Hoops

Sydney v Perth - Sat 28th: 5:30pm @Qudos

Kickett is the league's tallest shooting guard.

Kickett has had a good season but Miller rebounds and hustles well.

""For me, it's less Kickert at back-up C and more Cooks, which they can do once Moller is back. The fact they defend the same way with Bogut and Kickert allows Perth to get into a rhythm. They need to be able to change it up when Bogut goes to the bench."

I think you're onto something there. A decent backup centre who can hustle and stretch on D would definitely help.

In terms of recruiting, you’d probably need another import though. What cheaper Australian would fit the role?"

It's true that Perth out rebounded Sydney, and their work at the offensive end garnered 19 2nd-chance points. 11 extra points right there. And yes, that is particularly damming given Bogut's presence and role.

Moller is also long, his arm span looks 7’ plus. Sometimes it’s the little things that win big games, Damien Martin has been doing it for decade, hands in the lane, pressure on the shooters. Kings are missing this.

How will they cover Kickitties rebounding?

“For me, it's less Kickert at back-up C and more Cooks, which they can do once Moller is back. The fact they defend the same way with Bogut and Kickert allows Perth to get into a rhythm. They need to be able to change it up when Bogut goes to the bench.”

I think you’re onto something there. A decent backup centre who can hustle and stretch on D would definitely help.

In terms of recruiting, you’d probably need another import though. What cheaper Australian would fit the role?

Miller probably hides this a lot when playing because he’s so mobile and active.

"And they won one of those games by 20. Not exactly panic stations."

Is anyone, apart from Homicide, suggesting it's panic stations? However, given they've also lost two to Perth by double figures, they need to find better answers before the playoffs because a 1/3 winning ratio won't get them where they want to go.

For me, it's less Kickert at back-up C and more Cooks, which they can do once Moller is back. The fact they defend the same way with Bogut and Kickert allows Perth to get into a rhythm. They need to be able to change it up when Bogut goes to the bench.

Kings are arrogant.... Sydney you running on memories. Cairns v Perth be justice. Underdogs v the big dawgs.

I think we all want to see Sydney lose grand final to Perth.

Written like a true Wildcats fan.

Might suggest sydney are the Collingwood. With that issue called collywobbles. Sydney have own version sydneecrumbles. Makes appearance and isolates self within kingdom of purple Muppets.
Finals aren't won in first half of a season. Comes econd half the crumblies are shattered.
Shit sinks and cream rises. Wildcats rule.

Delusional # 294 just delusional.

Dazz calm down fella.

There’s no doubt that Gleeson is doing a great job, unquestionable, from my vantage point though I was amazed with what he got away with. You certainly would not last long in junior ranks talking to refs like that.

If I had my way coaches would only be able to speak to refs in time outs, it’s the players they should be talking to.

If whinging and moaning is your main gripe of a head coach, he is probably doing a good job.

"Both teams jerseys looked like their regular uniforms.
Can't imagine any of their fans reaching into their pockets to purchase these."

And thank God for that!
Last thing we want is a bunch of idiots rocking up to games in cartoon tops.

WTF is next? Muppets? Super-Heroes? Star Wars?

Maybe we should just have a boozer round, so all the SEM fans can wear their VB singlets, and Cats fans can dig out their old Swan Gold uniforms.

Don’t really get the beeyatching to be honest.

Weaver’s press conference was fine …he said exactly the correct thing – Perth are physical, best screen setters in the league and we want to aspire to be that. He also stated they knew what they had to do – keep Perth off the O Boards (lost count 14-7).

On the injuries – you can only play the team that fronts up and both Sydney and Perth have the depth to cover. Steindel out obviously focussed Cotton and White on what they had to do and martin missing the 2nd half allowed Norton to re-show that he is a pretty good defender (also thank the Lord he stopped driving at Bogut as he has done last couple of Kings games).

