Martin would I imagine, depend on how he pulls up. He only play 18 minutes, so was presumably being managed.
Unless he's really sore, I'd imagine he'll still suit up. Just have to wait and see if he actually takes to the court. Knowing him, if his team needs him, it will be hard to hold him down.
But the great ting is that with Cotton firing from the get-go, they can afford to ease Damo back.
Kenny actually played more than Damo, and that will probably increase against Brissy, but you wouldn't expect that to be the norm.

BIG question is WTF was wrong with Prather, and is 48 hours enough to recover, or will he be worse for the exertion???

Without Bairstow and Petrie, I think Brisbane is looking at lady luck to smile on them.

I think the fat lady will be there singing 'It is over darling.'

Interested to see how Cotton goes after an exceptional debut. Equally interested to see how Prather rebounds from a bad game. Brisbane have owned Cats so far this season but with Petrie and Bairstow out(both playing large roles for the bullets this year) this is a game that Perth has to and should win.

If Cotton is consistently good as he was on debut I honestly think Perth have the best starting 5 in the league - yes I know that's probably my supporter goggles on but it's right up there.

Cotton scored his 26 fairly effortlessly but it was is impact on the rest of the team that impressed me, in particularly McKay. I can't wait too see if that trend continues - McKay is a very underrated player.

^^Lol

Lets not forget that Brissy will be freash, and haven't even travelled for two weeks. And they still have plenty of big bodies. Tough ask for the Cats to back up with another win.

Once again, I think McKay will be key. When he's not firing, he can become a liability against the big bodies. But when he's on song, his speed and athleticism cannot be matched. If he can come up with another ~20 points, plus his usual fare of boards and blocks, that will go a long way towards setting up another win.

Damo is a game day decision depending on how he pulls up from the Sydney game. He played limited minutes so there's a good chance he will but I would not be surprised if he starts on the bench and comes in if needed. Your right though , Brisbane still have a great front court - this game will be won with the battle of the back court.

Wonder what the reaction from Beal will be as Cotton will be wearing his old number, prob try & guard Cotton at some stage.... Good luck with that.

Train totally agree about McKay. It's not the shot blocking, it's that he causes guys to change their shots. McKay, Prather & Cotton are only going to get better as they play together

In previous seasons the cats have dropped off mentally in post christmas fixtures and have especially been awful in Queensland. But this season things appear very different. They've been working their butts off to arrest their form slump, safe to say less indulging on egg nog this chrissy, and it looks like they're finding their mojo at the right time of year.

In saying that the bullets were super impressive against them at the arena. Its been a surprise to me they didnt go on with it after that game and find themselves in the top two right now. They have had injuries but as mentioned still have a strong front court and they will be fresher for this one.

So much hinges on if Prather has recovered from his illness.

Bullets by 2 hollow points

Assuming Prather is ok, I predict Cats to wreck havoc with Cotton.

It will be a blowout...cats by 15.

They got that belief now, knowing damo is there and got cotton. Would have like to see this team from the start with no injuries how would they been up to this point in time.

Perth move to second with a w tomorrow night and looking forward to next Saturday night playing the top team, crowd will go nuts seeing the captain hopefully no more set backs and give this a great shot.

I don't expect fatigue to be much of a problem. Sydney --> Brisbane is nothing, and having a recovery day in between games makes it a much different proposition to if it were back-to-backs. Certainly no excuses for the Cats given the health issues the Bullets are dealing with.

To have any chance, Brisbane have to get career highs out of Beal, Kickert and Gibson AND Perth have to play poorly.
Can't see either happening.
Perth on paper are a better all round team esp with Cotton and Martin's return.
Prather will be interesting.
Can he play second fiddle and accept his new role? Perth fans might be able to answer that.
I expect Mackay's numbers to pick up permanently.
Tough night for Brisbane!

"Perth win they move to second."

PER lose they go to sixth.

I've got no doubt that Prather can play second fiddle - in fact I think it should suit him. Maybe one game is early to judge, but it seems like Cotton is not excessively ball-dominant, so Prather will still get plenty of looks.

I know things are looking up for the Cats but I don't think tonight will be a walk in the park either. Brisbane still have some weapons and some good match-ups for ours. I'm thinking we'll be directing our offence more through Knight than Prather in this one, and looking to keep Brandt rolling as well. He's been very effective in the last few games.

