Streamlined Wildcats Ready for Adelaide Battle

The Perth Wildcats have looked like a different team over their past two games.

Their first five-game losing streak in 17 years is clearly in the rear-view mirror. Brady Manek is firing, Corey Webster is improving, TaShawn Thomas is impacting games, and Bryce Cotton has just kept being Bryce Cotton.

Over their last two victories the Wildcats have averaged just over 100 points per game, and across those contests different players have had to step up at different times to secure victory.

Head coach John Rillie says a more streamlined approach to the Wildcats’ gameplan has been the jolt his side needed.

“We’ve really simplified things,” Rillie told The West Australian.

“Once you get in-season you think you’ve got to reinvent the wheel a little bit. Maybe I created a little confusion amongst our group.

“Over the last two or three weeks we’ve simplified and our execution has been at a different level … that was the way we approached things in pre-season.”

After beginning the season as a member of the starting five, first-year professional import forward Brady Manek has found himself coming off the bench during Perth’s improved run.

During that time he has himself hit a vein of immense form. A season-high 25 points against the Adelaide 36ers helped lead his side to an important victory, before he followed that up with 21 points against the Phoenix.

Rillie says Manek’s role coming off the bench is set to stay.

“They’re the mind games you play with yourself every day,” Rillie said of Manek’s potential to start.

“But when something is working why would you change it? It’s working at a very high level right now.”