Wrong day in topic.

Who stops Pinder with no Lee or Magnay? Krislovic and Gak provide great effort but I can't see them getting it done. If Pinder dominates the Hawks he is going to dominate this. Crawford is going to need to drop 40 and Doyle may be more impactful with the Cats lack of D but even if the JJs can score 80 that won’t be enough. Think the Cats have this one comfortably.

Only Pinder stops Pinder. It all depends where his head is at. Just when it seemed like he had turned the corner this season with a couple of excellent games he was average against SEM when the team needed him most.

Hopefully Windler will be back to help with much needed scoring and rebounding.

No excuses for Perth, even without Cotton.
If 75% of Perth's offensive plays don't involve Pinder in the low post, there's something seriously wrong.

My bad PW

In JJs three seasons in the league I've thought at times they were never a chance, certainly in there first season and they come out make you look stupid, to night they will probably do it again because even without Cotton cats should win this by ten plus, certainly if Pinder turns up. Just don’t see JJs anywhere near good enough.

Without the big rig available for Tas this should be an absolute stroll in the paint for the Cats. As correctly said above if the Cats dont cash in on the absence of Magnay Rillie needs a cognitive assessment asap. Cats by 15

I feel bad for Tasmania. They have been everyone's second team in recent years and they're hard not to like. This round could put a fork in their season. Perth and the Breakers will be hard to deal with without Magnay protecting the rim.

As good as Doyle and Crawford were in previous seasons, JJs have been built around the local core of Magnay McVeigh and MacDonald. None will play tonight. No team can withstand losing three local starters.

Hopefully Windler will be back

It also highlights the absurdity of the NBL fixture

Brisbane have also been hit with injury with McDaniel gone for the year, and Deng Adel out of action.

By the end of this round, Brisbane will have played 8 games. JJ's will have played 12.

Not to mention the FIBAIC games, three in three days and round one a few days after. Kinda surprised it's taken this long for Mags to have a serious issue this season, guy's taken plenty of contact and had bunch of hard falls

The loss of MacDonald is huge, and Doyle, he just seems rushed, get the sense that he's someone who operates best not being The Main Guy. Quietly playing secondary to a higher energy/faster player and he starts to get that smooth bouncing movement that leads to clean shooting. Just haven't seen him move comfortably like that this season

The importance of an McVeigh as an energy guy can't be overstated, I think he gave them a lot of courage, self belief and other intangibles in certain moments. He's worth a lot more than his stats

Would take a miracle performance by the JJ's, Cats by 10

JJs to win.

Peppahhhhh .... that's tough at speed

27- 27 end 1st. Both sides playing very up tempo. D hasn't been great but good game.

Perth offence looks terrible.

I think Pinder does better driving past bigger players than trying to bully smaller players

This JJ perimeter shooting is rather efficient

The fake Doyle stayed in Tasmania, the real one has fronted in Perth. Good game, cats need more out of zorro, he looks like he's trying hard but just not happening.

Why don't we all just chuck 3s

Looking like a good finish going to happen here. JJs hanging tough.

JJs have heart, like we used to under Gleeson.

Rillie: "if you can't launch a 3, then drive madly into the defense at the ring"

What a bailout.

What a dumb swipe by pinder to foul out

Good grief Webster

JJs have gone full choke since Keanu fouled out

Cats great victory. Take down ringing champs without fine cotton. Strong team display. JR love ya work..building towards something special with this group. Plenty young fresh talent doing their rolls.

Enjoyable game, Doolittle outstanding. JJs season looking over.

Cats great victory. Take down ringing champs without fine cotton. Strong team display. JR love ya work..building towards something special with this group. Plenty young fresh talent doing their rolls.

Reigning champs, tonight without 3 of their starters that made them reigning champs, though. Good to see some fight back from the Jackies although it's hard to see them challenging playoffs with these injury woes

Hard to read that one. Doyle has only really showed up twice this year, both against Perth. JJs as expected relied on their 2 best players while Perth would be happy it was a team effort.

