Perth Wildcats will take confidence from each their document on the street within the final two seasons and and the unimaginable change in fortunes for all travelling groups within the NBL throughout their three consecutive matches exterior of WA.
The Wildcats flew to Brisbane on Wednesday morning to arrange for Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Bullets. They will then play in New Zealand on Saturday earlier than a match in Adelaide on December 9.
Perth’s residence loss to Adelaide final week noticed them fall to seventh on the ladder with a 5-6 document, however the Wildcats have performed higher interstate this season than at RAC Arena. That continues a pattern from final season.
Across the final two seasons, Perth are 10-11 at RAC Arena and 11-7 on the street. Away groups have received 56 per cent of NBL matches this season and Wildcats coach John Rillie stated gamers now had a distinct mindset when travelling.
“This year in the NBL you’ve seen that the road teams are winning at a very high percentage,” Rillie stated.
“I don’t know what the secret is to that but we certainly don’t change our approach.
“Whether it’s just getting away and being a bit more dialled in, as opposed to being at home.
“For us, when we get in we usually go for a team meal outside the hotel. I don’t like just lingering around in my room. Any time you get to spend time with guys away from the basketball component builds camaraderie.”
The Wildcats will re-gain guard Kyle Zunic from a hamstring damage, including extra defensive stress to the group.
The Bullets have had a horror season, profitable solely three of their 10 matches. The membership sacked coach James Duncan final week and changed him with Sam Mackinnon, however his first sport in cost resulted in a 116-79 loss to New Zealand.
Rillie stated whereas the Bullets could unveil new techniques below Mackinnon, the gamers’ key traits have been unlikely to vary.
“There’s some differences,” Rillie stated.
“They played a little bit more zone defence to what they’ve shown. Sam will for sure put in some wrinkles offensively. But, at the end of the day, a player always gravitates to what they’re comfortable doing.
“All of a sudden you are not going to see a different style of player out on the floor. They’re a very experienced team with Baynes, Sobey and Cadee. Those guys are not going to change the way they play overnight.”
