LK must be pumped to get this series locked in for the finals: the two most rabid fanbases head-to-head.

Adelaide are paying $1.50 in game one and $1.65 to make the grand final. I'd be nervous betting on either!

Sorry this is a pretty one-sided affair.Adelaide 2-0

Nice post OP, I've been hoping these 2 teams would meet in the finals. This is going to be an all out war. Logic says 36ers should win the series but it’s the finals and Perth have a wealth of finals experience. Either way, it should go down to game 3. Hoping we get some quality games and no blow outs.

It will be more competitive than 2-0. Lets not forget who choked last yr upon finishing Top

Yes, this is a classic tussle of Good vs Evil.

The Good 36ers battling the evil cats from the west. The series should go a a third game.

Sixers at home will be hard to beat. The Cats are not exactly travelling well and show a bit of discord when it comes to team harmony. A few egos in the camp by the looks of it. Judging by the previous barney, dare I say if their skin was any thinner, we would be able to see their vital organs (if they had a heart would we see it beat?) - and that's just the FANS I'm talking about!

I'm expecting Game 2 in Perth to be packed full of bogans from Bassendean. Let's hope they've had their Ritalin for the day, or else the stadium could be stripped bare if the Cats lose, but they won't. It'll be flop city with the series squared up at one each. Ah, the sound of 13,000 fans dragging their knuckles.

This leaves the very important Game 3 decider. As we know, good triumphs over evil, so I'm thinking the highlight of the game might be a Deng dunk over Wagstaff in a Sixers win.

Sixers 2-1.

Perth's key to the game is hope Cotton scores 40 points.

The games will be won by the bench

36ers have superior firepower in that regard. Wagstaff the only notable protagonist for the 36ers to be concerned about. Data shows Kenny is deplorable v the 36ers and Hire is a non factor.

Derek Cooke remains to be the x-factor for the Wildcats. Inconsistent for much of the season,

The biggest threat to the 36ers is the 36ers.

We know the Wildcats can deliver in this part of the year, and you know they'll bring the intensity and defence - even if the offence goes missing in patches.

Adelaide's best should be able to handle that, but after last year's implosion will their young group be able to deliver this time around?

I think I might need to block myself from Hoops for the next week otherwise I'm likely to develop finals fatigue before the finals even start!

More bogans in Bentley than Bassendean.
I pick Adelaide 2-1 but my tipping form is shocking so I hope I'm wrong.

The key to the game will be which team controls the tempo. If 36ers play their run and gun game all series its going to be game over for Perth.

If Perth want to win, they will need to shoot at a decent clip, control the boards and stop the transition game.

@Jack - Good and Evil is all a point of view ;)

The 36ers are my tip for the championship this year. They are building nicely at the right time of year.

Cant see the cats winning a game this series. They have just too many deficiencies in their game this season

Adelaide in 3

I don't think the OP understand what X-factor means.

Perth's only chance is to somehow get Joey distracted, so he loses his shit again.

Sadly though, I suspect this one will go 2-0, to whoever wins G1, which I imagine will be Adelaide.

Nice one D2.0

"Perth's only chance is to somehow get Joey distracted, so he loses his shit again" -->so Perth has no chance

Sadly though, I suspect this one will go 2-0, to whoever wins G1, which I imagine will be Adelaide" --)So Perth will sweep if they get the first...

Righttttto.....

Think D2.0 is bipolar.

"How much bandwidth did Jack waste posting that nonsense?"

Just enough

I think I understand OP with Talking about Cooke, he's had games on the road with 10+ rebounds (I think Melbourne and Illawarra) and if he replicates that then Wildcats will be in the game for sure but I wouldn't call him our X-factor, Brandt needs to stay out of foul trouble or Perth are Cooke'd.

Steindl really needs to have a good series but only time will tell if he does.

