Hoops

Perth v Cairns Semi Final

Travel generally impacts the team without HCA the most.

You really think “getting tired” is going to be a concern for the Wildcats veterans?

This is going to be the more enjoyable series I think.

Cairns match up well to Perth.

Newbill can be used to slow either Cotton or White down if one of them fires up.

Space Cam will be hard to stop but then so will be Kay.

The only concern is Cairns' reliance on really 7 players, but they are young (except Nate) so less likely to tire but 40 mins chasing Cotton, White, Norton, Steindl is tough as well as being harassed by Martin.

Reducing the travel impact on Cairns? They fly here to play a well-rested Perth in Perth on a Friday night, then both teams head to Cairns to play on a Sunday afternoon, before a nice break before game 3 in Perth on the Thursday if needed.
Perth couldn't have asked for a nicer draw IMO.

In the other series there is zero travel impact on any series between Melbourne & Sydney regardless of scheduling.

Why a Thursday night? Strange

Perth WILL beat Cairns 2-0.
Too many Cairns bandwagoners this season yes they have had a great season but Sydney, Perf and United will clobber them.

Dates released:

Perth v Taipans 28 February

Taipans v Perth 1 March

Perth v Taipans 5 March

OMG! Dazz, you forget what a bunch of pills frequent this forum - so let me spell it out: Dazz is suggesting that Cairns must have thought they had a shot at 2nd and therefore wanted the Perth series, but they would have been better off aiming for 4th. I don't know if I agree completely but a ->Perth ->Cairns ->Perth series is going to be tough and even if they prevail will leave them tired for the GF

OMG! Dazz, you forget what a bunch of pills frequent this forum - so let me spell it out: Dazz is suggesting that Cairns must have thought they had a shot at 2nd and therefore wanted the

Cairns to win it all and I’m a Sydney fan

still haven't seen Plumlee play against Oliver.

I don't see perth loosing at home to cairns again, still haven't seen Plumlee play against Oliver.

Will playoffs effect how they play? Time will tell and I wouldn't be surprised either way.

Hopefully we get Plumlee type from the start of the season instead of a quarter. Perth really played the season with 2 imports.

Dazz is on more than koolaid by the looks!
Taipans in 2.

Sydney finish third last season, went out in straight sets.

Regular season results
Round 03: PER 76 - CNS 96
Round 08: CNS 91 - PER 84
Round 11: CNS 84 - PER 88

brings an interesting dynamic*

SYD-NZB and CNS-PER would be my preferred series. NZB an interesting dynamic compared to the fourth-placed also-rans who have scraped in in recent seasons.

Cairns are playing some really good basketball at the moment.

I would not be surprised if they win the series.

The Wildcats' shooting has been inconsistent of late, Plumlee not 100% ingrained into the lineup yet.

White is out of form and will be coming up against DJ Newbill.

This puts a lot of weight on Cotton and Kay.

Per are still favourites but Cairns are no easy beats.

All the best to both for a cracking series.

Melbourne’s team this year costs a lot more than last years and on paper were preseason favourites. They can do it if they get there act together.

A swing and a miss

"playoffs but I think Perth's experience should see them prevail."

Hoping this, Cairns lack of playoff experience to derail them. I have a feeling Oliver will choke in the series and him and Plumlee will negate each other which bodes better for the Wildcats from an offensive perspective. Machado and Newbill will ball, but I don't think the 2 of them can do it alone with Cotton, White, Kay and Steindl attacking from all angles.

Is LV posting anonymously ? Lol.

Melbourne have still got the cattle and if they get in and meet Perth in the GF it could still be tough for cats. United has done well against Perth this season.

Perth WILL beat Adelaide and that locks up second place.
As a Perth fan Cairns are not the team you would not want to bump into in the playoffs but I think Perth's experience should see them prevail.

#2 – PERTH WILDCATS (18-9, 104.5%)

Remaining fixture: vs Adelaide (Saturday)



· Perth will finish second unless the Kings lose to the Hawks and 49-point gap between Sydney and Perth is closed

· Perth can drop to third if they lose to Adelaide and Cairns win both their games this round. However, the Wildcats hold around a 13-point advantage over the Taipans to start the round



#3 – CAIRNS TAIPANS (16-10, 104.0%)

Remaining fixture: at Melbourne (Thursday), at Brisbane (Saturday)



· The Taipans cannot finish any lower than third even with two losses this round

· Cairns can get to second if they win both games and Perth loses to Adelaide, with the Taipans needing to make up about a 13-point margin over those games

https://nbl.com.au/news/every-possible-nbl20-finals-scenario-heading-into-round-20

Just looking for one in the metro area.