Hoops

Melbourne v Perth Dec 17

Really don't know how Wagstaff made the Australian team.

On the flipside, how good is Kay. If you look at his season statistics, they make for impressive reading. Definitely a hugely underrated player.

15.6ppg, 9rpg, and 3apg on 63%FG, 34%3PFG and 86.4% FT.

Manu

“Isn't it funny how Cotton's shot percentage goes up when he doesn't flop on three-pointers”?

I know it’s a rhetorical question, but there could be at least 2 answers.

1. He shoots so much better when balanced and in rhythm. Kicking out the legs and adopting weird body positions to create and/or accentuate contact for a foul call interferes with his balance and rhyth.
2. His mind is too busy worrying about the foul to focus on shooting.

Troy did nothing last season when we were cooked during mid-Dec to mid-Jan. A massive fade is happening again so it will be interesting to see how invested the club really are or will they merely continue off of the fumes of recent titles. Does the CEO even have authority to spend? We'll see.

I'd hate to see them swap White for an import who is a nothing but net gain

Josh Boone is so so bad this season

Gross...all that needs to be said about the Cats performance tonight.

What happened Perth?
Refs couldnt bail you out?
You played a decent team at full strength?

IMO getting a better import than White might be the better option otherwise the cats could end up with two average imports that contribute very little.

Not sure if Liam Santamaria or a short stocky little Christian Bale

Kay is definitely better than Barlow, and that's not a knock on Barlow, he's playing well, but Kay has been awesome this season.

3rd import coming shortly

Can't say I agree. Barlow certainly showed tonight which team was better at creating open looks though.

Why are United's stars still out there?

Isn't it funny how Cotton's shot percentage goes up when he doesn't flop on three-pointers

Might as well put the bench on. McCarron just put this one on ice.

We almost look awake atm. Just 2 hours too late.

In the afl you take a players legs and its a free kick, but not in the nbl i guess... Perth are playing terribly.

I'd be bringing in Carrick Felix if I was the cats management would be a perfect fit with cotton

Not that a 3rd import would hurt, but this BS is not a personnel issue IMO.

Cotton looks tired. Agreed Goulding is a baby but he can shoot and he has it going in Q3. Probably out of reach now for Perth.

Has to be 3rd import time for the Wildcats.

This is U.G.L.Y. from the Cats

Anon 038

But there’s no denying that you can buy a Chinese car for $22 990. Complete with asbestos.

God who even cares about these "celebrities" it's ridiculous

and every one of Melbourne's refs has been blown by him

Has there been a more poor defender in league history than goulding. He has had to switch on to 4 different players in the first half and perth know this and just give his man the ball. Every one of his opponents has just blown by him.

Maybe you'd get to the line Goulding if they weren't flops

P. Cooper is getting better

One point deficit at the half feels extremely generous after how ordinary we were.

Goulding has gone full toddler. He's in as much self denial about his own actions as Tommy is about eating the chocolate cake.

What game is Homicide watching. That was an automatic block by Norton on Goulding down the sideline.

Anon 990

Are you on United’s coaching staff?

Vickerman riding starters pretty hard. On track for 30 min plus games for Ware, Goulding n McCarron.

Perth look flat. Their offence is rather stationary, and they cant hit a thing

"That was no flop"

(Sees replay)

Laughter ensues at obvious flop

In fairness it was also the only foul he's actually committed.

He is although he is lucky to be out there. Got away with a big foul that would have been his 3rd

Perth continuing where they left off the other night. Unable to put the ball in the basket.

So with the season getting towards the pointy end, I wanted to have a look at the potential Finals 5th placing.

Mens:

Battling for 5th spot are Woodville (currently 5th on 7-5) and Norwood (currently 6th on 7-6).

The run home looks like:

Woodville (7-5):

V North @ St.Clair - L (Havent played yet)
V North @ Hillcrest - L (Havent played yet)
V Southern @ St.Clair - W (Won by 31 Rd6)
V Norwood @ MARS - ?? (Lost by 7 Rd7)
V Eastern @ St.Clair - W (Won by 11 Rd8)
V Sturt @ Pasadena - L (Lost by 23 Rd9)

Record Without Norwood Game 9-8

Norwood (7-6)

V Eastern @ MARS - W (Won by 11 Rd5)
V Sturt @ Pasadena - L (Lost by 21 Rd6)
V Woodville @ MARS - ?? (Won by 7 Rd7)
V West @ Pt.Adelaide - L (Lost by 4 Rd8)
V Forestville @ MARS - L (Won by 5 Rd9)

Record Without Woodville Game 8-9

With Norwood holding the split heading into game 2 - Round 16 looks to be a sure fire cracker of a game! If Norwood drop this game, and the other results pan out Round 18 could then be huge, with Norwood needing to beat Forestville (again) and hoping that Sturt can knock off the Warriors. Woodville need to desperatley pinch a game off North this weekend, which would arguably have to be the seasons toughest double header. If they can do this, it will go a long way to securing their finals spot.

My predicition is Norwood to sneak into the 5 by beating Woodville Round 16.




Womens:

Battling for 5th spot are Southern (Currently 5th on 8-5) and Eastern (Currently 6th on 6-7)

The run home looks like:

Southern (8-5):

V Sturt @ MV - W (Won by 25 Rd5)
V Woodville @ St.Clair - W (Won by 7 Rd6)
V West @ MV - L (Won by 17 Rd7)
V Forestville @ Wayville - L (Won by 5 Rd8)
V Centrals @ MV - L (Won by 15 Rd9)

Should finish on 10-8

Eastern (6-7)

V Norwood @ MARS - L (Lost by 14 Rd5)
V South @ Marion - W (Won by 13 Rd6)
V Sturt @ Hills - W (won by 7 Rd7)
V Woodville @ St.Clair - W (Won by 14 Rd8)
V West @ Hills - L (Won by 8 Rd9)

Should finish on 9-9

Eastern have had the wood on Southern twice this year, and Southern would be well aware of this. They will be doing everything they can to keep a game in hand. I have pencilled both teams in for a L against West - however depending on which West shows up will determine which way these games go.

Big games for Eastern are definitley Round 14 and Round 18 - to be a chance for the 5 they have to pinch one of these. Tess must play and she must be fit.

Big games for Southern are Round 14 and Round 15 - if they win both of these they are all but secured a top spot.

If Southern drop one of the next two - are put in a must win situation against West, Forestville or Centrals, and in a do or die - I dont like their chances against the latter two.

My predicition is Southern to stay in the 5 - just...

Can't see us winning over in Melbourne to be honest. Will just wait for the media and everone to jump the gun and say Cats are done for the season all over social media, good times.

perth unlikely due to the refs ... it is said - repetition gives a sense of security

Last time these two met, CG43 put on a classic shooting performance before getting injured late in the game.

That was the 4th game of United's season, with CG putting up 20+ points in 3 of the first 4 games.

Since that injury he's missed a game or two, then he played 5 minutes without putting up a shot against Cairns. Then sat more games.

Since his eventual return, in 6 games he's 10.5ppg shooting 33% from the field.

When he's at his best, United will be very hard to stop. They're a strong defensive team, but they rely heavily on Casper and CG at the offensive end. Last week, Brisbane shut United down by essentially double teaming Casper. No one else could capitalise on the 4 on 3, and the rest of the team was just ineffective. Ordinarily, I'd expect CG to be catching those first passes out of the double team and drilling 3's at will, or creating something.

United needs CG to get going again. He's been out of form and lacking confidence. Tonight will be his night- I hope. He's well overdue.