Are the Perth Wildcats trying to spook Adelaide?
According to Wildcats skipper Damian Martin, star import Bryce Cotton nailed 105 of 110 three-point attempts during a competition between them at training on Wednesday.
They’re numbers so stunning, they’re hard to believe.
But then again, if Cotton’s 45-point haul in last season’s grand final is anything to go by, maybe it did happen.
Either way, Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson is eager to get the ball into Cotton’s hands during Friday night’s clash with the third-placed 36ers at Perth Arena.
“No, I didn’t see it,” Gleeson said of the three-point shootout.
“But it’s always good to see him get his eye in. He’s a quality shooter.
“We’ve just got to do a better job of getting him good shots in the game.
“We know he can shoot and he has NBA range. Hopefully he’ll take that form into the game.”
Cotton’s hot hand played a crucial role in Perth’s surge to last season’s championship.
This season, they boast a more even spread of scoring talent, highlighted by Jesse Wagstaff’s heroics against NZ last week.
With Cotton restricted to just seven points for the match, Wagstaff nailed four three-pointers in the final term to lift the Wildcats to a 89-73 win in enemy territory.
Gleeson said the attention paid to Cotton meant other players have been freed up.
“Obviously he is a marked man from his performance last year in the championship,” Gleeson said.
“Teams try to stop him. That creates other opportunities for other players.
“Jesse did a really good job last week. I like our group intelligence, how we found the open man.”
The Wildcats and 36ers have a long history that became fiery during the Valentine’s Day clash in 2014 when Adelaide coach Joey Wright was among an all-in wrestle after the match.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
