Roth praises Pinder dominance

Prior to Friday’s Playoff clash between Perth and Tasmania, John Rillie called for Keanu Pinder to be on the receiving end of more praise for the NBL24 he has put together. In the aftermath of the Wildcats’ Game 1 win, that praise is coming thick and fast.

Pinder was named the Foot Locker Player of the Game in what was an emotional and often chippy clash between the two sides. The star center scored a game-high 25 points and pulled in six boards.

Perhaps most impressively was the nature in which Pinder scored. He hit five of seven threes in the game, around what is one of the dunks of the season over JackJumpers center Marcus Lee.

Tasmania head coach Scott Roth was quick to praise Pinder’s performance following the game.

“I thought Pinder was fantastic, I thought it was the best game I’ve seen him play all season ... I thought he was really, really good,” Roth said.

“Like any player when you see them go in your confidence builds. We didn’t step up on him enough and most of those shots were wide open and really in rhythm. He’s a very good player and I haven’t followed all their games, but I’m assuming that was his best game of the season or pretty darn close.

“He was really, really good.

“It was a hell of a game, it was fun to be in, I thought our guys played well on the road, we got down a few times and came right back, but in the last five minutes we didn’t make enough plays or energy plays that they did that turned the tide.”

Pinder’s heroics came in a game where reigning MVP Bryce Cotton was held well held defensively by Tasmania.

Cotton scored 15 points and failed to connect on any of his six three-point attempts. He was, however, typically locked in from the free throw line and hit nine of ten attempts from the stripe.

Both Roth and star Tasmania guard Milton Doyle said the focus is on the collective Perth offence, not just Cotton, so it’s impossible to be happy with how they defended due to the defeat.

“We lost, so I don’t know how we’d be happy about anyone scoring anything we predict,” Roth said.

“We took turns guarding him and everyone did a good job, but we let other guys get going, it’s a team focus, not so much Bryce, so we just have to do a better job,” Doyle added.

“I thought we were right where we wanted to be, we just have to make some shots. Four of 16, you can’t win like that, but the team got to where we wanted to be, we just have to finish the game and put up some points. I thought we guarded right.”

Will Magnay was his typically dominant self in the early proceedings of the game, but a foot injury forced him from the court late in the game and has the potential to derail Tasmania’s title hopes. 

The center had added eight points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocks in his 20 minutes on court, and Roth was coy about Magnay’s fitness.

“I have no clue [if he’ll play on Monday],” Roth said.

“He’s back there walking around so I don’t really know. I have no idea,”

The second game of the Playoff Series between Perth and Tasmania will be played at MyState Bank Arena on Monday from 7:30pm AEDT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo.