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Melbourne United vs Perth WildcatsThursday February 27, 7:30pm |
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Melbourne United versus the Perth Wildcats is never an affair to be missed! United ended the regular season in 2nd place with a very commanding 19-10 record, whilst the Wildcats were just one position behind them at 18-11. Both rivals have also won their last four consecutive games, in addition to each team having one player a piece named to All-NBL teams this campaign respectively in the form of Chris Goulding – 18.4PPG and Bryce Cotton – MVP. And seven of their last nine meetings have been decided by just single-digit points. With whomever winning here having a 1-0 advantage headed into a sudden death encounter for the other team, expect all guns to be blazing in what is perennially and rightfully so an NBL classic!
Red alert player NO.1 – For the hosts it’s impossible to ignore the presence of Chris Goulding from the perimeter. The 3X NBL Champion has been pouring in the points this season from beyond the arc at an extremely respectable clip of 36.3%. He’s put up 28PTS, 18PTS, 19PTS and 46PTS over four of his last six clashes. If Melbourne are in need of a quick basket or somebody who can create something out of nothing, then look for Goulding to do what he does best and have a very offensively productive game.
Red alert player NO.2 – Bryce Cotton. The explosive PG just collected his fifth MVP award and is now second all-time in the NBL in that regard. And as we all know and have seen for many, many seasons now he can do it all! He can penetrate close to the rim, hit ridiculous shots from deep, hustle like hell despite his small stature, create open shots for his teammates with ease and much, much more. On the season he’s putting up a monstrous 28.5PPG + 3.2RPG + 4.6APG, 1.1SPG and 0.4BBPG. As we’ve seen him do this season with some of his historical scoring performances he is very capable of putting Perth on his back and going at it virtually himself. Regardless of whether the Wildcats win or lose, expect him to have a large say on the result.
This is a 50;50 game that is really the toss of a coin right here. However I’ll back Bryce Cotton to be the deciding factor in an undoubtedly close affair.
Betting tips: Back Perth to win G1 at $2.54 (BetFair)
Also back the total points scored in Q1 to be 51+ at $1.86 (UniBet)
And look for Perth to score 90+ PTS and for Melbourne to procure 88+ PTS at $1.30 and $1.11 respectively (Bet365)
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Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne PhoenixFriday February 28, 7:30pm |
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Illawarra are here after securing a sensational first-ever top place finish in the regular season under the guidance and prestige of reigning COTY Jason Tatum! That whilst South East Melbourne have also deservedly booked their place in the ‘official’ playoffs after their 21-point comeback win over Adelaide left John Cain Arena in ruptures. The Hawks will have no issues coming into this matchup after their prolonged break, given they’ve won their last five straight games at the WIN Entertainment Centre, including a last-start 20-point smashing of the Kings. Meanwhile the Phoenix were well and truly flaming during their 10-point margin of victory over the 36ers, as they prevailed in Q3 and Q4, 28-15 and 31-15 respectively. This star-studded playoffs matchup will undoubtedly be packed to the rafters in what should be a simply enthralling spectacle of Basketball!
Red alert player NO.1 – Lee Hyun-Jung is a severely underrated part of Illawarra’s setup, as the South Korean SG/SF has had a sensational campaign with the Hawks to date. During his teams latest outing, a 95-75 demolition job of Sydney, he ended the night with 15PTS, 6REB, 2AST, 1STL and 1BLK on 5/9 shooting, in under 23-minutes of playing time off the bench at the ‘Gong’. Prior to that in a 96-82 win over New Zealand at Spark Arena he registered 8PTS, 4REB, 2AST, 1STL and 1BLK on 4/7 shooting from the floor. He is as efficient as they come and will no doubt be very, very handy in challenging all the shooting threats that the Phoenix posses.
Red alert player NO.2 – Matt Hurt, with the reigning All-NBL First team and ex-Memphis Grizzlie PF being impossible to ignore for this. As mentioned before he is one of the Phoenix’s many shooting threats, but far and away the most impossible one to ignore! In his sides elimination game against the 36ers he hit some COLD shots on his way to 25PTS, which included going a sensational 10/14 from inside the arc. His height enables him to hit Giannis Antetokounmpo-like shots and give his marking Man virtually no chance at stopping the ball from landing in the basket. With Illawarra being a very high-scoring side, somebody like Hurt is fully capable of keeping South East Melbourne in it from an offensive side of things.
The Phoenix are good, but the Hawks are better. An Illawarra win by 10+ PTS is definitely in the offering here.
Betting tips: Back the Hawks to get the job done at $1.38 (BetFair, Bet365, UniBet)
Also back the hosts to win Q1 at $1.60 (UniBet)
And look for Illawarra to have 51+ PTS at HT and for S.E.M to have 48+ PTS by the same stage at $1.85 and $1.90 respectively (Bet365)