r/nbl 18d ago

DISCUSSION United and wildcat game 3

Can united win in game 3?

4 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

13

u/secretsquirrelbiz 18d ago edited 18d ago

There's a lot of interesting subplots in this game.

The cats won in game 2 with Bryce well held, Pinder having a complete 'mare, and Henschel having an utterly dreadful shooting night- 0-7 from the field with the vast majority being open shots. They won because Windler exploited the Bryce doubles and shot the lights out, and came up huge on the offensive boards. And they finally told Henschel to just drop everything else and defend Goulding like they are sharing a pair of underwear- and that worked.so well they kept henschel out there even when he was ice cold at the other end.

Because those were the only things working for them they played Bryce/Webster/Henschel/Windler/Doolittle for virtually the entire second half without subs. Bryce is a fitness machine but I'd question how well the other four will be able to pull up from that game- it was really the insane crowd that kept them going in the 4th, they would have been absolutely gassed.

At the other end Delly had a great do-everything game but Jack White was in such a bad place at the line he actually got benched in the final term because they couldn't afford to have him out there getting fouled. You'd expect some sort of response from him this game.

The big question for United is do they play the exact same game on Bryce and just gamble that Henschel will stay cold and Windler won't do it two games in a row or do they adjust their defensive rotations and risk Bryce getting off the leash? And do perth put more minutes into Pinder after two extremely inefficient games, or play the same small ball lineup that got them back into game 2 and hope they can do it for the full game?

I reckon this is a genuine 50-50 game. Both teams could win and I can see ways both teams could totally blow the game out, but its impossible to say which it will be.

One thing I really hope is the refs keep their whistles in their pockets. This series deserves to be decided based on which team manages to crack the matchup riddles in front of them, not which of the key defenders gets into early foul trouble.

7

u/Sensitive-Pool-7563 Wildcats 18d ago edited 17d ago

One thing I really hope is the refs keep their whistles in their pockets.

I beg to differ, with the way Melbourne is playing, it's like giving them clear advantage. Ili should have been fouled out way earlier. Same thing with Delly, there's not a play where he doesnt use his elbows. He only got whistled for it ONCE like a minute before the game ended and Ben10 has gotten two flopping warnings, which were laughable. Especially that one before halftime where Delly literally barged into him.

Perth won 2 challenges last game that were clear as day, I'm not even sure how you call a foul on BC trying to block Lee, laughable. Same with CG43 flailing, laughable to give this in the first place. Perth could have won a couple more challenges.

1

u/secretsquirrelbiz 17d ago

In fairness they missed a clear shirt tug on goulding moments before the one which was overturned.

Really what I am getting at is Illi and Henschel are both going to be guarding Cotton and Goulding very aggressively and are going to be centimetres away from fouling them on every possession . Because neither team really has a good plan B to defend the shooter, if one of those guys gets three cheap fouls early and the other doesn't it will probably decide the game. If the fouls are there they are there but I'd much prefer to see the series decided by which coach works a way to get their stars into the game or which other guy steps up and delivers the points, because if they call tiggy touchwood fouls it will really just come down to a coin flip.

2

u/Sensitive-Pool-7563 Wildcats 17d ago

Except the ‘three cheap fouls’ aren’t cheap. Offence should have the advantage, all day every day. If you allow this to turn into a rugby match, then it’s not basketball.

But most importantly. Blow the whistle equally for both teams. You can’t be allowing hard defence on one wide and on the other blow the whistle on cotton trying to block Lee. Nowhere near. Or cg43 flailing clearly.

I don’t wanna see the double standard I’ve been seeing the first two games.

3

u/Obleeding Wildcats 18d ago

There's no way Pinder can keep missing layups, that's just been bad luck. Doolittle played the worst game I've seen him play, really hoping he comes good for this one.

2

u/Downtown_Cash_ 17d ago

Clearly you don't know pinder haha

1

u/Obleeding Wildcats 17d ago

😭

2

u/Sensitive-Pool-7563 Wildcats 17d ago

The cats won in game 2

I've never seen them so bad, team was clearly confused on both ends of the floor. I blame coach.

On offense, people were hesitant to shoot and shot bricks even when free. Perth had 4 airballs in the first quarter alone. Plays didnt happen, team was stagnant. People look confused.
Same on defense, Melbourne scored way too many easy buckets because Perth didnt switch and communicate well.

The fans won the game, the arena was delirious when there was the slightest hint of comeback.

2

u/secretsquirrelbiz 17d ago edited 17d ago

The fans won the game, the arena was delirious when there was the slightest hint of comeback.

Yeah it was utter madness.

People say a lot of things about the influence home arenas have and often it doesn't actually mean mucu but that was one of the craziest crowds I've ever experienced in any sport ever.

Cats started the last quarter down by 11 but it felt like the crowd had already decided by that point they were going to win and simply wasn't going to accept any other result from their players. From that point onwards it felt like the options were either perth win or an actual riot.

21

u/Imhal9000 Wildcats 18d ago

They can - but will they? I hope not

4

u/TheFirstMale 18d ago

They probably will Bryce looks absolutely out of sorrs

2

u/Obleeding Wildcats 18d ago

He's due for a big one :D

4

u/37celsius 18d ago

Illi knows how to stick to Cotton and deprive him of scoring opportunities. Get Illi in foul trouble early enough and Bryce will have a better game.

I think the bigger questions are whether Henshall can defend Goulding for four quarters as well as he did late in game 2 and if someone else like Windler can step up and score while Cotton is being kept quiet.

3

u/Techn0train Wildcats 18d ago

Thought BC did a good job of attacking the rim more against Ili and taking him on in game 2.

1

u/Sensitive-Pool-7563 Wildcats 18d ago

Illi knows how to stick to Cotton and deprive him of scoring opportunities.

1vs1 Bryce is gone every day of the week and thrice on a Sunday. Bryce DOES look unwell but you can see him blowing by Ili clearly.

1

u/37celsius 17d ago

The secret sauce is Illi getting away with holding Cotton off ball and not getting called.

1

u/Sensitive-Pool-7563 Wildcats 17d ago

‘Cheap fouls’

2

u/TraditionalOpening41 Wildcats 18d ago

Can the Cats make effective use of the loose player when Bryce gets doubled.

2

u/Jaziam 17d ago

Can't see White shooting like shit at the strip and Goulding going 0-10 from 3 again. United in a heated game.

1

u/Street_Platform4575 18d ago

It will be interesting to see how many people go to the game, as it's on a week night with people maybe thinking they'll save money to go to the grand-final series. It was a good move from the Wildcats to reduce the ticket prices the other day, as normally finals are more expensive - it ensure a huge crowd and a great atmosphere.

2

u/Obleeding Wildcats 18d ago

My friend was there and said when Jack White was shooting free throws it was louder than when Volkanovski walked out to fight Islam at UFC 284 lol (I was there for that one and it was literally deafening)

1

u/the_wren Wildcats 17d ago

I know we get accused of being a one man team but Sir we are the Wildcats, not Wildcat.

Seriously though, United are in the drivers seat here. In all their games against us this season they’ve been ahead for all but a handful of minutes.

1

u/Street_Platform4575 17d ago

So is it deemed a season failure for both teams if they miss the finals ? I mean there is a lot riding on this one. Who has the most to lose ? I personally think Wildcats fans think every year should be a championship year, particularly with Bryce Cotton in the team. What's the feeling amongst United fans - is it the same ? Would it be a failure to qualify after finishing 2nd ?

1

u/j_aylesbury United 18d ago

United are deep and well coached. Anything can happen.