Norton Impact Throwback to Wildcats' Dynasty

The Perth Wildcats rolled back the clock in last night’s Play-In Qualifier victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix. While they’ve prided themselves on their offence this season, it was defence that helped the Wildcats emerge with a win in the do-or-die clash.

Two-time NBL champion point guard Mitch Norton was the catalyst on the defensive end for the Wildcats, and he clutched up to secure key defensive stops while Bryce Cotton was at his brilliant best on the offensive end.

The Wildcats overcame a 13-point deficit in the final quarter to emerge as seven-point winners. And while it’s the 41 points Perth scored in the fourth stanza that has earned most of the plaudits, Adam Gibson believes it wouldn’t have happened without Norton’s use as a defensive catalyst.

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“It’s like Christmas,” Gibson said. “You get a new shiny toy and everybody wants to play with the new toy, but eventually you go back to your old toy that works. Mitch Norton, for me, was incredible.

“He hasn’t played at all in the last month barely – five minutes here and there. They needed stops and they got stops. Defence led to great offence and Mitch Norton pretty much played the whole last quarter.

“They went back to old style Perth and that’s where you have Bryce Cotton and four defenders … that’s why they’ve been successful in the last however many years he’s been here, because they know where the ball is going.

“Guys like Mitch Norton know their role, and Travers is the same … John Rillie put him in and went back to what he knows works, and that’s defence.”

Due to the JackJumpers victory over Cairns in the Seeding Qualifier, the Wildcats will play the Taipans in the Play-In Game, with the winner set for a three-game Playoff series against Sydney.

Tasmania took an early lead over the Taipans in the first quarter and never looked back. The JackJumpers led by nine points at quarter time and went on to win the game by eight.

Gibson says the victories to the Wildcats and JackJumpers prove Playoff basketball is a different beast to the regular season.

“The JackJumpers and Perth both winning shows Playoff basketball is just a different style of game,” he said.

“Tassie has been there before, they did it all last year and got to a Grand Final series with the same group of guys.

“They’ve been there, they know what to expect and they showed it last night.

“They came out from the start – and defence is going to win you a championship.”

Perth take on Cairns on Sunday at 2pm AEDT in the Play-In Game, with game one of the Playoff series between Tasmania and New Zealand following at 4pm AEDT.

Both games will be live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 play.