Dexter got a nice reaction from the crowd on Sunday in every facet from being announced before game, coming on the court and hitting his shot. He could become that fan favourite before he gets released at season's end!

Perth to replicate Illawarra from last season and play dreadful in game 1, win game 2 and then watch as Adelaide beat themselves in game 3... that would be enjoyable

I don't think we have seen the best of Adelaide yet. I think last season's finals campaign was a good learning curve for the young fellas and they will be better for the experience. Adelaide have also added a lot of experience & versatility to their line up through their imports. I don't think they will capitulate like they did last year.

I think once it comes to the crunch guys like Shorter and Childress can and will up their defensive intensity to the levels we haven't really seen consistently/in unison this season.

Cotton is a great player and pure shooter but he is a little overrated for me. Will he be troubled by the extra length, activity and athleticism on the perimeter Adelaide can stifle him with? Time will tell...

Adelaide is hands down the favourite in this match up.

They are capable and should sweep the Wildcats.

They have been the most in form team this season, and play at a speed and intensity no other teams can match offensively.

They have the same core from last year who will have learnt from their mistakes.

The Wildcats are the underdogs for sure.

Their ageing core and lack of form will be a major factor.

They essentially need consistent brilliant performances from Stiendl, Wagstaff and Brandt to win this series.

It's a great accomplishment for this Wildcats side to have got as far as they have.

Many critics will say they aren't playing that well and will lose, but what does that say about the other 4 teams that didn't make the playoffs?

Wildcats just making up the numbers this year. Not writing them off, but they are definitely not favoured to win or advance.

It's one thing to make a claim for underdog status in a series and I agree Perth are the underdogs purely on not having home court advantage but to say the Sixers have been the most in form team this season is ludicrous.

Melbourne finished two games clear of Adelaide on the ladder and swept their season series against the 36ers 4-0.

Also don't forget the season series between Adelaide and Perth was split 2-2 and Perth would've won the season series on points differential too.

Adelaide were the in form team last year also, finished on top. How did that go for you ;)

I hope we can win the home game, but i have my doubts, this time last year we were peaking at this time. We are no where near that this year, and have our main defensive spark either injured or worn down from years of playing hard- Damo. Too many players who are inconsistent and go missing when the heat is on, and how can Cooke be considered a wildcard he has had maybe 1 or 2 good games all year, i don't see him being a threat to Adelaide.

If Adelaide are serious they should sweep us, we are not good enough this year. It is what i'm expecting to happen.

"Adelaide were the in form team last year also, finished on top. How did that go for you ;)"

Actually that is not 100% true, whilst they were the top team, they went into the playoffs losing 3 of their last 4 regular season games, including 2 to Cairns possibly to impact the playoff seedings because they'd rather face Illawarra than New Zealand.

Yes it turned out bad.

As a United fan (for this playoffs anyway), I'm going for a Perth upset. Adelaide is more worrisome than the flaming flailing Wildcats

Cant believe anybody thinking that last years Sixers team is anywhere as good as this years, as Randle was the team with bit players and now we have 8- 10 players that can do the job and have all done during season.

"As a United fan "

How easily Cairns is cast aside for something better.

What series would you watch if United don't win?

https://www.hoops.com.au/forum/42735-wildcats-vs-taipans-feb-18/#p673429

Damo in a moon boot for a couple of days

Twitter video

36ers bench looks pretty good ....why they even got the league's best bench player..... also , deng got 20points in only 18mins ...... much like weigh....
homicide.... joey is coach of the year 'cause he lost the league's best player .. put together a good team ...pretty deep.....

Most likely 36ers a little tooo deep... unilateral speaking..

" His 36ers are on the verge of greatness , but Joey Wright also coaches another team .
Giving back at the grassroots level . "
Seven News will run the story tonight .

Kinda hoping Perth wins this series.

Hard to say who I'm really going for until the ball is thrown up, but I'm probably on the Perth wagon for this one

Winner of this game WILL win the series.