Morrison finds positives in pre-season opener

Perth Wildcats head coach Scott Morrison was impressed with his team’s second half defence, despite falling to the Adelaide 36ers in its opening pre-season game, 56-63.

Morrison only met his new team in-person on Sunday after arriving in Australia a fortnight before.

He said there’s plenty to learn from the practice contest.

“There are positives to take away from that one, our second half defensive pressure was much better,” he said.

“The number of turnovers we had wasn’t as positive, so hopefully we get more comfortable with each other, relax a little bit on offense, and bring that same defensive intensity for two halves in the next game and take care of the ball a little better.”

Morrison was able to spread the playing time across his roster.

He said injuries created opportunities for young guns like Kyle Zunic (six points) and Jack Purchase (five points, four rebounds).

“There’s a good and a bad side to everything and when you have some guys unavailable, the bright side is other guys get an opportunity,” he said.

“Today is a valuable experience for those guys. Not just for while they’re here, but down the road, throughout the course of the season, when it’s inevitable that injuries happen. There’s going to be that next man up mentality.”

Jesse Wagstaff and Vic Law led the Wildcats in scoring with 11 each, while Law also had eight rebounds in his first Wildcats hitout.

Fellow first-time Wildcat Matt Hodgson also grabbed eight boards.

In his first game since Game Three oif the 2020 Grand FInal, Majok Makok impressed with eight points and five rebounds in 13 minutes.

In the end, poor shooting cost the Wildcats the pre-season win, after coming back from 13 down to make it a one-point game in the dying minutes.

Perth next take to the court on Friday against Brisbane.

Perth Wildcats 56 (Law 11, Wagstaff 11, Majok 8)

Adelaide 36ers 63 (King 11, Hannahs 11, Dufelmeier 8)