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Brisbane Bullets vs Illawarra HawksFriday December 27, 7:30pm |
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What more can be said about Brisbane at the moment? They are ‘firing’ on all cylinders and have propelled up the table as a result. They are currently 5th and just two games shy of 3rd spot now thanks in no small part to the ridiculously good play of Casey Prather. The veteran and 3X NBL Champion SG/SF is balling out and as a result is currently placed 3rd on the MVP list. Last time out versus the 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre he put up 36PTS & 5AST in his sides 21-point win. Before that in his sides victory against the Taipans at home he conjured up 35PTS. And even prior to that against the Kings in Homebush his stats included 28PTS & 9REB. Averaging 20.1PPG this season on 51% shooting from the floor the Hawks defence will find him an incredulously difficult prospect to defend against at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
As for Illawarra they just put up an incredibly well-deserved 111-108 win over Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena in their annual Christmas Day game. So many players stood out for the visitors including Trey Kell III who had 26PTS and 8REB. Tyler Harvey was also lethal with 22PTS & 4AST. Whilst Sam Froling locked down 14PTS & 6REB next to his name on the stats sheet. And if it wasn’t evident already, it now very much so is, as the Hawks are now very clear at the top of the NBL ladder, two games clear of 2nd placed Melbourne United and the 3rd placed Sydney Kings. Jason Tatum’s Men showed their class, grit and determination when and where it mattered the most. Kell this season is putting up 18.6PPG and 3.8RPG. And his partner in crime Harvey is doing his bit too as he’s shooting a best-ever 46% from the floor as the work he put in over the off-season has paid off massively. Then there’s also the likes of Darius Days, Will Hickey and more. The team plays for each other and that alone makes them a danger for any opposition team that crosses their path.
Regardless of who wins this one it’ll undoubtedly be a tight and thrilling matchup that goes right down to the wire.
Betting tips: Back Brisbane to get a narrow victory at $2.42 (BetRight)
And you can also look for them to claim Q1 as well at $2.15 (BetRight)
Additionally if you are unsure about the Bullets winning the entire match, pick them to win just H1 instead at $2.30 (BetRight)
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Adelaide 36ers vs Perth WildcatsSaturday December 28, 8:00pm Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
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Where do Adelaide turn to from here? The 36ers last time out at home were severely thrashed at the ‘guns’ of the Bullets as they went down 111-90. Not too mention they’ve also lost six of their last seven games overall as they’ve fallen from a strong finals candidate to nothing but an after thought. In their loss against Brisbane they suffered defeat in every quarter, including what was a hugely embarrassing loss in Q4, 33-20. Kendric Davis was again one of their lone shining lights as he put up 32PTS & 8REB. Whilst ex-NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell put up 16PTS & 9REB. Against the Wildcats they need to be more aware and consistent in every department of the game, because in affairs where it’s been close for them momentary lapses of judgement have ended up costing them hugely. And they will need to make every single effort possible given that they have won just two of their last 12 clashes versus Perth. And the last time they met it was the visitors who prevailed 115-105 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre as Bryce Cotton exploded for a career best 49PTS. The hosts will need to be much more on the ball in this one.
For the Wildcats they too have suffered a lot from the inconsistency bug as of late. Last round the Hawks whipped them 120-88 in Wollongong, while before that they won their previous two games in a row. Then before that it was another loss to the Hawks this time at home, in what was a high-scoring 121-111 effort. And again before that they won two in a row and it goes on and on and on. Against Illawarra last Sunday Bryce Cotton was limited to just 13PTS after scoring 40+ in his previous four straight games before that. Although it wasn’t the games only deciding factor, it was a fairly influential one. When the 4X MVP is rolling it’s literally a mood and it has a ripple effect on the rest of his team. With the 36ers leaking points like there’s no tomorrow you’d expect him to be able to put in a solid shift here as he attempts to drag his team back up the standings. Most recently Adelaide have given up 111PTS, 106, 94, 115 and 102 so case in point. For Perth this matchup presents a great opportunity to get rolling once again that they should take with both hands.
I expect a heavy win from Perth here, with nothing more and nothing less to be expected.
Betting tips: Back the Wildcats to win at $2.06 (BetRight)
Also pick Q1 to belong to them as well at $2.05 (BetRight)
And pick Adelaide to have under 25.50PTS in Q1 at $2.02 (Unibet)