Kristian Doolittle sat out Perth's loss after a late scan changed the picture, but John Rillie said: "I'm confident that he'll be available for the next game." With Jo Lual-Acuil Jr also out, others got extra minutes. "There's your opportunity. Go do it," Rillie said.
Brandon Knight, two games into his Perth Wildcats career, is getting more comfortable with the offence, and teammate Dylan Windler said: "he'll be a big piece of what we're doing."
Perth's Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is out, and John Rillie called him "a huge piece of it" when he plays. Kristian Doolittle went down in the scrimmage but "should be fine to play," he said, calling it precautionary. Jaron Rillie returns but is "still on like his minute restriction."
Brandon Knight is "still getting his feet wet" at Perth, Wildcats coach John Rillie said, and Rillie won't know the full product until everyone is on the floor. The first away trip of the season, against the Kings, is a chance to see "where we actually sit right now," he said.
"Any team that stops me from getting a championship, I'll never forgive them." Perth's Kristian Doolittle on holding grudges against Sydney, who knocked the Wildcats out of last season's playoffs and are next up. He did add: "it's not that deep."
Brandon Knight played his first game since around July in Puerto Rico, and Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie isn't worried by his 5 turnovers: "we're just drip-feeding him." Knight will be better for playing, he said. Dylan Windler said Perth is still without Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Brandon Knight is "looking promising" to play for Perth, John Rillie said, depending how he pulls up, with a minutes limit if cleared. Anthony Dell'Orso's ankle is fine: "He likes looking for attention." Asked when Jo Lual-Acuil Jr returns, Rillie wouldn't commit.
Elijah Pepper will have the ball less now Brandon Knight is in, Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie said: "his usage won't be at the same level as it has been, but then he can become a more efficient player." It also moves players back to their natural positions, he said.
Marley Sam has been reminded "like 5 times" that Parker Jackson-Cartwright will come at him, Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie said, after a rough first meeting. Sam's early minutes owe to "who we can suit up and who we can't." On the guard: "you're not going to stop him."
"Put him in the starting lineup." Derek Rucker wants Perth to start Brandon Knight and make him the primary perimeter defender on Adelaide's and Sydney's top guards. He told Knight: "We didn't bring you here just to cruise around like you played in the NBA for a long time."
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is out for Perth, but Elijah Pepper said he is still "a major part of practice." On Brandon Knight against the Breakers: "I have no clue on if he's playing or not." Pepper said Knight is moving and practising well and is "going to be our point guard."
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is out, Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie said. Brandon Knight is sick from bad food and hasn't had a single rep; "our goal is to have him ready for the next game," Rillie said, without committing. Jaron Rillie's 8 minutes were all he could play, the coach said.
"There's going to be nights in October, November, December where it doesn't look great until we really truly figure out who we are," Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie said, calling their composure since week 1 encouraging. Short-handed, he rotated heavily: "you need fresh bodies."
Perth coach John Rillie: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (calf) is out on 2 October, no return timeline. Brandon Knight won't play either, still going through medical: "Let him get a good week of practice under him." Jaron Rillie is "looking promising" to play some role after being held back.
With Jo Lual-Acuil Jr out, Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie says Angus Brandt, Jesse Wagstaff, Cameron Huefner and Alex Higgins-Titsha will get opportunities. He sees a chance to build depth for later in the year: "A lot of guys are going to get opportunity right now."
Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie on Jaron Rillie's return: a natural game manager, back in a role others have been filling outside their skill set. "He comes in and that's who he is as a player. So it brings a level of comfort all around."
Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie says Brandon Knight will be worked in at his own pace: "He doesn't have to feel like he has to come in and solve the world's problems." Rillie said Knight is another piece in the small game-to-game changes Perth is making to suit this roster.
Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie, speaking ahead of the club's 10th Pink Game, recalled a Breast Cancer Care WA event: "we heard from a young father with 2 kids and all of a sudden losing his wife really quickly, and like the impact of that."