Perth’s dream run cut short by weakened Cairns in NBL play-in as Taipans book Sydney semi-final
DJ Hogg has delivered probably the greatest all-round performances by a Taipans participant to steer an understrength Cairns right into a mouthwatering NBL Playoffs collection with the Kings.
The Taipans bounced again from a tricky loss to the JackJumpers within the seeding qualifier to greatest the Wildcats and spoil Perth famous person Bryce Cotton’s two hundredth sport with a 91-78 win at Cairns Convention Centre.
Perth rolled into the competition after an unbelievable fourth-quarter comeback to finish the Phoenix’s season on Thursday, and with the Taipans lacking Tahjere McCall and Keanu Pinder, will need to have fancied their possibilities.
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But Hogg had different concepts.
The All-NBL Second Team member confirmed why he was chosen within the advantage group with an enormous efficiency on each side of the ball.
The go-to man from the get-go, Hogg was the in every single place man the Snakes wanted however made his Herculean effort look easy.
He completed with essentially the most factors by a Taipan in a post-season sport with 32 factors, hitting at 57 per cent from the sphere with five-of-12 from deep, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks.
Every Snake stood up.
Bul Kuol was put collectively a monstrous efficiency with 23 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists.
Next Generation participant Sam Waardenburg had 15 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Lat Mayen had eight factors in his first NBL begin.
The Taipans will now go on to face the Kings within the NBL Play-offs with a spot within the Championship Series on the road.
Cotton had 19 factors, whereas Corey Webster (14), Tashawn Thomas (14) and Brady Manek (13) all hit double figures for Perth.
THAT’S THE TRACK
DJ Hogg was all the time going to be a key offensive weapon for the Snakes, so it ought to include no shock he had eight of his aspect’s first 9 factors.
Hogg was recognised for his excellent marketing campaign with choice within the All-NBL Second Team, his 17.45 factors (at 44 per cent from the sphere), 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals enjoying a significant function in Cairns being on this place in any respect.
With McCall and Pinder out, Hogg was the person from the soar, and his accuracy and effectivity from the sphere helped the Snakes set up a six-point lead on the first break.
Cairns’ man within the clutch, he landed some essential buckets all through the competition so as to add to the house aspect’s lead and put extra stress on Perth.
Hogg had 21 first-half factors, together with four-from-eight (50 per cent) from three, as Cairns held a 52-43 lead on the primary break.
His block to disclaim Cotton with 70 seconds left within the second time period earned simply as loud a response from the house followers as any of his huge hits on the different finish.
It’s going to be robust for Cairns to retain Hogg’s providers past this season as he confirmed night-in, night-out, he can hold in a better league.
MILESTONE MAN
Bryce Cotton introduced up his two hundredth sport within the with one other usually sturdy efficiency for a Wildcats group determined to succeed in the NBL Play-offs.
The man’s resume speaks for itself.
He’s a three-time MVP – many say he ought to’ve picked up a fourth every week in the past – and three-time NBL championship winner, and is all the time essentially the most harmful man in pink.
In case anybody wanted a reminder of the risk he poses he hit 18 fourth-quarter factors because the Wildcats dropped 41 factors within the final time period to finish South East Melbourne’s season.
While the NBL nice had 10 factors on the break the Taipans held Cotton to simply eight subject aim makes an attempt within the first half – a super consequence in opposition to one of the vital deadly shooters within the league.
BIG BLOW?
The Taipans had been already hurting with the lack of star ahead Keanu Pinder, however the partial shoulder dislocation suffered by Tahjere McCall within the seeding qualifier actually put the aspect behind the eight-ball.
McCall is an integral piece of this group. He is a pacesetter in each sense of the phrase, and whereas he was vocal on the bench, the excellent defender wasn’t there to place his physique on the road as he so typically does.
According to Wildcats John Rillie, he couldn’t afford his aspect to concentrate on McCall’s absence.
“They kicked our butts without him in their lineup in Perth,” Rillie stated.
“They played probably a little more disciplined without him in the lineup, and guys played with a bit more freedom offensively.”
He is anticipated to overlook a minimum of one week, pending the outcomes of an MRI later within the week, which might rule him out of a minimum of one sport of the semi remaining collection.
NBL SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE
Sydney Kings v Cairns Taipans (3-game collection)
Game 1 at Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT Wednesday February 15
Game 2 at Cairns Convention Centre, 7:30pm AEDT Friday February 17
Game 3 (if required) at Qudos Bank Arena, 4:00pm AEDT Sunday February 19
New Zealand Breakers v Tasmania JackJumpers (3-game collection)
Game 1 at Spark Arena, 4:00pm AEDT Sunday February 12
Game 2 at MyState Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT Thursday February 16
Game 3 (if required) at Spark Arena, 2:00pm AEDT Sunday February 19
