Preview: Perth vs Brisbane - Round 5, NBL24

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Both Perth and Brisbane need a win, and they need it now. Who will release the pressure valve?

Friday, October 27 at 9:30pm AEDT | RAC Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports | Sky Sports in New Zealand - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Both Perth and Brisbane enter this clash on three-game losing streaks, and the pressure is beginning to mount on both sets of players and coaches to stop the rot and get themselves back in the wins column.

Perth coach John Rillie has come under fire this week for the Wildcats’ perceived underachievement, while star guard Bryce Cotton has taken responsibility for the team’s below par performances.

The Bullets will remain without the suspended Aron Baynes, and former NBL MVP Derek Rucker has called for Rocco Zikarsky to be inserted into the starting lineup in the hopes of getting the best out of both him and teammate Tyrell Harrison.

Perth
78-89 loss to Adelaide
86-99 loss to Sydney
81-88 loss to Melbourne

Brisbane
73-96 loss to South East Melbourne
78-89 loss to Melbourne
102-113 loss to Sydney

Bryce Cotton
Every discussion around Bryce Cotton and his current form needs to come with a disclaimer. Cotton is still one of the greatest players in NBL history and the numbers he’s putting up are still good – they’re just not at the level we’ve come to expect of the three-time league MVP.

Whether it’s Cotton himself or the pieces that have been placed around him, the three-time champion is struggling to influence games to his usual extent and the Wildcats are seriously feeling the pinch.

He’s come out and claimed responsibility for his side’s 2-4 start, and South East Melbourne import Alan Williams proclaimed on Twitter he feels Cotton is about to “turn it up”.

King Cotton rarely has two rough games in a row, so expect him to bounce back in a big way following his 11-point, 2-15 performance in last week’s loss to Adelaide.

“I love what Bryce is doing, he’s taking credit and deflecting blame from his teammates because I know deep down inside Bryce thinks 'I can handle adversity better than anybody in this franchise so I’ll swallow it all and take the public hit, because Bryce is fully confident that Friday night against Brisbane he’s going to be back to his best'.” – Derek Rucker on NBL Now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Its actually never been easier to guard Bryce Cotton in the NBL than it is for these guys right now,"<a href="https://twitter.com/Liam_Santa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Liam_Santa</a> takes a look at where Cotton has been in late game situations ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLOvertime?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLOvertime</a> on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/Xs1gCgkQ5v">pic.twitter.com/Xs1gCgkQ5v</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1716737894662975546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rocco Zikarsky
Both Rocco Zikarsky and Tyrell Harrison have been shouldering larger loads at the centre position since star big Aron Baynes was handed a five-game suspension, and with the Bullets still winless without ‘Banger’, is it time for Justin Schueller to switch things up in the starting five?

Zikarsky has experienced a boost in minutes since Baynes’ unavailability, and while he’s still never logged more than 13 minutes in an NBL game, him starting could be just as much about getting the best out of Harrison as it is about exposing the Next Star to the likes of Keanu Pinder.

Harrison’s minutes have remained consistent in the absence of Baynes, but his scoring output has taken a bit of a hit. Would injecting him into the game alongside the second lineup help the Bullets get over the hump and take a much-needed win?

“I’d put Rocco Zikarsky in the starting line-up and let Tyrell (Harrison) come off the bench ... Rocco, you’ve only got him for another year after this one, throw him out there and see what he can do – it doesn’t mean you’ve got to play him for 30 minutes a game but let him play the first four minutes, he needs to play against top-line competition.” – Derek Rucker on NBL Now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">28 seconds of brilliance ?<a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrisbaneBullets</a> Next Star Rocco Zikarsky gave us an exciting glimpse into the future during his NBL debut on Friday night ?<br><br>Learn more about Rocco and all of the NBL Next Star’s ?? <a href="https://t.co/MkqzTmz7MW">https://t.co/MkqzTmz7MW</a> <a href="https://t.co/nZbUkb75l3">pic.twitter.com/nZbUkb75l3</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1708627905994273159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Corey Webster vs Chris Smith
Both Perth and Brisbane need someone to step up and get buckets alongside their side’s primary scorer, but the question is, who?

Corey Webster is currently averaging his lowest points per game average and shooting percentage in the NBL since the 2019-20 season with New Zealand, and he’s taking his fewest attempts per game in a decade.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We've got a close one in Adelaide ?<br><br>? <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> - 40<br>? <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> - 39<br><br>Corey Webster is firing on all cylinders with a team-high 12 points for Perth.<br><br>Catch the second-half action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/3TNjuIne14">pic.twitter.com/3TNjuIne14</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1715667422525723075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the hamstring injury suffered by Shannon Scott, it’s up to Brisbane’s only remaining fit import Chris Smith to step up in a big way.

He’s already shown his ability with a pair of 15 points games and a 21-point masterclass this season, but he’s also had two games where he’s only scored in single figures.

The pressure to be their side’s primary scoring option will undoubtedly remain on Bryce Cotton and Nathan Sobey for Brisbane respectively, but which second option can step up the most could prove the be the catalyst for a winning score.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You can't give Chris Smith an inch of space ?<br><br>Watch live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/np91cBrqGv">pic.twitter.com/np91cBrqGv</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1707704013930787258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perth has won eight of its last nine games against Brisbane at RAC Arena. The only win in that stretch for the Bullets came in Round 2 of NBL22, where 27 points from Lamar Patterson led the Bullets to a two-point win.

Gettyimages 1391734072
Lamar Patterson.