Gleeson is probably my least favourite Cats coach – his constant whinging (like Weaver, Vickerman & Wright) is poor and I don’t know why the refs don’t just T them up from round 1. However he is also the best coach we’ve had – he has built a team that everyone knows their role, everyone works and the chemistry is strong. Perth get the ball in scorers hands – runs the pick & whatever variation.

Sydney still deserve to be title favourites – just think Bogut will switch on and they’ll get all their pieces back.

Yes Moller has played for the Boomers....the NBL version.

Still big outs but people need to move on Sydney weren't without talent on the day.

Don't forget the Kings were missing Lisch, who is a former MVP and defensive player of the year. Louzada, who is an NBA draft pick and had a massive game against Perth last time and Moller, who has played for the boomers. That's a lot of quality to come back.

Refs are scared of Gleeson moaning and moaning so they give him every favour.

Weaver will be a better coach when he gets his three injured players back that all play great D.

Perth will better when they get a bit of humility.

Refs were frightened of Goorjian. They take notice of what Gleeson says, now.

I was very close to Gleeson, he controlled the game, reasonably mundane in the first half but really stepped it up in the second. I was amazed how efficient he was with refs and getting calls, a lot of them 50-50 but always favouring Perth. He’s a smart coach.

I seem to recall Perth DP got 3 fouls in 45 seconds. The next Perth foul Sydney went to the line. The 5th and 6th Perth fouls, Sydney took side ball.

Flopstaff is not a pretty sight, but refs like him.

Does anyone think the sky is falling in for the Kings?

What is concerning for them is Bryce Cotton has produced three big games where he has exploited their defensive strategy and Terrico White has now done it twice in a row.

"If anything Perth were better when Martin went down. He gave them nothing at either end. Norton was very effective."

Martin has been playing injured. Hard to tell what. Trev keeps foxing in the pressers. Looking at his lack of mobility, I would guess at a lower-back, or maybe something in the abdominal area.

From the outset, they had Cotton guarding Ware, which is a risky move.

Be interesting to see what the strategy is against Adelaide. Obviously Norton will have to play more minutes, and I'm guessing Cotton will cover the balance at the point.

Yes Norton was excellent and Perth were better when Martin went off. Sydney could still fall to third if they don’t get a few troops back soon. A lot will depend on how Sixers go as they have Perth, Melbourne and Sydney to play a few times.

Top spot no longer a foregone conclusion.
Perth finish with 5 of last 6 at home.

Lol Sydney and Perth are in their own tier.
United are in the pack.

Where is LV and his continued analysis that Perth are not in the same tier as Sydney and Melbourne?

Excuses for losing.
Sydney were at home still have Ware, Newley, Tate, Cooks, Bogut, Bruce and Kickert.

Perth get little from point guard and centre position.

Kings had two starters out and a great bench player, remove White, Martin and Wagstaff from Perth and see how they go. A fit Lisch means more to Sydney than Martin does to Perth as well.

"Initially yesterday they sent their PF to defend the screen and leaving Bogut in the paint, but once Perth went with Kay and Wagstaff that didn't work."

Do you have any examples (the time of game) when they used the PF. I just want to watch on the replay for my own learning

Both teams jerseys looked like their regular uniforms.
Can’t imagine any of their fans reaching into their pockets to purchase these.
NZ and SEM are clearly visible along with the Hawks but the rest suck with silhouettes that don’t even show up on tv.

Sydney beat Perth in the first meeting this season with a full squad, IF and it’s a big if they can get them back and all playing a few games before the finals they are still in this.
Remove three quality players from any team and they will struggle. Perth are certainly favourites and have been all season.

Does anyone think the sky is falling in for the Kings? What is concerning for them is Bryce Cotton has produced three big games where he has exploited their defensive strategy and Terrico White has now done it twice in a row.

If that's the most likely grand final match-up, they need to find answers or Perth will shoot a very high clip from three against them in the playoffs.

