36ers ready to battle full strength Wildcats

Adelaide 36ers will face a Perth Wildcats roster with a clean bill of health at RAC Arena on Friday night.

The Wildcats, much like every NBL team this season, has battled the injury curse, but have regained their full complement leading into the final round.

Point guard Tai Webster has recently returned from a hamstring issue to bolster what already is a loaded backcourt rotation led by Bryce Cotton.

Import duo Dylan Windler and Kristian Doolittle have also spent several games on the sidelines, but both are now 100 per cent fit leading into the playoffs.

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THE KEY
Cotton has arguably had his best NBL campaign since arriving in the league in 2016/17. The 182cm combo guard is averaging 27.7 points per game in NBL25, over four points better than his best season in NBL21.

The four-time NBL MVP has been on a scoring tear this season, getting to the free throw line more in NBL25 and is the Wildcats’ go to man down the stretch.

Another match-up with Sunday Dech will loom likely for Cotton, but expect head coach Mike Wells to throw multiple defenders at the three-time NBL championship winner, including Lat Mayen, Kendric Davis and DJ Vasiljevic.

THE SECRET
Doolittle was the difference in Perth’s 110-103 win against Adelaide at RAC Arena on January 17, connecting on seven straight shots during the second half.

The 201cm power forward is a threat at both ends of the floor, his 27 points and 10 rebounds were the difference last month and expect the same impact come Friday night.

He will potentially match-up against Montrezl Harrell and whoever makes the bigger impact will go a long way to which side comes away with victory.

Doolittle can also spend time on Davis and can guard on the perimeter, he’s a dangerous proposition on the Adelaide scouting report.

DEPTH CHART
Henshall / Webster / Russo-Nance
Cotton / Pepper / M. Harris
Windler / H. Harris
Doolittle / Okwera
Pinder / Almansa

FINAL WORD
After losing two games last round, expect the 36ers to come out firing against the Wildcats with a Play-In berth on the line.

Adelaide will take huge confidence in the second half performance against the Phoenix where the 36ers fought back from a 23-point deficit to take the lead.

There is no bigger test in the league than going into RAC Arena to battle the Red Army, and the 36ers need to be ready from the opening tip.

The season is up for grabs and Adelaide need to get back on track quickly to restart the momentum that January brought.