Perth Wildcats 83-80 NZ Breakers

From the atrociousness of the Hawks game on Wednesday, you could be forgiven for getting down on this team. But just like they did in game two after a poor opener, the Breakers bounced back in convincing fashion. It wasn’t enough to get the win in Perth but dammit they ran ‘em close and there was plenty to like. It seems the odd numbered games are the ones to watch.

It’s no coincidence that the team improved significantly in the game that Mika Vukona returned for. If anyone still doubts the enormous benefits he brings this team then they can go play marbles on the motorway coz Mika is a godly baller. He’s the king of the hustle, making things happen with energy and steely determination, rebounding far out of his weight class and capable of the odd offensive flourish too. His ability to drop the ball on the floor and charge at the basket makes a difference for a team lacking in that kind of incisiveness otherwise, besides Cedric’s drives that is. The only other way they’re able to get the ball inside usually is over the top or if they can get Tai Wesley in isolation to post up.

Having said that, it’s Mika’s defence that’s the irreplaceable part of his game. He sets the tone for the rest of them and after getting burnt by the Hawks over and over again, this was sooo much better.

And the same can be said for the half-court offence, it’s not ever gonna look like the San Antonio Spurs or Golden State Warriors out there but they began this game moving the ball with the sort of speed and purpose that we never once saw in Illawarra. That ended with Abercrombie drawing a foul and opening the account with a pair of charity hoops – a positive start to a strong game by TA.

It was also a great start by Catfish Jackson. With no Alex Pledger in this game – presumably rested because of the short turnaround – Catfish was under big pressure to bring the defence in this game. So far it’s his offensive side that’s stood out, and here he was up against Nate “Outback Shaq” Jawai… so, no pressure, matey. None indeed. Catfish was all over him, rising to the challenge superbly to begin. A couple pull-up mid-rangers from TA and Everard Bartlett made it 14-7 to the Breaks early.

That lead didn’t last, though. Jesse Wagstaff came to play and he drained an open three, then as Catfish went 1 of 4 from the line, coupled by a pair of turnovers, the Wildcats were able to tie it at 15. EB sunk a three to help the cause and it as 18-all at quarter time.

Bartlett’s in a funny position with Corey Webster having been waived by the New Orleans Pelicans the morning of this game (by NZ time, at least). It had always been said that Bartlett was playing ‘til Corey came back, like for like. Except that he’d been shooting over 50% from 3pt, offering a hugely valuable weapon for this offence as it’s struggled to date. Though Corey Webster offers all that and more, so it’s likely nothing’s changed in NZB HQ. If it has, then Shane McDonald seems the most expendable candidate, if only that didn’t mean cutting loose one of the club’s better ball handlers.

Loooooong from Bartlet http://t.co/jRCqYWnRSA
— NBL (@NBL) October 16, 2015

Also of kiwi basketball note was Jarrod Kenny getting good minutes in relief of injured Perth captain Damian Martin. No spoilers, but Kenny had 8 points, showing off a killer corner three.

Jermaine Beal was looking sharp for the Cats but he wasn’t hitting his jump shots and that was keeping the Breakers from slipping back. Wagstaff, however, didn’t seem able to miss. Luckily Tom Abercrombie was doing his own thing at the other end, looking for his shots and being aggressive with it. Just like we wanna see. With 6:24 left in the second, Cedric hit his first field goal. He’d only 1 point last game and went without a FG for the first time in his 100 game NBL career. Initially he’d seemed as if that was weighing on him and maybe it was because as soon as he got one to fall, he was on fire. A treble and a trademark driving layup had the Breakers on top.

The transition offence that had won them the game against Townsville wasn’t always there against a very talented Perth team. So it was hugely encouraging to see them able to work for decent looks in the half-court stuff. They were able to still find a quick pace as suits them and with that their pick and roll plays became pretty effective. Plus if Mika Vukona was feeling that hamstring then he had the rest of us fooled.

Up 40-36 at half time, a lot of that was down to Perth’s best players not having in the impact they expected to… not that the Breakers defence didn’t still deserve massive credit. TA & EB both had 11 points at the break, the rebounding was very good (surprisingly) and they were winning the loose ball game. That poor finishing of plays (not just shooting plays) wouldn’t last for the Wildcats.

Indeed, the home team burst out of the gates in the third. Casey Prather had been one of the better performers in the first couple quarters and he settled into a fascinating battle with Tommy Abercrombie. A dumbass foul on Beal by Bartlett as the American launched a three (all such fouls are dumbass fouls) gave him a good jump start and soon Beal was settling back into the playmaker role. The Cats began the third on a 13-2 run.

Strong start for the Wildcats after half time #HardBall @NZBreakers @PerthWildcats http://t.co/eWiaquB3Cm
— NBL (@NBL) October 16, 2015

Outback Shaq looked more enthusiastic himself after the break. He’s working his way back up to full match fitness but he was real good. A couple passes he made out of the post were sumptuous. But Catfish was good for the rise in intensity too. His second spell on the court hadn’t been nearly as good as his first however his third quarter (and fourth after that) was fantastic. And while Reuben Te Rangi is a very streaky shooter, the kid plays some freakin’ defence, man. Right at the end of the third, Beal ripped out of a spin move and sunk an ice-cold shot to make it 63-58 heading into the fourth.

It was a supremely entertaining game, neither side ever able to pull away. This is a brilliant rivalry between these two teams, so far away from each other geographically but always such close competitors. It’s the best kind of rivalry: one built entirely on the court.

These are the kinds of situations that Cedric Jackson loves too. He tied it up at 63 with his second three-pointer and from there on it was a matter of trading buckets. Perth taking the lead, NZB pulling it back.

With five minutes left, Perth were up 70-69. It was anybody’s game, you can’t really ask for more away from home against a quality team other than to be in with a chance as the game draws towards its conclusion.

Jawai put the Cats up five but then TA drained a three and Tai Wesley, of all people, hit a three of his own to give the Breakers their first lead since a minute and a half into the third quarter. Beal returned the lead to the home team, followed by misses to TA and Mika… and then Jarrod Kenny went and stabbed in a triple with 1:36 to play to make it a four-point game. Massive play.

Cedric then tried to go to work on Beal but missed his shot and Matty Knight, who had a top game, made the rebound and was fouled. Next possession, a Cedric lob pass meant for Catfish was picked off by Prather. Breakers down 80-75 with under a minute left. Abercrombie missed a three after a sweet pump fake bought him space but at the other end a powerful rebound by Catfish kept it alive and TA made it count for three on the next try. Beal’s fouled. Gets one, misses the next. TA hits another three! Now it’s game on with only seconds remaining. A quick foul on Beal and he hits both his shots, Perth up by three, Breakers with one last chance… but there were no more timeouts and Cedric was trapped trying to advance the ball. The clock ticked over and the Wildcats win a thriller, 83-80.

FULL TIME | Cedric Jackson's final play doesn't go his way and the Perth Wildcats defeat the Skycity Breakers NZ 83-80 tonight in the Jungle! Box Score: http://bit.ly/1OHl4oK #HardBall
Posted by NBL on Friday, 16 October 2015

Not quite enough to get over the line yet still a fantastically improved effort. There was movement and energy at both ends. The defence was enormously improved. An unlucky loss in the end, Perth able to make the big plays when it mattered, but there were positives despite the loss.

Tom Abercrombie was the key man for NZB, scoring 23 points and adding 5 boards. Cedric’s 19 points were big, as were Bartlett’s 17. Wesley had 8 rebounds, though didn’t shoot well, and Catfish was a box score monster. 9 points off six shots attempts and 15 rebounds. His ability to haul in that loose ball was outstanding.

For the Wildcats, Beal topped with 19 points (and 6 assists), while Knight had 14 & 12, Prather 11p/5a/4r and Wagstaff, who cooled off big after a hot start, ended with 14 points off the bench.

Stocks:

Movin’ On Up Like Curtis Mayfield – There are a few guys that did a bit to up their reps this game. Catfish’s monstrous rebounding is up there, Cedric’s grabbing the game by the horns and Mika’s glue value to everyone else are up there. But it was Tom Abercrombie that did the most. He wasn’t turning down looks like he has done, happy to take that pull-up jumper and he gets so much elevation that it’s pretty terrible to defend. When you have that ability, you’ve gotta use it. Plus some clutch shooting at the end there keeping his team in the battle. More of this, please.

Goin’ Down Slow Like Howlin’ Wolf – Duane Bailey checked in for 87 seconds and committed an offensive foul on a screen and a defensive foul in that time, checked out and didn’t return. It’s tough to get chances at the end of the depth chart and this was an opportunity for him without Pledger in the side. Those screens were an issue last game too in his small time on the court, a couple of very hard ones probably lucky not to be called.