Menu
News Article
 

DrinkWise game preview - Wildcats v JackJumpers

05 Oct
3 mins read

Written By

Jordan McArdle

Perth Wildcats face reigning NBL champions Tasmania - for the first time since last season’s epic semi-final series - on Sunday in Hobart.

Both the Wildcats and JackJumpers will be desperate to bounce back from tough losses on Friday night to Melbourne United and Cairns respectively.

Both teams also have 1-2 records heading into the clash, with Wildcats head coach John Rillie keen to bounce back from a disappointing performance against United.

“You would think you can't play that bad two in-a-row," Rillie said.

"You go into Tassie and you understand what that environment is and the mental preparation as well as the physical preparation becomes key.

"They are in the same boat as us travelling in to play on Sunday so it's probably the team that applies and gets themselves ready to bounce back the quickest who will have the best chance of winning that game."

The Wildcats will again be without energetic guard Tai Webster, who’s been a regular starter and will again be sidelined with a calf injury.

Star import Dylan Windler (Achilles), who was also sidelined on Friday night, will be a game-time decision.

“Everyone saw how valuable Tai Webster is to our team,” Rillie said.

“The defensive pressure and having another guy that can get into the paint and create a lot of opportunity for us on offence. When you’re playing against a team with that level of physicality, he has a nice presence.

“It really does show the importance of certain guys on a team out on the floor. It’s not just statistically. It’s the juice those individuals bring.

“I’ll reflect on Tai – he’s picking up the ball, he he gets a steal or some deflections – the team rallies around that and gets energy. Last week, Windler’s all over the glass and all of a sudden, other guys are joining in.

“That’s why they’re key components of our group. That’s why they’re on this roster – to bring those attributes. When you’re asking other guys to do some of those things, and that’s not their elite attribute, that’s tough."

JackJumpers big man Will Magnay has been cleared to face the Wildcats after accepting an early guilty plea over an incident against the Taipans on Friday night.

Game details

Who: Perth Wildcats vs Tasmania JackJumpers

When: 1.30pm WST Sunday 6 October

Where: MyState Bank Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Opposition watch

Like the Wildcats, the JackJumpers have a 1-2 record to start NBL25.

Both teams are coming off massive losses on Friday night and will be desperate to bounce back.

Former Wildcat Will Magnay has been in good form for Tasmania, coming off 14 points against the Taipans.

Speedster Jordon Crawford and fellow import Milton Doyle are also a couple of danger players.

Last time they met

The Wildcats and JackJumpers haven't faced off since Tasmania knocked Perth out of the championship race in game three of last season's semi-final series at RAC Arena.

The JackJumpers came back from a 1-0 series deficit to prevail 2-1 with Jack McVeigh, now at NBA side Houston Rockets, a major factor with a game-high 27 points in the decider.

Magnay and Doyle also had a big say in the contest as the Jackies marched on to eventually win their maiden title.

Share
 

More News

All