"Conflicted" Rillie weighs in on clock debate

The debate between running out the clock and playing hard to the final buzzer raged in the NBL last season, and it’s threatening to rear its head once again in NBL24.

Perth head coach John Rillie has admitted having “conflicting thoughts” about how to handle the end-of-game situation, especially after the Wildcats scraped into the NBL23 post-season on percentage, ahead of Melbourne United.

The issue has come to the fore once again following Bryce Cotton’s decision to dribble out the clock rather than attempt to score in the dying moments of Perth’s win over Adelaide.

Rillie says there is no right or wrong answer in what to do in that situation.

“My message is we’re playing to score, but what Bryce did the other day with him being comfortable dribbling it out – I have no issue whatsoever,” Rillie told The West Australian.

“You would hope at the end of the year it doesn’t come down to that situation again. If we have the ball at the end of the game and we’re on offence and we don’t take an opportunity to score, I’m not going to lose any sleep over that.

“On the other side, if a team does want to do that we’d better be prepared to defend them.

“I have conflicting thoughts about what the right and wrong thing is to do. That particular game was in the bag, but when we lived and died on that last shot against the Sydney Kings last year, you certainly take a different approach to it all.”

Perth’s annual Pink Game – this season held against Adelaide – looks to have been a roaring success for the organisation both on and off the court.

The Wildcats have already raised over $30,000 to support Breast Cancer Care WA, and with the results of the club’s game-worn item auction still pending, that number will only continue to rise.

“The players want to see which of them can go for the highest price,” Rillie said.

“Jordan Usher is letting everyone know that he is a high-priced commodity so there’s been good banter for what is a really great cause.”

Perth will host Melbourne United on Friday night before travelling to face Sydney in on Sunday in Round 3.