Am I crazy thinking Perth should release Windler and sign Withers fulltime??

I think Withers is showing to be a better all round import than Windler. brings elite defense, good 3 point shooting and decent size. I would be putting Windler on a plane back to the states and keeping Withers when Cotton comes back.

For JJs their not playing Sword, he has to go. Withers would be exactly what they need.

I was also thinking how do we find a way to retain Withers. He has been instrumental with timely baskets and he's been one of the better defenders in the team. I would give Windler more time though he's been unlucky and hasn't had a consistent run of games at it yet. Maybe tassie will look at him after tonights performance

Jinx Ballman

Agreed regarding Withers - has shown he should be a full time import.

Windlers defence was great and stopped plenty of points. He needs to stay

Withers has found his role and has been very solid. But Windler has way more upside if he can remain healthy

I know Withers is a fill in, but isn't he a fourth import they way he can come in and out for any of there imports.

Keep em both. Really hoping for Windler to find his range before Christmas, at hoopsfest he and Pepper were trading buckets from the hungry jacks logo in pre-game warmup it seems to elude him once the whistle blows need to fix that asap.

"I know Withers is a fill in, but isn't he a fourth import they way he can come in and out for any of there imports."

He's a nominated injury replacement.

Yes but he can't fill in locals, just seems odd. How many injury replacement can you have, what happens if Pinder goes down.

Pinder = Zorro
Cotton = Fine Cotton
Love 'em, the names. Specially Zorro! Mask will have to stay, now.

Sean MacDonald and Magnay expected back for next Friday nights game against Brisbane and then the FIBA break. JJs still have 10 home games. Equation is still the same, win a high proportion of those and sneak a couple of away wins before season end. Can still get to 14 wins maybe 15 which was enough for post season last year. Roth seemed a little less defiant and melancholy at times during and after the game. Admitted the roster has obvious shortcomings which are on him. Sword plays 15 mins for no stats and a bad up court foul when virtually everyone else was better. FIBA break is the obvious time now for something to happen..

Doctor Doolittle is also very good.

Nicknames. Worth its own thread? With ones already out there and creative ones too.

"Yes but he can't fill in locals, just seems odd. How many injury replacement can you have, what happens if Pinder goes down."

They would have to use a local as an injury replacement in that case.

^^^^^^ cheers

Olgun Uluc saying on the "round table" podcast he is hearing JJs have a no spend limit (other words a blank cheque) to go get a new piece to turn their season around if they decide to go in that direction.

Not surprising, they are very profitable ATM. While they stay competitive they'll stay profitable.

Money will also go a long way when you are only talking about 16 games plus any post season, That might also be a very attractive proposition for someone wanting to get back to the NBA. Opportunity to star in the NBL and turn the JJs fortunes around knowing NBA teams are watching this league very closely. Bit like Harrell's situation with the 36ers.

Imo it might be to late, Terangi certainly hasn't turned out the McVeigh replacement that Roth thought he could up his standard.

Let's assume they go for a PF, here's some names that were in the league last season and (I think) haven't signed elsewhere as of yet

Robert Covington
Jae Crowder
Danilo Gallinari
Marcus Morris
Thaddeus Young

Some available centres include

Bismack Biyombo
Marques Bolden
Harry Giles
Robin Lopez
JaVale McGee
Olivier Sarr (NBL connection)

Agree Dunkman. They have dithered big time. If they can get these 2 home wins before the FIBA break at home they will need to win 9 or 10 out of those last 16 games. With a much easier schedule for the rest of season (including another 8 home games) they could get on a run. Probably worth a throw of the dice. Have only played 2 games at My State Bank Arena all season so far for 2 wins. Massive home court advantage at that venue.

How many of those would pass the JJ's NDH policy?

KL that's a good question. Biyombo would be fun to see in the league though

I think Withers is showing to be a better all round import than Windler. brings elite defense,