Hoops

Perth v Cairns game 3

Lisch is a better defender, but I don't think he can keep up with Cotton without pinging a calf or hammy.

Cotton spent a lot of time last night throwing his arms and body around, where as if he had gone straight up he may have made the shot, a couple of lay up efforts were embarrassing from him. Also give Newbill some credit, after game 1 he played him a lot smarter, and the bigger body made it tougher for him.

I don't know who from the Kings will stop him though, if they use Ware, then it will gas him for the other end, Cotton moves a lot when he does not have the ball, that will be mentally and energy sapping for Ware if he guards him.

"His fascination with getting contact is becoming sickening."

When you're being guarded as tight as he was by the NBL's best defender sometimes that's all you can do if you're a smart player trying to help your team and get into the game. Credit should be given to Newbill for his defensive effort rather than knocking down Cotton, but Australia...

The reason Cotton had a poor game is due to the fact that he shoots the ball while looking for contact at the same time. If he simply does the regular jump shots he'll get alot more in the hole.

His fascination with getting contact is becoming sickening.

Perth will be tired on Sunday

Sydney to get Game 1 but Perth to win games 2, 4 and 5 and take the title

I'm not really keen on game 1 being on Sunday. That's a quick turnaround after a tough series.
Heads-up move by the Kings to exert zero effort in their game 2 with this in mind.

Yes the cats offense really dried up in the last quarter but their rebounding kept them in it.

Both teams were exhausted! Well done to the taipans for a fine season i hope they can be back even better next season.

Back to sweeping floors Cinderella, no ball for you tonight!!

Great season Cairns, unfortunately just not good enough tonight.

Go Cats, back to back 4/5

Terrico has been subbed back in to Perth Wilburs' fantasy team for next season after that performance.

Game 1 Sunday

Oliver will play for the Wildcats next season

Well done Perth- The better team on the night. Unlike Sydney, they didn't get any help from the refs and they didn't even need it.

Kay, MVP of the series. White stepped up tonight too.

Cairns, the fairy tale ends. So, so close in Game 1. Let's hope they can bring Machado, Oliver and Newbill back - or at least 2 of them.

Man Cairns are one tough unit. Massive respect. What a grind that was.

Feel bad for Cairns but we're probably better equipped to beat the Kings so it's for the greater good.

Great series, Cairns. Love 'em. Would have been worthy grand final participants.

Terrico White like last year stands up right when Perth needs him.

Newbill's having a shocker.

Wildcats look totally out of it offensively. Luckily Noi botched that one play.

Tonight's attendance: 10,215.

They keep coming back, Oliver on fire. So tough.

Cam Oliver chose the right time to show up

Hope Plumlee's OK

Not sure about tonight but last game was a low crowd for Perth's standard 10,858.

didn't matter because of the magic number

If anyone can come from 15 down in Perth its this gritty Cairns team

boneheaded turnovers wont help though

Perth has led since quarter time, and the result has never felt in doubt since then

They were never down by more than 4 or 5

Crowd typically gets pumped with big plays down the stretch, or come backs. This game has never reached any lofty heights really

Five point swing.

How bad was that turnover by Noi

Talk about a momentum killer

Oh wow Noi ruins the run.

Perth haven't led the entire game.

The crowd sounds tame tonight after the last game

I guess because Perth has led the whole game, it's never felt in doubt to me. The crowd's never got excite enough for max volume

Wagstaff flopping himself into a fit.

Dunk city from Snakes. Single digit game now.

Wish my fellow Red Army members would learn not to kick a hornets nest. Oliver will bite us hard

This cairns team just will not go away. Still anyones game at 3/4 time

White totally didn't have his team mates back then. Newbill dunks past Plumlee.

Terrico White isn't coming back next season.

It will take at least a year unless expedited.

And Kay is just the best exemplar of why Perth is so good

Offensively, they are unselfish and they make the smart decision more often than any other team.

Defensively they all buy in, and they make sure they compete against more shots by making mistakes less often than other teams. They rotate to the right spots, they compete and the crash the boards

In summary, they're just a good basketball team.

Sydney has more talent and the home court home cooking advantage, but Perth has been there and done that time and time again. They can do it on the road.

Should be a great series.

15 was my magic number

No coming back from here in Perth

Kay is a bit like Tim Duncan

Always in the right place on the court. Keeps the scoreboard ticking over by doing the fundamentals better than anyone else.

The league loves the Kings. LK wants a Sydney win.

I'm surprised the half time segment wasn't about the Kings making it to the GF.

Preview of the wildcats next point guard at half time

Nah Machado isn't a flog

Scott machado segment at half time? countdown to incensed red army complaints of bias in 3, 2, 1..

Not often the Cats would have 52 in a half with Cotton on zero.

Djeric*

Djeric- passion and confidence, that's the mix for a playoff game

Deric three 3pt field goals in a row :o

Machado- best passer since D-Mac

whoever wins this will take the championship. sydney were insipid and unconvincing tonight.

which is a shame #anyonebutperth

Cotton with another first half donut (so far).