The Breakers are getting better every game, but they need to keep PJC out of foul trouble and not lose too many to fall behind the pack before Cheatham returns. Picking Perth @ home is always the smart bet, but Perth's team offence sucks and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Breakers shut them down completely.

Perth were much better on Monday at exploiting opposition defensive plans, setting up for backdoors, screening angles etc. They lost a lot of frontcourt basketball IQ with Travers, Thomas and Manek gone, but might be starting to figure it out now?

Mody has made a lot of tactical errors so far too which has hindered them

They need a big contribution to complement lamb and PJC and with abercrombies shooting a thing of the past it has to be delany at the moment

Can't see perth falling into the zone trap long enough for breakers to win it

New Zealand can't rebound or defend bigs - big games from Pinder, Sarr, Hyrum Harris.

Few awesome matchups:

PJC vs Bryce
Doolittle vs Lamb
Hyrum Harris vs Finn Delany (NZ teammates)

Can't pick it... New Zealand gonna be so desperate

So after no games last night, this is the only game tonight? What's going on here?

Breakers really need this win, unlike last season side the breakers look weak defensively, certainly in bigs department. PJC is a gun, if he can realise that nbl refs call fouls differently and stay on the floor breakers are a chance. A good quality game from Mathiang is also required
Cats coming off an excellent weekend, Harris being that glue guy and Sarr doing well. Cotton also showing he's still a fantastic. Home court will be good enough to get cats over the line by 8.

Handy start

Cat's kicking arse, Cotton back to his normal self, NZ gone, won’t make finals, just to weak defensively. Doolittle settled in very nicely.

It's amazing how a player like Harris turned the cats around, glue guys are irreplaceable.

Pinder moves on every screen, no call, Delaney gets called a foil after Usher takes a dive.

Damo looks like he hasn't been to sleep for a week, cats cruising, Lamb offensively great, defensively he’s an nba defender.

Can Delaney miss anymore lay ups

Perth far to good, NZ just look awful defending, offence not much better. Some very highly paid breakers just not firing.

Did miss the Casey, Gleeson, Martin commentary combo.

Perth average
Breakers woeful

If the Breakers wanted to play zone they should have gone box-1 and stuck Le'afa onto Cotton like glue.

Perth was ok but Usher could have let the Breakers back into it. Very low IQ player. Perth should sack him.

Why didn’t Sarr play more?

Breakers miss Pardon big time. Mathiang has bad hands, can’t get strong rebounding position, and cannot play the type of man to man defense the Breakers want to play. He is getting better, but not fast enough.

Breakers will be sweating Cheatham’s return. I’m sure they will make a big run when he returns like they did with Hopson a few seasons back. But will it be too late?

Also, has the NBL hired DJ Rod to consult to each of the clubs this year? The music is too much, too loud, and ruins the atmosphere.

Also, has the NBL hired DJ Rod to consult to each of the clubs this year? The music is too much, too loud, and ruins the atmosphere.

17 posts prior to this one has to easily be the lowest tally of a Cats game thread in years.

Modys stubbornness hurt the breakers again continuing with the zone when clearly it was giving cotton too much space and allowing rebounders behind the box

Yes they'll be much better with cheatham back and should make a late run but if he continues with this inability to adapt then we'll be out of the running by that stage

"17 posts prior to this one has to easily be the lowest tally of a Cats game thread in years."

Could it be that Perth fans on here have become like Adelaide fans and Townville fans before them, not happy unless there is something to complain about? ;-)

A good win, but still so much one on one, end of clock, hero ball, bail out shots.

It was said on commentary but gee the zone through us. So much standing around passing the ball back and forth at the top of they key. Many times there was one extra kick there w for and open man, but the passer just had his eyes locked on the screen away/interchange action to kick it straight back to where it came from.

Maybe I was quick to call for Doolittle's head, but gee his style of play frustrates me. At one point Sarr didn’t kick it to the corner to him, Doolittle was wide open in shooting stance, but got to the rack and got fouled. Old boy was just standing still in the corner with his hands still ready to receive the pass like he couldn’t believe he didn’t get it. Meanwhile the three other boys and helping Sarr off the ground after the foul. The corner really must be a dead spot for him because he is great at standing and watching there whether someone is driving to the hoop or shooting a three. Doesn’t crash or run to get back on D. This is a huge pet peeve of mine so I know it’s not worth sacking a yank over, but another player who is selfish on this team isn’t what we need.

I don't know what Doolittle you've been watching, but saying he doesn't run back or play good D, or crash the boards is just objectively incorrect

Doolittle has been great at both ends, improved mega since his first game, another glue guy like Harris.

Yeah really like Doolittle, no fuss guy who does what the team needs.

So I'm wrong when I’m being specific about when he’s spotting up on corner threes? Big ball watcher in those situations. He’s improved in other areas, but it kills transition defence when you’re out of position on a missed shot.