's needed doe

Of course Perth winning is shithouse, but it was what I'd prefer today honestly. For the greater good

Cats floating in and out of games is really bad. Cooke jr showed some though.

What a steal, played terrible but Cotton played like the super star he is in the last when it mattered.

Agree Bullets he is a massive presence inside on the defensive end

DC playing well was the main thing for mine

Hats off to Brisbane, coming up with new ways to lose games on a regular basis.

Brisbane have no one to blame but themselves. They had a 21 point lead and from there let Perth dictate the game.

Like Sydney yesterday....Brisbane don't know how to win right now.

Bryce Bryce baby you champion!!!!

I'm not too unhappy that Perth got up here, and DC played well. Makes them think they can win a GF with the crew they have. Of course they can, but I don't think they will

Any comments from you manu?

Couldn't script that one any better.

And Cotton answers in kind.