Operation stop Bryce Cotton: Inside United’s plan

In what has been a wildly unpredictable NBL season, there has been two constants.
1)    Bryce Cotton ripping the heart out of defenders with historic, awe-inspiring performances.
2)    Melbourne United being able to do what nobody else could – slow down Cotton.

And as the Perth Wildcats and United prepare to face off in a blockbuster Playoff series, beginning on Thursday night with Game 1 in Melbourne, all eyes will be on Cotton’s output. 

Nobody is doubting the magic and greatness of the five-time MVP, but the numbers in Cotton’s two meetings with United this season paint a picture. 

In October, the Perth Wildcats maestro managed just five points on 2/10 shooting against Melbourne, with that output increasing only slightly to 14 points on 5/17 shooting in January. 

Another measure that further emphasises how well United has put the clamps on Cotton is he averaged 28.6 points in the regular season – and scored just 19 points TOTAL in his two matches against the team in blue.

Melbourne’s weapon is no secret, with back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili the man tasked with what some may seem an impossible task. 

However, Ili embraces the challenge of guarding the league’s best. 

“It’s exciting going up against an MVP. It’s an honour to go up against an MVP. Every time we play it’s exciting and we are ready to go,” Ili told NBL Media.

“My job is to try to stop Bryce and I’m going to try to do that as best I can.”

While many will view Cotton v Ili as an individual battle – and there’s no doubt that feud will go a long way towards deciding the series – Ili was quick to mention how important the team’s overall defensive structure is. 

“The coaches put out a great scout every time we play them. Our game plan is always on point, and you have to be when you’re going up against Bryce,” Ili said.

“It’s scary every time he touches the ball because every shot looks like it’s going in. Everyone has to be on point no matter who’s guarding him, and it’s not just a one man job, it’s a collective.”

Someone who looms as a likely option to assist in operation stop Cotton is Matthew Dellavedova, who is more qualified than anyone in slowing down an offensive juggernaut on the biggest stage. 

Dellavedova’s heroic and ferocious defence on Golden State Warriors megastar Stephen Curry across the 2015 and 16 NBA Finals is evidence of his credentials, and he is ready to step up and assist Ili when needed.

“Shilli’s going to have the main job on him, but it’s on everyone else to help him as much as we can,” Dellavedova said. 

Another NBA champion in United’s ranks – Jack White – echoed that “it’s going to take all five guys on the court to be locked in”, but he also recognises the box office nature of Cotton v Ili. 

“Shilli’s going to have his hands full, but I think Bryce is going to have his hands full with Shilli,” White said.

“It’s just one of those matchups that as a basketball fan you are going to sit there and enjoy.”

Ili’s commitment and passion on the defensive end makes him one of the toughest players to score against in the NBL, but an area of his game that could be taken for granted is his own ability to contribute on the offence. 

The New Zealand native averaged a career-high 11.5 points and 4.7 assists this season, which included six games of posting 18 or more points. 

Despite his growing collection of Damian Martin Trophy’s, and an expanding scoring and playmaking toolbox, Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman isn’t sure if Ili’s receives the plaudits he deserves, signalling a potential reference of him not making Derek Rucker’s top 15 list. 

“I hope people appreciate what Shea does and I think they have, over time, learnt to appreciate how good he is,” Vickerman said.

“No one is going to put him in a top 15 list in the league right now but that’s what it is. We know how valuable he is to our team and this is a key matchup in a Finals series that everyone will be locked in on.

“Shea is going to spend a good period of time on him but other people are going to have to guard him directly as well. We think Delly and Ian Clark and Flynn Cameron…other guys have the ability to do that job for a while as well.”

Tip-off between United and the Wildcats on Thursday night is 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.