As the NBL season approaches the latter half, the table is beginning to shape up for the playoffs with every game having dire consequences.
The Perth Wildcats go into week 16 of 22 sitting fifth on the table with 13 wins and 10 losses.
They come off an eight point win against the Breakers with one match left of their travel stint, heading over east to play South East Melbourne this Saturday.
Amongst talks of heading to the US to further his career, Ben Henshall has been huge for the Wildcats and has a promising future ahead of him.
Sports Breakfast spoke to Wildcats assistant coach Ben Peterson this morning.
“His ceiling is whatever he wants it to be, he’s ultra talented,” he said.
“I think this is the most winning basketball he’s ever played in terms of doing the little things that may not show up on the stat sheet.”
“He’s taken a huge jump as a defender whether it’s on the ball or off the ball, his decision making has improved, his shot selection has improved.”
David Duke Jnr could potentially see the rest of the season on the sidelines following his nasty elbow injury which he suffered playing against the 36ers in late December.
The guard’s absence has seen players like Elijah Pepper and Jaron Rillie step up, both scoring 13 points each against the Breakers and playing majority minutes on the court.
“Pep’s been great, he’s got into his role and kept things simple, he’s an ultra competitor. Anytime he has an opportunity he steps up,” said Peterson.
The Wildcats have a big call to make ahead of them in terms of Duke Jnr’s spot on the roster for the remainder of the year.
“I know we have until a certain date at the end of the month if we decide to make that move [replacement] but I’m not sure where we’re at in terms of what we want to do there.”
“I think we’re in a good spot, outside of Duke we had everyone available the other night and we plan for that to be the same case heading over to Melbourne this weekend… when you’re able to say that at this point of the year I think you’re very lucky.”
Perth face South East Melbourne this Saturday who sit second on the table.
“They’re the best team in the league when it comes to forcing turnovers,” he said.
“They play a very specific style of basketball and you’ve got to be ultra organised for 40 minutes or they’re gonna make you pay.”
Peterson said centre Jo Lual-Acuil Jnr will have a big role to play this weekend if the Wildcats want to come home with a win.
“You need your best players to step up, especially in games like this, so we’ll rely on him heavily.”
“Having a guy like him going into a big game like this, you’re always feeling pretty good about yourself”
He is confident Adelaide will cap the season off on top of the table, currently holding 19 wins and only 4 losses, but the assistant coach isn’t counting anyone out of winning the title from the current top six.
“Adelaide’s running away with the one seed but Sydney and South East [Melbourne] are both playing really good basketball at the moment as well. That top five or six, it just comes down to who gets hot at the right time and I think any of those teams have a chance to win it.”
IMAGE: Perth Wildcats