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Years ago

Funny Sixers vs Perth - Game Preview

This from Matt McQuade - nbl.com.au

Adelaide 36ers vs Perth Wildcats
Friday 2 September, Distinctive Homes Dome, 8.00pm (local)

Projected Starters
36ers: Brett Maher, Willie Farley, Jacob Holmes, Dusty Rychart, David Cooper
Wildcats: David Bailey, Peter Crawford, Dillon Boucher, Tony Ronaldson, Paul Rogers

Bench
36ers: Oscar Forman, Brad Hill, Mark Nash, Paul Rees, Nick Hambour
Wildcats: Shawn Redhage, Matt Burston, Matt Shanahan, Liam Rush, Cameron Tovey, Jeff Dowdell

Last Season
Adelaide won season series 2-1

Recent Form
Adelaide: 2-2 @ NBL Blitz, eliminated in Quarter Finals
Perth: 2-2 @ NBL Blitz, eliminated in Quarter Finals

There is absolutely no question this is one of the all-time greatest rivalries in the Philips Championship. Ever since the Wildcats became a legitimate powerhouse in 1987, these two have been at each other's throats for nearly 20 years in an on-going war featuring some of the best games ever played in the league. This season should be no exception. Perth have rebuilt their roster following the retirement of the 'Amazing One' Ricky Grace and the departure of last season's imports Rosell Ellis and Ontario Lett. Adelaide on the other hand have kept virtually the entire roster from the team that went 19-14 in 04/05. The 'Cats have themselves a monstrous frontline, with the centrepiece being seven-foot Paul Rogers, the 2000 league MVP. Rogers is an aircraft carrier type who gives his team a legitimate force in the middle. But the key will be superfast point guard, David Bailey, who at barely 5'8" is the smallest player in the Philips Championship. However, based on what he showed at the preseason Blitz, he is going to be a keeper, and once his team learns how to play off him, he could be a special player this season. The 36ers are excited for their part about the development of second-year guard Brad Hill, who impressed all and sundry with his play at the Blitz. He is expected to make a Brad Newley-like impact on the league. The usual suspects Brett Maher, Willie Farley and Dusty Rychart will be extremely productive as always, and with Oscar Forman giving them a great perimeter shooter off the bench, Adelaide will light up the scoreboard again. Both teams love to run, but the key to this game will be in the halfcourt, where Perth should look to power it inside early and often to try and overwhelm the smaller 36er frontcourt, who will pack it in and dare the Cats to beat them from the outside. It should be another beauty, and I like Adelaide to open their season at home with a tough, close victory.
Matt's Prediction: 36ers by 4

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