Wildcats to face speed test against Bullets

The 2021 NBL season has thrown up a range of unpredictable results – particular at the NBL Cup in Melbourne.

Perth’s next opponent, the Brisbane Bullets, are prime examples of that after falling to the previously struggling NZ Breakers on Wednesday after thumping the Cairns Taipans and defeating the Illawarra Hawks at the weekend.

After some topsy turvy results of their own, the Wildcats have found consistency in their four NBL Cup games - going for four-straight Ws.

“Momentum is massive in the game of basketball, and some teams have done a great job extending those runs,” said Wildcats guard Mitch Norton.

“(But) every team in this league is good, so when you have a breakdown, they’ll make you pay and I think that’s why you’re seeing some of these runs.”

Norton said the pace of the Brisbane Bullets is what will always keep them in the fight.

“They’re an athletic team who like to play fast. Whenever you’re playing against a team that likes to get up and down, they definitely have a no-die attitude,” he said.

“Last night they were down big in that first quarter, but stuck to their systems and I think whenever you have a coach like Andrej Lemanis and that type of system, you’re always going to be in the fight and we’re just getting ready for that.”

The Wildcats clash with the Bullets on Friday will be the two teams first meeting this season.

In 2019/20, they results were split with both teams defending their home courts.

The game will feature the NBL’s two leading scorers, with Perth’s Bryce Cotton averaging 24.8 per game and Brisbane’s Nathan Sobey having an outstanding year at 22.9 per game.

Tip-off on Friday is at 2pm WA time on ESPN and SBS On Demand.

The game is also a milestone for the National Basketball League – marking its 7,000^th game in its 42-year history.