They couldn't find the solutions last season when Melbourne used similar offensive strategies, let's see if they can this year. They have a better coach and personnel to do so, but at this point their D hasn't been great of late.

In reality, Sydney haven't found a solution to stopping Perth's ability to hit pull-ups and floaters. Initially yesterday they sent their PF to defend the screen and leaving Bogut in the paint, but once Perth went with Kay and Wagstaff that didn't work.

They didn't find a solution to SE Melbourne either, they just outscored them. The Kings went through a similar thing last season with their drops defence, Gaze wasn't able to find a solution. Weaver is a much better coach, will be interesting to see what they come up with. I suspect we'll see more of the Cooks/Tate frontcourt in those situations.

Confirms what i have been saying. COTTON IS TOO GOOD. Limit his options of touching and shooting the ball. Ware is the best on ball defender in the league. Can't be done 1 on 1. Double team him and make someone else beat you. Bogut protects the hoop the other 4 need to focus on stopping Cotton. Perth have options with Kay, Wagstaff, Steindl and White, but when Cotton gets going he is unstoppable.

Weaver usually has a dig at the refs in the press conference with things haven't gone his team's way. IMO part of that is campaigning for the next time they play that team, but part of it is also frustration and looking to apportion blame.

In reality, Sydney haven't found a solution to stopping Perth's ability to hit pull-ups and floaters. Initially yesterday they sent their PF to defend the screen and leaving Bogut in the paint, but once Perth went with Kay and Wagstaff that didn't work.

They didn't find a solution to SE Melbourne either, they just outscored them. The Kings went through a similar thing last season with their drops defence, Gaze wasn't able to find a solution. Weaver is a much better coach, will be interesting to see what they come up with. I suspect we'll see more of the Cooks/Tate frontcourt in those situations.

"Am I the only one that noticed that Ware was NEVER going to pass the ball in the last quarter unless he had absolutely no alternative."

No, you weren't the only one,
but their is the matter of cause and effect.
he's not normally so selfish and was either under instructions, or was trying to carry his team to victory having observed the rest of the kings tossing bricks all game.

What a game. Cotton is just.. other-worldly. The Kings couldn't buy a bucket after a very entertaining 1st half. Refs were better this game, although I think the continual moving screen violations bear looking at.

No Homicide made the game easier to watch.

It might say a lot about where the commentary bar is set, but for most of the game all I felt was joy that Corey wasn't in the hub. Gaze wasn't bothering me at all.

Just watched the replay of this game and one thing I can say is Andrew Gaze just never stops talking!!!! Drives me insane with all the dribble. Shows they are in a studio and not at the game. Also every foul called is incorrect according to him He used to squeal at the slightest contact when he played

3 wins 4 losses since Moller been out. I don’t understand it but there the facts.

I must confess that I haven't kept up to date with Sydney's injuries.
so, no Moller, Lisch, or Didi?
I won't claim it would have changed my lack of prediction, but that certainly made things tougher.

I didn't mind the idea of his starting 5 at first, but it just plainly didn't work.

Sydney have a huge problem when they try to rely too heavily on Ware to score. He'll shoulder the load, but at the expense of dishing it up for others.

Once again, Weaver has been outcoached, and been unable to recover when things don't go his way.

Gleeson controls the game, I was on the opposite sideline and could hear him whining continuously. Kings need to get Didi, Lisch and Moller back asap. The kings defence and rebounding has not been anywhere near as good since he’s been out.

Those three fouls on the development player and a couple on hunt were farcical calls to get the kings back into it. That was a typical home cooking officiating

This is intolerable.

The league needs to allow the Kings to have a 5th import just in case Didi is injured (even the Sydney commentators called Didi the Brazilian Import).

Furthermore the fifth import's salary must not count on the soft cap so Bogut can still say they aren't that much over the cap.

I didn't think the Kings were getting favoured. Maybe some each way that didn't need to be called but nothing particularly unusual or influential.

Bogut was far from the only one.