Manek "Key" to Perth Offence

After coming under criticism through the NBL Blitz for his inconsistent shooting, Perth import Brady Manek is beginning find his feet in the NBL according to former league MVP Corey Williams.

Manek put together his best performance to date in a Perth jersey during the Wildcats’ demolition of Cairns on Monday night. He finished the game with 14 points on 75 per cent shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Speaking on NBL Overtime, Williams believes Manek is only going to become more important to Perth’s offence as the season progresses.

“The biggest thing for me about this team is young Brady Manek [and] getting him going, and the last two games his productivity on offence has lifted,” Williams said.

“He’s going to be a huge key because we know Bryce Cotton gets a whole lot of attention. They’ve always had a quality stretch four or five who can shoot the three, so when Cotton comes off and they double [him] … he kicks the ball to the top or the wing and that big man can hit those threes.

“This kid, this young man is going to be a very, very big focal point for this offence. Once he starts knocking down the three-ball he’s going to be a problem.”

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Bryce Cotton has, understandably, remained the focal point for Perth’s offence this season and he’s, once again, in league MVP form.

Across the first three games of the season he’s averaging 20 points a game, but NBL Analyst Liam Santamaria says Cotton’s scoring isn’t the only impressive part of his game this year.

“[Perth is] deep,” Santamaria said. “That’s where Bryce’s passing comes into play. You throw bodies at him [and] it lands in (Corey) Webster’s hands, it lands in Manek’s hands, it lands in (Luke) Travers’ hands who is shooting the ball with confidence.

“You talk about point guards … they can play Corey Webster and Bryce Cotton together in the back court.

“They’re rolling. They’re going to be right in it.”

The Wildcats are next in action on Friday night when they take on Melbourne United at RAC Arena.