The following are previews with betting tips for the semi-finals Game 2 of the 2018/19 NBL season.
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Saturday, March 2
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Brisbane Bullets v Perth Wildcats2:50PM AEDT |
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89-59 Was the Game One score between these two teams. That means 30 points was the margin! 30! Perth simply embarrassed the Bullets in their return to finals Basketball. Q1 ended 23-16 in the Wildcats favour. Q2 however was won by the Bullets 23-16. Q3 Perth prevailed as they doubled Brisbane’s points, 30-15. And Q4 ended hugely with Perth confirming their ascendancy as they kept Brisbane to only four points! Whilst they put up 18 themselves.
Cotton scored 22 points while Kay had 18. White also had 19 as he hit five from deep and Brandt had 12. Cotton was awesome as he also had six boards, six dimes and a block and a steal. Kay went 7/12 as he also had 10 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks. White went a disappointing 6/17 but still got his numbers with five boards, three dimes and two steals. And Brandt shot 60% as he also ended up with five rebounds, one assist and a swat.
Gliddon scored 18, Hodgson 10 and Patterson nine as Brisbane were absolutely battered by their far stronger opponents. Gliddon hit 7/9 shots as he also had four boards and a dime. Hodgson only shot 33.6% from the FT line going 2-6 as he had seven rebounds and a swat. Patterson went 3/14 and 0/4 from deep as he stunk in his first game of NBL post-season Basketball. In addition to his meager nine points, he also had four rebounds and six assists. Of the bench, Davis had seven points.
I know it sounds very simple but stopping Cotton will give Brisbane a massive chance of contesting a Game Three. The former NBA player who many believe should have taken out this seasons MVP award was a massive factor why Perth finished NO.1 on the table. It should also be noted that he conceded no personal fouls against Brisbane, such is his brilliance. The Bullets may well have to take turns guarding him, given that it would be almost impossible for one player to guard him well for an entire game. There have been occasions this season where Cotton has shot the ball horribly. The Bullets need to suffocate him defensively and force him into taking those bad shots. If that happens and guys like Patterson start rediscovering their form, then they’ll give themselves a decent chance of winning.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to be victorious at $1.88 (TopBetta)
Also pick them to win the first quarter at $2.00 (TopBetta)
Sunday, March 3
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Sydney Kings v Melbourne United2:50PM AEDT |
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Kings? What kings? Melbourne thrashed Sydney by 22 points as they were victorious 95-73. Melbourne really gave their home-crowd something to cheer about as the Kings looked mainly disoriented and dis-interested in the game at hand. What a way to start Andrew Gaze’s NBL post-season coaching career ay! The first quarter ended with the scores locked up at 24 points a piece. However Q2 was a much different story as United won that period 28-11. Q3 also saw them pip Sydney 19-18. And Q4 ended 24-20 in Melbourne’s favour.
Ware put up 22 points, Kennedy 20, Goulding 17 and McCarron 15. They all starred in the route for United. Ware also had four boards and seven dimes. Kennedy had seven rebounds, a steal and a block. Goulding hit some deep Steph Curry like-shots from deep as he also had four boards, three dimes, a steal and a swat. McCarron went 2/3 from beyond the arc as he had six rebounds, two assists and a huge four steals! And Boone also had a nice 14 points as well. In addition to that he got seven boards, three assists, one steal and one block as he shot 6/8.
As for the Kings, ‘El Toro’ Brad Newley led the way with 17 points. He shot 6/11 as he also had three boards, three dimes and a steal. Both Randle and Lisch had 13 points a piece. Randle also had one rebound and one assist in a disappointing game from him. While Lisch along with Newley was majorly responsible for Sydney still being in the game heading into Q2. He also had two rebounds, three assists and two steals. Adnam also scored eight of the bench against his former side. And while Bogut did register two blocks, he was strongly shut down as he was made to look nothing like a reigning MVP as he had just seven points and attempted only six shots.
Randle went 5/13. He shot just 38.5% against United. For context on the season he’s averaging 18.7ppg and shooting 46.0% from the field. Another contribution at home like that and Sydney will be done and dusted for the current campaign. He needs to find his form and step up big time! Sydney are paying him good $$$ and he needs to show why with he play on the court. It’s safe to say he was pretty well shut down against United. However, previously in his encounters vs them this season, he averaged around 20-21ppg against them. He needs to find that form because as we all know, a firing Randle is also one that lifts his team and make his team mates better. Will he lead them to glory? Or will he lead them on the team-holiday? We’ll find out come full-time on Sunday.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to be victorious at $1.97 (Bet365)
Also pick them to win Q1 at $2.02 (TopBetta)
Best Bet of the Round
My favourite/best bet of the round is for Sydney to be victorious at $1.97 (Bet365). It’s do or die for them and they have a pretty decent record at home this season. And one of their most recent matches at Qudos was beating Melbourne. With a big crowd behind them there’s no reason they can’t get the job done!