DrinkWise Preview: Round 21 Game 1 v Perth Wildcats

The equation is simple for Melbourne United; win on Friday night in Perth against the Wildcats and lock in top spot, along with all-important home-court advantage throughout the Finals.

This top-of-the-table clash couldn’t be any bigger and with so much on the line for both teams, you can expect an early taste of Finals intensity basketball.

With the post-season almost upon us, it’s time to unite as one as the quest for the 2021 NBL Championship really heats up. It’s time to get behind your team, Melbourne!

PLAYER TO WATCH

Mason Peatling has surpassed all expectations for a Development Player and entrenched himself in the United starting line-up. The rising big man has stepped up to every challenge that has been thrown his way in his first season as a pro and has done his best to help fill the large void that was left in Melbourne’s frontcourt when Jack White went down with an achilles injury.

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Peatling has started 16 games in his rookie season, combining well with superstar Jock Landale in the frontcourt.

Against the Taipans on Monday night, Peatling took his game to another level and finished with his first career NBL double-double. In 25 minutes of game time, Peatling recorded 12 points (6/9 shooting from the field), 11 rebounds (6 offensive boards) and 2 steals.

With Perth possessing one of the premier big men in the league in John Mooney, Peatling will have to be ready to help Landale in that battle, which brings us to the key match up.

KEY MATCH UP

Landale and Mooney have both had tremendous seasons and if Melbourne or Perth is to win the Championship this season, one of these guys will have to play a huge role.

Landale was a beast in the win over Cairns in Round 20 and made the most of his 21 minutes of playing time. His versatility has been on show all season and in the dominant win over the Taipans, Landale did it all, finishing with 19 points (4/5 on triples), 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

His outside shooting is elite for a big man and his offensive arsenal is filled with firepower as he makes the defence pay for even the slightest slip up.

Mooney has been a revelation for the Wildcats this season and with Bryce Cotton out for the remainder of the regular season, and possibly longer, so much responsibility falls onto the shoulders of Mooney, on both ends of court.

Mooney has been a workhorse all season, averaging a double-double of 17.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, while also dishing out 3 assists.

This match up will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this blockbuster encounter!

THE OTHER GUYS

The Wildcats lost a Tuesday night thriller against the Hawks in Wollongong, 81-79, and that result clinched a Finals berth for Illawarra, while also meaning Perth now has to rely on Melbourne’s results to have any chance of finishing on top of the ladder.

With Melbourne boasting a 26-8 record, while Perth sits at 25-10, if United is able to win at least one of it’s final two games of the regular season, top spot will be theirs.

The Wildcats, despite missing superstar Bryce Cotton, have shown they’ve still got plenty of fight left in them. Whilst Mooney is running the show, Perth’s strong supporting cast is led by the likes of Todd Blanchfield and Mitch Norton.

Blanchfield is averaging a career-high 15 points this season and he’s making 2.5 triples per game. He’s long been known as a long-range shooter, but Blanchfield’s shown his scoring ability is about much more than just triples as he’s been attacking opposition defences all season long.

Norton is a defence stud who gives so much to the Wildcats. When Norton is at his annoying best on defence, his teammates thrive off the energy he exudes and rise to another level with him.

With United possessing their own defensive dynamos in Shea Ili, Yudai Baba, Mitch McCarron and Sam McDaniel, you can expect plenty of tough defence to be played in the West on Friday night.

Jesse Wagstaff, Clint Steindl, Luke Travers and Jarred Bairstow all play key roles for Perth and their depth has certainly been on show as they’ve kept the wins coming without Cotton in the line-up.

Late-season signing Will Magnay is yet to truly find his feet with the Wildcats, but he’s the type of player that can stamp his authority on a contest with big boards. Against the Hawks on Tuesday night, he finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats.
Tip off: 9:30pm (AEST), Friday 4 June.
Where: RAC Arena, Perth.
Watch: ESPN and SBS On Demand.