"If Cotton is consistently good as he was on debut I honestly think Perth have the best starting 5 in the league - yes I know that's probably my supporter goggles on but it's right up there. "

Not an unreasonable comment at all.

One player can make all the difference. It's early days but the signs suggest Cotton could be for Perth what Ware has been for United.

Did Brisbane make any changes of note after the Bairstow and Petrie injuries? I know Tueta came in. And there was talk of Kendle, but was that it? I would've thought with the import spot up their sleeve, they could have made a decisive change and given their season a decent chance?

Agree totally with Isaac's comment above. Given the injuries sustained and the vacant import spot, I thought they could have been more aggressive in the market ala United with Ware and the Cats with Cotton. Even NZ went out and got a like for like replacement import when Woodside went down (although Stockton has been subsequently let go). Perhaps Lemanis thinks they have enough to make a run and didn't want to 'upset' any chemistry they have been building.

I doubt any team is looking at next year at this stage. With the league as even as it is, all it will take is for a team to get a little hot or a bit of luck and anyone can beat anyone as we have already seen. In saying that, I think we are starting to see a little separation in the performance levels by certain squads. That gap can be made up by teams in the bottom half of the ladder for mine.

There was a local article a few days ago stating the the Bullets anticipated giving Kendle a run. He won't play tonight due to injury, but he'll likely play the following game. Izzwill play tonight, assuming he is done when Kendle comes in.

Something was obviously wrong with Prather against Sydney. Whether it was "gastro" or something else, or just an off night. I think its a bit early to proclaim that he will play 2nd fiddle. He's still their best player, but there will be less onus on him, particularly as regards carrying the ball.

One other thing, Perth really need to work on their 3 point shooting. Apart from Cotton, it was hopeless against Sydney.
One thing I could not understand, but maybe has something to do with managing his injury comeback, was the number of times they would have Cotton & Prather bring the ball up, whilst Martin went to the corner. He's never been the greatest of shooters, and the other night he was cold.

And one other thing that puzzles me. Why, even when there is a delay, do they so often have Knight inbound the ball from baseline? I can understand user a tall player, but Knight is the slowest guy up the court.

‏@PerthWildcats
"Damian Martin has recovered well from Saturday's game and will play tonight against the Bullets."

Not worried about Prather, he's had to do it all for the whole season (lead, shoot, dribble up, create) then all of a sudden in the space of a game gets his PG and captain back who can defend and a new combo guard who can create and shoot... must be a shock to the system, he'll be fine.

Martin is going to breathe a lot of confidence into the team.

Prather is the worrying one but all seems to be quiet about him so he must be alright.

Cotton would have studied his success yesterday re engaging the biggies, e.g. Matty, Jameel. Pretty sure he would use same strategy again. I just got to say his drive is good as Ricky Grace.

Might be better than Grace as Cotton can use both hands.

McKay looking rejuvenated

Jameel's hit a good vein of conidence

Yis bru

Can this court side camera please piss off

I was just about to say the same thing anon. It's terrible! Hopefully the NBL realise that sooner rather than later and put it on the bin

Solid start. Going inside-out consistently.
Prather already getting dividends from his previous game sooking with a soft call on the drive going his way.

Cats 11+ looking good

Casey and Sobey must have gone to the same Hospital.

Tough night for Brisbane. Getting tougher.

I agree that low angle camera is terribad

the cats have yet to get a defensive stop this quarter...

^Wroe's got more points than Cotton right now, so...

Cotton having a mare

and someone was saying he could be better than Ricky Grace.......

lel

Well, so far that 26-point game is looking like a blip

Jesus Kinney

You could not have predicted that for a million dollars after the first quarter

and the Bullets are leading at half time... well done cats, really f**ked that Q up. Terrible shooting

a mere 5 field goals for that cats in the 2nd. Cotton with a big donut, followed by Prather's donut in the 2nd

Nice one Izzy. Well done Brisbane. Back in it.

A bit odd that Dexter didn't get a run in a half where we were 2-12 from outside

As a biased 36ers fan, I really struggle to see how Perf are going to score enough points to win the 'ship little alone make or compete in the finals. Granted their defense has been exceptional for years (and always borderline footy style), however I just don't see them scoring enough to compete with the Hawks, 36ers and United.

