Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson insists he's not losing sleep over how to stop star Brisbane import Lamar Patterson during the upcoming NBL semi-final series.
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Patterson looms as Brisbane's most crucial player in their title bid after averaging 18 points per game during the regular season.
Doubts have been raised about whether the Wildcats have an adequate match-up for the 196cm Patterson.
But Gleeson isn't worried, backing 196cm American Terrico White to do the job.
"Terrico will match up well with him," Gleeson said.
"Defensively he's been solid all year. That hasn't kept me up at night.
"We haven't shied away that we're a very good defensive team, and if we're going to win a championship it's the defensive end that's going to do it."
The Wildcats boast a proven match-winner of their own in the form of Bryce Cotton.
Cotton has starred on the NBL stage since arriving in January 2017.
His form during past finals campaigns has been especially hot, with his 45-point haul in the 2017 grand final win over the Illawarra the best of the lot.
Gleeson expects Brisbane will double team Cotton at times.
"It's nothing new. We are used to Bryce getting double teamed, sometimes triple teamed," Gleeson said.
"We've kept a couple of things up our sleeve ready for that."
Brisbane are the NBL's most accurate team from three-point land, and Gleeson said it was imperative to put them under pressure when they shoot from beyond the arc.
Reuben Te Rangi, Adam Gibson, Patterson, Jason Cadee, and Cam Gliddon are all dangerous from the three-point zone.
Gleeson will wait until game day before deciding whether to unleash Mitch Norton in Thursday night's series opener at RAC Arena.
Norton hasn't played since tearing his left calf on January 25, but he trained on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness.
Gleeson will wait to see how the Boomers guard pulls up on Thursday before making a final call.
"If he's ready, he's ready. If he doesn't pull up well, he won't play," Gleeson said.
WILDCATS V BULLETS THIS SEASON
*October 20 - Wildcats beat Bullets 88-73 in Perth
*October 25 - Bullets beat Wildcats 100-96 in Brisbane
*November 9 - Wildcats beat Bullets 90-87 in Perth
*December 21 - Bullets beat Wildcats 93-86 in Brisbane.
Australian Associated Press
