Perth Wildcats to give Tai Webster every opportunity to prove his fitness for NBL semifinal against Melbourne

Perth Wildcats will give veteran Tai Webster until game time to decide if he is fit to play against Melbourne United on Saturday after injuring his left shoulder on Thursday night. Webster left the court in agony after a collision with Flynn Cameron and has only two days to recover as the Wildcats’ season goes on the line. The New Zealander has had an injury-interrupted season due to soft tissue injuries and is one of the keys to his team’s chances of levelling the best-of-three series. Wildcats fans will be viewing the game through multiple lenses, with the threat of it being Bryce Cotton’s last in Perth. The five-time NBL MVP’s contract expires at the end of the season and he’s yet to make a decision on where he will play next. He needs the Wildcats to win the next two games against Melbourne to play another match at RAC Arena this season. Two wins would send the Wildcats to the NBL grand final. The Wildcats have offered their superstar the largest contract in NBL history, but Cotton is tipped to receive life changing offers from overseas clubs in an attempt to pry him out of Perth. Cotton has been doing his best to live in his own bubble and said he’s simply trying to focus on every game. “You want to just make sure you stay in the moment. As I’ve said all year, I will make my decisions when the season is done. It’s really allowed me time to just focus and cherish the moments as they come,” Cotton explained. Cotton scored 22 points against United on Thursday night as Melbourne won 105-93. Chris Goulding dominated for the home team with 41 points, including 10 three-pointers. Melbourne have won 15 of their last 20 games against the Wildcats, including all four matches this season. United coach Dean Vickerman expects Perth to hit his team with different tactics. “There’s always adjustments to things,” he said. “What do they do to CG? How do they stop him from getting 17 great three-point looks? What are the things they can counter with that right now? “How we guarded Bryce - what are their counters? How do they find him more shots? They’re all the things that we think about right now. Do they play different personnel? “Almansa didn’t play much (on Thursday). He’s been pretty effective for them all year. So there’s some different things we get ready for.” Meanwhile, Perth Lynx MVP Ally Wilson has been rewarded for her outstanding season with a WNBA Training Camp contract for Chicago Sky. Wilson follows in the footsteps of co-captain Anneli Maley who will trial with Los Angeles Sparks. The pair were also both included in the Australian Opals squad this week..

Perth Wildcats to give Tai Webster every opportunity to prove his fitness for NBL semifinal against Melbourne

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