This should be a great game. Perth by 5.

I'm suspecting a big blow out early.

Perth upgrades will be too much for JJs and while I like close games this may be a bit too much of a challenge for JJs. Perth by 15

This might be the game of the round. I'll take Wildcats at home, but hoping it's a close one.

I'm one from one in the tipping, what a surprise. Now this on is a lot tougher to pick the outcome, the 3 man duel on its own should be special. I just don’t like tipping against JJs and think they will fall over the line, they need to start well though.

JJs by 3.

Watching the JJ's or more specially a Scott Roth run offense is like porn for basketball purists.

Barring a Cotton masterclass would not be suprised if the JJ’s get up.

It'll be interesting seeing the JJ's with Crawford, very different player to Magette.

Match of the round without doubt

I can't pick it either. Would have been nice to start the season at home with a cruisey one against the 36ers instead of a team you know will be well drilled & focused right from the opening tip.

Looking forward to being back in the jungle. Hopefully we get a better contest and a few more highlights than last night.

Perth absolutely deserving favourites, but I'm anticipating a high level game.

Last night was garbage at times, and it was partly because United's D stifled SEM so effectively but also partly cos SEM was underdone, which will not be the case for either team tonight

United weren't great offensively last night either. The second half was putrid v putrid.

That's cos they didn't have Delly shooting the lights out like he did in the first half, it did feel like SEM sort of gave up and the energy went out of the game with commentators doing their best to say 10-12 points was within reach when reality it didnt feel like it

With JLA and Clark out I wouldn't expect United to top 90 very often, it'll be a grind

Don't forget United won the minor premiership two seasons ago by grinding teams down, they can do similar this year but Clark and Travers are better offensively than Agada and White, so hopefully that takes them to the promised land.

If they're relying on Delly shooting the lights out to be better than putrid offensively they mightn't be as flash as first thought ;-)

Fair call. I need to see Delly doing this for 15 games before I'm a true believer in the "new Delly", not just 3 or 4. New Delhi and New Delly weren't built in a day

Cute, LV

JJ's hustle this year won't cover their lack of talent. Do a half decent job on Doyle and you win, simple. Perth by plenty.

Back to JJ's, Marcus Lee is an interesting proposition this season. He was good for United last year- amongst the league leaders in Rebounds and Blocks per minute, shot at 69%

United utilised him well- he's in the mold of Josh Boone, Ariel Hukporti- but JJ's have mostly run with Krslovic, Kelly, McinTosh whereas Magnay (when he's played) hasn't been incredible, so how will Lee fit into Roth's system?

Should be a cracking game. Perth gets my tip with the home ground advantage.

The odds for the JJs went from $1.38 to. $1.44 normally it drops ore closer to the game.

I assume you mean odds for the Wildcats, not the JJs?

Tonight's odds seem fair but why are Illawarra like $2.90 at home tomorrow against Hogg-less Kings?

Perth have won their last 8 home season openers.
Have also lost their last 4 games against Tasmania.

Either way tonight a streak is being broken

Pretty average we don't get on pre-game coverage on Kayo because of the Adelaide-Brissy game

Love the JJ uniform.

Will be interesting to see how the cats iso ball with no point guard will get it done against teams with elite D

How bout we remove the scrubs Wagstaff and Webster?

Good start Jackies!

Tai Webster! Surely they have someone else.

Better off with Henshall running the point

Usher is DYNAMITE

Quality game so far

Hyrum Harris is a nice pick up, does little things well.

Deng is a great pick-up for Tassie. Surprised it took so long for him to be signed by a club after Cairns let him go.

Jfc buckle in fellas it's going to be another long season.

Hooleys still going with his 'all green light team’ line.

Crawford is fun to watch

Fun to watch when you can find him

Is Jordan Crawford a hobbit?

Cotton with some quality players around him, look out the rest of the comp. JJs as usual having a go, not certain they can get this though which will ruin my tips.

Jackies lack a lock-down defender to take on the best guards in the league like Cotton

Good comeback from the Cats. JJ aren't going anywhere either. Oh and Tai Webster with the quiet -13 in 8 mins. Is there anything he....can do??

Yeah is it 3 NBL seasons now and I still don't know what it is that Tai does well?

Looks like Rillie has M. Harris ahead of Henshall and H. Harris ahead of Okwera in the rotation.

Tai is tallish for a point guard, does that count as something??

JJs just not strong enough on the bench. How tough is the French front court going to be with all there mobile seven footers.

Cats look dangerous i love it

Doolittle showing some signs

Cats are huge. Rebounding gonna be tough for other teams

36ers are so far behind these teams it is ridiculous.

Cats still giving up offensive rebounds

Its just desire JJs hitting the boards harder and playing smarter. Great comeback

Not only the Sixers are so far behind these teams, Cairns, SEM, Brisbane for starters.

Usher showing mvp quality. Very good game.

Lived up to the billing.

Rebounding (Doolittle will help once up and running), defense and Tai Webster still big questions for Perth.

Corey's ankle looked bad but was walking fine through the player handshakes. Wouldn't be surprised to see him miss Sunday against SEM

Watching that game after Brisbane vs Adelaide was like watching a different league. What are the chances of both away teams getting to a 12 or 15 to 0 lead though

Sarr and Usher were awesome, Perth will take some beating this year

Sarr needs more minutes, get Henshall and Okwera involved as well.

Wagstaff surely out of the rotation now that Doolittle has shaken the rust off and Hyrum Harris looks to be impactful

Best game so far this week. Closer than I thought it was going to be, Milton Doyle is a force to be reckoned with alright.

Is Okwera injured?

Or did he leave a good thing at United just to get no minutes behind Jesse Wagstaff, three Harisses and an import that just joined the team 2 days ago?

10 players got court time to night. Henshall and Okwera are going to have to play way better defense than they did in their preseason games if they are going to get any meaningful chances

Usher is already proving to be one of the best import bargains since moody if not better. What a recruitment master class.

Pinder is still trying find his place in the offence why he is only really thriving off the pick and roll. His timing and awareness will only get better with more games.

Doolittle seems to be a good rebounder with a reliable jump shot. He looks to be a perfect fit as a glue guy.

I thought Harris and Usher turned the game for the Cats. They were great at getting the crowd and team going after the horrible start and Corey Webster was great off the bench with some clutch shots.


Tai Webster seems to be a glaring weakness

A recruitment masterclass indeed.

Imagine this team if they were able to sign WMW!

T Web is a chucker im not convinced they can keep getting away with Cotton as the only decent PG. With their depth Henshall and Okwera wont be seeing many minutes unless there are injuries

with Webster brothers possibly injured, does Zunic get some run Sunday.

Can he be a rotation player to get Cotton off the ball. It just looks like he's doing to much when he is running the point as well.

With some of the strength of recruits to the league this year, would appear a few of the teams are running multiple ball handlers to help beat the pressure.
Seems Rillie has challenged Cotton to be more than a scorer and has surrounded him with players that can make this happen. As the team dynamics grow and others (like Usher and Sarr did last night) will step up and shine. But I have no doubt when game on the line Cotton time will be even better.

Spot on. Two ball handlers has long been a successful strategy in the NBL due to how many teams apply heat to get the ball out of the primary PG's hands.

Zubac is also injured

Zunic