They make basketball look so ugly so regularly...

Cotton sure is having the best first to second game difference in performance thus far isn't he!?!

I thought that was just a missed layup rather than a pass.

..

Craig that was brutal

Any danger of some points, Cats?

No, Hire, I was not aiming that at you!

Jervis's arm all over McKay's face and it's called a travel??

lolCats

This is awful

First team to 50 and lets just call it a night.

Hope Cotton's just having an off night... 1-8 shooting, 1 assist and 2 TOs in 25mins so far.

Look who decided to wake up

Really not impressed with the reffing tonight.

Impressed with Tueta though.

Yeah shocking charging call on Prather. Tueta barely got in front of him.

I LOVE Damian Martin!
Only one bloke could make wearing #53 cool.

Nice Cotton pick'n roll

...then crashing to the deck

Carfino slipped a "yeah no kidding", that's Boty's material for the week. ;p

So i thought the Tueta charge was the worst call i've ever seen..... until that call on Damo.

Wow.

Hit ya free frows, Cats

Gotta love nbl referees. Ruining games all year!

And the officiating has done it for me...

Wildcats getting robbed on the chop calls all night,

My heart is pumping like crazy at the moment. I had written perth off at 3/4 time

It feels like more have gone against Perth but in reality I'm pretty sure it's just random bad decisions as the person a few posts up said

From 8th to 2nd in basically a week

Yeah no kidding

Here comes the Cats... 31?

Well earned 2ND spot on the ladder Cats!

PRO: The NBL TV app didn't fail on me once for the first time in weeks.

CON: The NBL Wildcats are looking like they'll head to the finals for another year with a little help from their friends.

YEEESSSS! Gutsy win by Perth. That's 3 in a row on the road. Wasn't pretty but we will take it.

Great effort Brisbane but no cigar. Perth played poorly and Gibson had an excellent night, but all in vain. 3 and 0 on the road, Perth are the real deal.
When they start using the on balls a little better they will be even tougher.

Beal & Jervis? ;)

Lol Perth had more bad calls against them than Bullets did.

Adel vs. Perf! 1 vs. 2! Pretender vs. Champ! Randle vs. Cotton!

Excuse me while I scream excitedly into a pillow...

Would you like some tissues anon

Beal 4 points and 4 turnovers. Don't think the wildcats miss his inconsistent play!

A win is a win, still a way to go to be a contender, but the wins put us in position to at least make a challenge.

As far as the refs go, at least they are not really favouring anyone. Some of the calls are just mystifying, you really do wonder what they are seeing out there, and it is happening every game, against both teams.

We need to get Eddie Crouch, BillY MilLdenhall, Ray Hunt and Geoff Weeks out of retirement, at least you get a consistent game called.

3 worst calls of the night.

1) McKay reach or push, daylight between the players and mckays hands in the air and stationary, bullet falls over = foul

2) Martin reach-in in the final minute. Fingers on the ball and nothing else, I honestly have no idea what the ref could have saw with that.

3) Prather charge, bullet starting falling before there was any contact between the two.

Yeah no kidding

LOL

I know home cooking happens but Brisbane must have set up a smorgasbord in the front foyer.

If the current Top 4 ends up making the playoffs, as it seems likely at the moment, it's going to be fun watching the import guards go at it. Randle vs Clarke vs Ware vs Cotton.

Torrey Craig was huge for Brisbane but even with tired legs, the Cats got home.

Cats fans cannot ask for more..... happy happy.

Well that was butt ugly.
Mostly just because NBL TV is total shit. I'd be better off listening on the radio.

And tough, defensive game, but that's what the Cats excel at.

Oh Yeah, tell me again how Prather will have to play "2nd Fiddle." ROFL

3 Road wins on the trot. From the team that "can't win on the road." Opposition must be shitting themselves (and poking pins into Damo Bobble-Heads.)

Get foxtel, you will have no dramas.
Great win, Saturday night will be the test. Cotton a bit gun shy but made the one's that cont.

Cotton hit by Beal on his second last 3 point attempt was a bad miss too.

This pretty much summed the game up for me, and it happened MULTIPLE times.

