Preview: Perth vs Sydney - Round 9, NBL24

Friday, December 1, 2023

The back-to-back champions are taking on the NBL's most in-form team - but who can inch ahead of the chasing pack?

Friday, December 1 at 9:30pm AEDT | RAC Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports | International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Perth’s current five-game winning streak is the best of any team in the NBL entering Round 9.

Whoever wins this game will move into outright second on the ladder behind Melbourne – at least until Tasmania’s clash with Adelaide on Saturday morning.

Next Star Alex Toohey has said he’s considering putting his name into the NBA Draft a year earlier than anticipated, due to his impressive performances and soaring draft stock this season.

Kristian Doolittle has praised the competitive edge at recent Perth practices after storming out of training last week.

Perth
79-76 win over Brisbane
88-80 win over Cairns
94-76 win over New Zealand

Sydney
93-105 loss to Melbourne
104-95 win over Brisbane
87-85 win over New Zealand

Kristian Doolittle
From the outside it looks like there’s been a mentality shift within the Wildcats over the past few weeks – and that apparent shift makes it easy to construe Kristian Doolittle’s reported storming out of practice last week as a positive.

Doolittle has been playing like a man possessed since the alteration of his role, and the import forward’s ability to battle alongside Hyrum Harris for every rebound, every loose ball and on every defensive possession has helped inspire the Wildcats’ recent run.

He’s averaging just 7.9 points per game this season, but his last four performances have been his four highest scoring games of the season.

That was topped off by a 21-point, nine rebound, three assist masterclass in combo forward play against the Bullets.

The Doctor may just look like a cog in the broader Wildcats machine, and while the likes of Keanu Pinder and Bryce Cotton are earning plenty of praise, it’s worth highlighting the contributions Doolittle – especially after his less than auspicious start to the campaign.

“I hate losing more than I like winning ... the will to win helps me get through a lot of things and a lot of different adversities. You never know how the game’s going to go, whether it’s going good or bad I feel like it helps me be locked in in not only what I need to do but how I can help the team.” - Kristian Doolittle mid-week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perth Wildcats import Kristian Doolittle spoke about his current form and role in the team ahead of Friday night's blockbuster clash against defending champs Sydney Kings at RAC Arena.<br><br>Full presser: <a href="https://t.co/c85t9Q0z4O">https://t.co/c85t9Q0z4O</a> <a href="https://t.co/zcBRE9ydjY">pic.twitter.com/zcBRE9ydjY</a></p>— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1729812152213791057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alex Toohey
The signing of Alex Toohey to a Next Stars contract was initially seen as a two-year process for wider NBL circles, and some eyebrows were raised when Kings CEO Chris Pongrass touted him as a first-round talent.

Pongrass knew something most Aussie hoops laymen didn’t though, and Toohey’s draft stock is currently rising astronomically.

That begs the question then, will that second year in the NBL be required to help him launch into his NBA career?

The former Gonzaga commit thrived in the started power forward role for the Kings earlier this season, and upon DJ Hogg’s return and Jaylin Galloway’s injury, continued to perform well at the small forward spot.

Galloway has been listed as a likely returner this weekend by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc on NBL Overtime, so while Toohey’s ability to impact NBL games as a starter is now absolutely beyond doubt – how will his role be impacted when both Hogg and fellow NBA prospect Galloway are both fit and ready to play for the Kings?

“We don’t want to get in a position where we’re planning for it to be one year, and if it doesn’t happen in one year it’s deemed a failure ... I’ll talk to people in my circle and people that probably know a bit more about that process than I do ... I’m definitely open to (nominating for the draft) this year.” – Alex Toohey mid-week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Toohey's two-way performance against the Bullets was full of moments to remember: <br><br>?? 18 points<br>?? 3 steals<br>?? 1 block<br>?? 1 thunderous dunk ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> Next Star was recently mocked in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft ... this game showed why ?? <a href="https://t.co/arFLUAAEOq">pic.twitter.com/arFLUAAEOq</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1727960243085496688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bryce Cotton vs Jaylen Adams
The league’s most recent active MVPs will once again battle in the backcourt in a high-profile, ladder topping NBL clash.

Bryce Cotton has been back to his imperious best in Perth’s recent run of victories, and fans are recognising that through their Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP voting. In the last three weeks of fixtures, the three-time MVP has earned the highest number of votes twice, and the second-highest number of votes once.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton doing Bryce Cotton things ?<br><br>We've got another nail-biter on our hands up North ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/ambDhJYRVO">pic.twitter.com/ambDhJYRVO</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1725828415834439923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adams, on the other hand, is coming off a game where he uncharacteristically struggled. Shea Ili effectively blanketed the sparkplug guard in the Kings’ comeback loss to Melbourne United.

Regardless, the pair were both included in each of the NBL Overtime panelist’s current All-NBL First Team for the season so far, and they’re two of the most electric players in the competition.

For all the recent discussion around the NBL as a pathway to the NBA, It can easily be argued that both Cotton and Adams should both have ben given more of an opportunity in the Association over their careers.

An NBA-calibre matchup in our own backyard? Yes please.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A 15-0 run to close out the game sees the <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> take a clutch win over the Bullets.<br><br>Jaylen Adams came up big for his side to take Foot Locker Player of the Game honours ? <a href="https://t.co/Xidm5SWdsO">pic.twitter.com/Xidm5SWdsO</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1723597877036138527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perth is allowing just 74.8 points per 40 minutes while Hyrum Harris is on the floor this season - the lowest mark of any qualified player in the league. Harris’ injection into the Wildcats’ starting lineup has changed the fortunes of the side, but can one of the league’s best offences find a way to put the ball in the hole?

Gettyimages 1774228874
Hyrum Harris.