Wildcats know what to expect
Perth Wildcats are wary of a wounded Adelaide and are prepared for a backlash from their hosts at Adelaide Arena tonight.
The Sixers were embarrassed to the tune of 39 points by Melbourne United on their home court last Saturday night and have spent the week addressing their weaknesses in preparation for the Wildcats’ visit.
Perth will play in Adelaide for the first time since last season’s grand final series in the first of two games on a double-header road trip, the other fixture being away to Melbourne on Sunday.
The Wildcats had a light week at training after improving their record to 6-2 with wins over Townsville and Sydney last week. US import Jermaine Beal enjoyed an outstanding grand final series against Adelaide, claiming the Larry Sengstock Medal as the series MVP, and has been in hot form lately.
Beal won NBL player-of-the-week honours in round six for his 29 and 27-point hauls against the Crocs and Kings.
The combo guard should be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on Adelaide, who have conceded an average of 95 points a game this season, including 93.5 at home. The Sixers have given up a whopping 225 points in their past two games, but Beal said the Wildcats wouldn’t take anything for granted.
“Last time we came here, we had a loss, so we know winning here in Adelaide is going to be hard for us,” Beal said.
“Adelaide’s a good team, they have great players and coaches and we know their fans are going to be hostile. I know their coach has been on them all week and the game (tonight) is going to be hard from the jump.”
Adelaide strengthened their roster this season with the addition of Boomers forward Brock Motum and star import Jamar Wilson.
Wildcats mentor Trevor Gleeson coached Motum during the World Cup this year and said the Wildcats would have to pay close attention to the NBA hopeful. “Brock has a bag of tricks to score,” Gleeson said.
“He can score at the basket and is a jump shooter as well, so he certainly can get the ball and put the ball in the bucket.”
Wildcats forward Jesse Wagstaff will play tonight despite battling illness this week.
