East Perth @ The Web
A woeful 24% from the field including a Simmons'esque 2/24 from deep @ 8% was never going to get it done for Perth last weekend up against Parsons Parrots in a 40 point blowout loss and they line up again on their home court in Belmont up against a dangerous and unpredictable Eagles side who themselves will be reeling following a 61 point defeat at the hands of the God Squad at the Purple Palace of Parishment last Saturday night. Whether it be NBL1 or WABL, most would know the scout with Lakeside, particularly on them shooter friendly rings at the Church, shoot the three ball whenever remotely open and so the scout should have been a simple on for EP last week but again, when a team shoots a classy 49% from deep you're never in for a good result.
Verdict - Who to choose between a Perth side who managed a paltry 21 points in the second half, or an Eagles lineup which had ZERO players in double figures against the Lightning. For the spectators sake I hope someone from either team finds their shooting touch in this one - With absolutely no confidence at all i'll go with Redbacks by 4
Joondalup @ The Senate
NBL1 West's first ever edition of the Royal Joondal-umble as the Green Greyhounds take the short drive south down Wanneroo Rd to do battle against Mike's Monarchists. Warwick enter this one after an easy win over the visiting Slammers last weekend, on the back of a game defining 45-28 first half lead, which only grew as the game went on. The Wolfpack go into this one buoyed off a 23 point win at HBF over the Suns in Week 4, and with Lochie Cummings and Jon Wade leading the way, could prove quite a handful for the Senators in this one.
Verdict - Should be a great game with the depth of both teams to be well and truly tested. Expect a blockbuster crowd to pack out Warwick Stadium and see one of the games of the season as the Senators outlast Joondalup in a thriller, winning by 2
Rockingham @ The Pirate Ship
So the relatively young Flames outfit head to the Midwest to take on a Buccs side who will finally get to unfurl their 2019 SBL Championship Banner in front of their Midwest Maniacs. Outside of Godfrey and Hire, the average age for the lineup heading north for Rocko is 23 and with most having their first trip to the most intimidating stadium in the League, expect it to be an education and eye opening experience for Petrik's young prodigies. Gero back on home soil after going down to their Country Cousins on the Goldfields last weekend and make the long trek back home needing to get some confidence back in a side who appear to lack that genuine scoring threat this season.
Verdict - Hire playing for the first time this season is a huge inclusion for Rocko, but it will be the contributions of the Beard brothers and Durnin which will play a huge role in determining whether or not the Flames can get out of Eighth Street with the upset win. Flames to get up in a fiery one... excuse the pun! Stunning the Buccs by 6
Goldfields @ Eagles Nest
So Beaker's Big Boys head to the big smoke following a superb home win over the Buccs last Saturday night, and will head to Herb Graham full of confidence. For East Perth, their bench will have to support their stars in Vinci and Donlagic if they are to compete against a fresh Goldfields outfit, after backing up from their road clash against Perth on Friday night.
Verdict - Goldfields proved their new additions will make them a team not to be underestimated in 2021 and will head into this Week 5 double header looking to extend that winning streak out to three come Sunday night. Giants with too much firepower and depth, knocking off East Perth to the tune of 17 points
Mandurah @ The Dogg Pound
NBL1 West was put on notice last week, Coach Trahair and his Abracadabra Athletes may not be the easy beats many predicted they would be following a huge home win over the much more fancied Cougars in Week 4. Jerami Grace showcasing the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with a Player of the Week performance for the former Willetton junior a highlight on a night where the Magic were challenged multiple times but still managed to pull out the W. Joondalup on the quick backup after heading to the southern border on Friday night in what promises to be a physical affair against Warwick.
Verdict - Can the Magic pull off their second upset in as many games?! If BC can get Huntington in foul trouble early, the entire dynamic for this one changes very quickly. Mandurah to stun the league for the second week in a row, winning by 5
Perry Lakes @ The Tiger Cage **Match of the Week**
Both teams on a two game winning streak should hopefully see a bumper crowd head to the Boulevarde for this SOR vs NOR showdown. The battle of the bigs inside between Vigor and Thomas should be one of the keys to the game, whilst the young and exciting back courts of both sides should see a fairly fast paced game ensue. Between Vigor, Scott and young gun Williams the Tigers have an average of 60+ points per game in a gym which takes some getting used to in the aircraft hangar setup similar to Rockingham as well as some of the most rigid Acromat rings ever.
Verdict - All but guaranteed to be a slugfest against two of sides who will both fancy their chances to be heading to the NBL1 National Finals come September / October. Should be a classic but on their home floor I will lean towards the Tigers to be just a touch too good for the western suburbs boys, winning by 2
South West @ The Church
Slammers head back to the City after a disastrous Week 4 both on and off the court, with two huge losses for Wortho's Windmillers made even worse by a significant injury to one of the more promising young talents in the League in Brodie England who will be out for some time with an ankle injury suffered in their loss to the Flames last Sunday night. The Lightning absolutely shooting the lights out last weekend and back at the scene of the crime against a weaker opponent, expect the carnage from deep to continue for Coach Daniels' Disciples here...
Verdict - Ugly... Very, very damn ugly. God Squad by 60
Cockburn @ Shed In The Sticks
Both sides still best mates with Owen in 2021 and for one, they will break that unwanted friendship come 1030pm Saturday night whilst for the other one, especially if its the Cougars given it will be their third straight loss, then whether they can rebound quick enough to play Finals starts to become a major talking point even this early into the NBL1 West season. On paper I think not too many would argue that the Cougars definitely have the talent advantage over the Suns, with names like Field, Pozoglou and Holmes all able to light it up on any given night. For whatever reason Coops' Cats haven't been able to put it together so far this season but one suspects this could be their perfect opportunity to turn that ordinary start around. Meanwhile for the Suns its simply a case of needing more production from their seasoned players in Dinardo, Easley & Reath if they are to break the donut in NBL1 West 2K21
Verdict - Both teams on the first leg of tough double headers and for Cockburn its a solid case of lose this, then backup against a confident Giants outfit in Hammy Hill the next day with the very real prospect of heading into Week 6 on 0-4. The first of two games at home for the Suns this weekend and this would definitely be the more winnable out of the two games that is for sure. Cockburn to move to 1-2, winning by 12
Giants @ The Cougar Den
Sunday Afternoon Special for the boys from Kal as they head to Wally Hagan after a predicted win the previous night over East Perth in the 'Booka, set to take on a Cockburn side who should for all intents and purposes be coming off their first win of the season over the Suns in the Hills the previous night also. Huge key to this game will be just how much Cockburn's Big 3 in Bob, Holmesy & Pozoglou have to play in terms of minutes against the Suns, as to whether or not they can have the legs to stay with a much deeper Giants outfit on the Cougars home floor down the stretch.
Verdict - Tough one to predict as a lot will be determined by the previous nights results, but with the better depth on the Roster, I will go with the Giants to make it 2 from 2 for the weekend, winning by 4
Willetton @ Shed in the Sticks
Just like the previous game, both these sides head into this Sunday afternoon clash with fatigue a major factor and depth definitely to be tested. The major contributing factor for this one will be which bench can contribute the most. In that case then it is well and truly advantage Willo. For the Suns, a huge task lay ahead for Reath and Cooper Lowe to contain Vigor inside long enough to allow them to remain competitive here.
Verdict - Lack of depth and all sorts of problems if Reath can't contain the much more agile Vigor. Tigers to extend the winning streak to four, defeating the Suns by 18
