NBL Round 17 – Selected Previews & Betting Tips

Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers Friday January 17, 9:30pm RAC Arena

The 36ers come into this affair against the Wildcats perhaps fighting a losing battle … They have won just two of their last 13 games against Perth. Additionally, they also sit two games at a minimum outside of the Top Six and including this encounter they have just seven games left in their season to make it happen. And finally, to put the cherry on top there are rumours that Mike Wells might be sacked and he and star Point Guard Kendric Davis had to be separated after their sides recent and intense three-point win over the Hawks at home, at pretty much the conclusion of the full-time siren. Perth on the other hand is 3^rd on the ladder and just one win off 2^nd spot and only two off 1^st. The hosts have also won their last four straight games and most recently battered the Bullets in Brisbane by twenty-seven points. That as 6X combined NBL MVP Bryce Cotton went off for 36PTS, including shooting 5/7 from deep and 7/7 from the free throw line. There’s just no possible way I envision the 36ers claiming a dub, sorry Adelaide supporters!

The 36ers fought and fought and fought last round as they came away with a thoroughly deserved 91-88 victory over the Hawks at home. In a campaign where Adelaide have certainly experienced their ups and downs, a win against the 1^st placed ‘Illawarraian’s’ was certainly one for the memory books. Monrezl Harrell was huge with 26PTS, 9REB and 3AST on 9/14 shooting from the floor. Whilst Kendric Davis also had an incredibly memorable night with 25PTS, 8REB, 7AST and 1STL to his name on 55.6% shooting from inside the arc. As for Perth in their 112-85 win over the Bullets away from home, besides the previously mentioned Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder put up 19PTS, 6REB and 2AST off the bench, whilst Dylan Windler also chipped in with a handy 16PTS. I strongly believe that Adelaide’s five-star performance versus Illawarra was their Grand Final for this season done and dusted. Will they be causing a massive upset, or will Perth be walking all over them?

Betting tips: Look for Perth to win at $1.42 (BetRight, Unibet)

Also look for Q1 to belong to them at $1.68 (BetRight)

And back the total game points to be under 203.50 at $2.03 (BetRight)

Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United Saturday January 18, 8:00pm WIN Entertainment Centre

It’s 1^st versus 2^nd on the ladder as the Illawarra Hawks take on a resurgent Melbourne United down in the ‘Gong’. Dean Vickerman’s visiting Men have won three of their last four and head into this undoubtedly tasty clash after Chris Goulding made the game winning three against the Breakers in Spark Arena. With the electric Shooting Guard pouring in 42PTS and converting 10 of his 19 attempted shots from beyond the arc, in addition to going 6/6 from the line. Whilst the Hawks have found themselves in a bit of a slump lately under Jason Tatum as his side have lost three of their last five games, including a last start 91-88 defeat at the hands of the 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. However regardless of both sides form, whether it be bad or good, both sides will undoubtedly rise to the occasion right here. So will the Illawarra Hawks or Melbourne United take this thing out!

Chris Goulding!!! I mean how can you possibly describe the 3X NBL champion and 1X Grand Final MVP. The Man is shooting lights out from the floor lately!!! Against the Breakers in New Zealand, he had his previously mentioned 42PTS. Whilst two games prior in a disappointing nineteen-point defeat to the 36ers in South Australia he still led United on the scoresheet with 18PTS. Before that he had 19PTS against Cairns in Cairns, in what was a ten-point victory to United. Then prior to that he had 18PTS in a tight six-point defeat to the ‘Jackies’ at John Cain Arena. Whilst the last time he travelled to the WIN Entertainment Centre he led all scorers with 25PTS in what was an exciting and tense five-point Melbourne win. With Illawarra suffering some defensive lapses lately, this is the type of game where if they let Chris Goulding go off early, he may well explode for 30 + points. Can he be the decisive factor in a Melbourne victory, or will Illawarra hold strong when it matters the most?

Betting tips: Back Melbourne to own Q1 at $2.05 (BetRight)

Also back them to sneak away with the dub at $2.15 (Unibet)

And look for the total game points to be over 187.50 at $1.77 (BetRight)