Lemanis: Hmmm we're getting thumped on the offensive glass ... what to do what to do. I see we've got 7 footer Jervis on the bench. Reuben, go get Kicks!

FFS.

Should Jervis have stayed in Perth?

Undoubtedly he's getting more money, and initially it may have looked like a better opportunity.
But even with Bairstow and Petrie out, he doesn't seem to be used very well.
Over the past few years he showed he was good enough to start when Knight was injured, or even alongside Knight. Just seems the "better opportunity" has not eventuated.

I'm glad he's gone! Brandt has shown over the last couple of games what we got him for and has been an ample replacement. Jervis isn't starter quality and besides his dubious "blocks" on McKay his defence and rim protecting isn't the greatest.

I feel like Brandt is more of an impact, go-to type player than Jervis. Not as consistent, probably the riskier bet over extended minutes, but the better fit for the Cats current situation where the starting spots are filled. In a team lacking scoring options, Angus is a guy who will get you scores if you can get him good catches.

Perth won despite playing poorly and despite the refs.
Gibson slide across to draw a charge that was actually a block on his part.
The Prather charge (Izzy) was one of the worst calls I've seen on a basketball court. Prather hadn't turned the corner and was not going in the direction of the contact.
The Jervis mugging of MacKay was even worse. As previous posts have said he actually went on with it to contact his head.
Usually I don't mind the odd bad call but they all seemed to go against Perth.

Gibson was great. Beal was real anxious and could not get going, a bit personal for him I suppose.
Not sure why Kickert does not get more looks. Does he not go looking or do they not run anything for him.
Craig was your typical pro 20 and 10 night.
Izzy "just give me a go" was fantastic.

Cotton human. Came up with two great plays, the 3 over Te Rangi and the drive down the middle. He doesn't seem to use the on ball screen well and the ball in his hands down the stretch will become the norm for the rest of the season.
Nice little cameos from Brandt, Wagstaff kept them in it.
Prather was back to his best. MacKay wasn't allowed to play his best.
Perth are difficult to play at the best of times but now they are getting their offence sorted they are going to be even tougher. Can they make a run at Adelaide?

IMO; that's enough for me to see. I think Perth will win it all again this year (as much as it pains me to say that).

They are 3 games back from ADL, but have a game in hand. (9 remaining where ADL only have 8).

Got ya Anon. I know it looked ugly but you are then saying that the refs call was that he tripped Tueta or hindered him. Tueta got over the top of the slip without being tripped but was in no position to defend Prather. He fell over trying to draw a charge.This was the only contact on the play.
Listened too carefully to Carfino.

MACDUB "IMO; that's enough for me to see. I think Perth will win it all again this year (as much as it pains me to say that)."

Not sure how you came up with that, after Perth just got the win against an average side depleted with injuries. Yet you saw Adelaide in 2nd gear beat NZ by 18. Not saying Perth don't have a chance to win it but they will have to show more than that. Adelaide @ Perth will be a better test for both teams.

As for the reffing I thought it was pretty normal with both teams getting some bad calls. A little home cooking gave Brisbane the better deal. Martin massively flopping to get the offensive foul against Beal was a bad call against the home side.

It looked a bit like "One trick Cotton" there for a while. If teams limit his open 3 point shot how effective is he going to be. I imagine Sobey will guard him and Randle guard Martin when they match up.

Brunson you are a moron if you think Marto flopped when Dolla clearly fouled him. It was an undisciplined foul by a frustrated Dolla.

Meh, it doesn't really matter who is "better" out of Jervis or Brandt. Its a done deal. My question was Jervis specific, whether he made the right move?

For record, Brandt is improving, I think it has taken him a while to settle in to his new home and team, get to know his teammates and the plays. He was very good for Sydney, and I think he'll be good for us in the long run.

Brutal game, Martin flopped on that call??? Beal tried to draw a foul, didn't get it and fouled martin in frustration. That was as obvious as it comes

Sorry that was directed at Brunson.

Martin definitely flopped on the push Mayberry called. No ref in the league falls for more flops than Vaughan (with Tim Mills probably a close second) and I'm sure Damo knew who the nearby ref was.

Meh, it doesn't really matter whether Jervis made the "right move". Its a done deal.