Rillie takes blame for lighting Goulding fuse

Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie was kicking himself after his team's Game 1 Playoffs loss to Melbourne United, admitting he helped Chris Goulding get his eye in with a third quarter technical foul.

The moment was 4:23 into the third quarter and just a minute after Rillie had lost a coaches challenge. He was then frustrated by non-calls on Melbourne's next two possessions in front of him, before being whistled for a technical by referee Chris Reid.

It seemed inconsequential at the time as Goulding stepped to the line to knock down the freebie.

But with the benefit of hindsight, Rillie feels that was the moment Goulding began to feel good. He scored 31 second half points to torch the Wildcats for a second time at John Cain Arena this season, ending with 41 for the game.

That saw Melbourne claim the 105-93 win and the one-nil lead in the series, which now heads to Perth on Saturday night.

History is against the Wildcats, with United having claimed 10 of the last 11 fixtures at RAC Arena. 

Rillie took full responsibility for what he felt was his role in Goulding catching fire.

"I was undisciplined in the third quarter and it cost our team, probably, a little momentum in the game," Rillie said.

"That's where I reflect immediately and we need to be disciplined, and I need to show that at all times, no matter what I feel is going on out there.

"I just have to let the emotion dissolve better and move on from it, but consistency is a word you ask your players to do all the time. I wasn’t consistent with my performance."

We'll never know if Goulding might have caught fire anyway, even without that technical free-throw, but Rillie knows you just can't give someone like him an opportunity.

Just like Melbourne did such a good job of limiting Perth's five-time MVP Bryce Cotton to just 12 shot attempts and three free throws, even though he was still efficient with 22 points and six assists.

"He (Goulding) makes tough plays, but that's why I talk about the technical foul. Any player that gets to go to the foul line, you're just asking for trouble, so it allowed him to get his mojo," Rillie said.

"If a player like that gets free throws, if he gets a tip out off an offensive rebound and I know Bryce and him are different players, but the moment a high level shooter and scorer feels in rhythm, it is really tough no matter what you do."

On top of Cotton still doing what he could to contribute in the presence of Shea Ili, Keanu Pinder was aggressive against Melbourne's bigs for 24 points and 11 rebounds, even on an inefficient 10/24 shooting.

Kristian Doolittle also produced 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists, largely matched up with Jack White, but Rillie knows for the Wildcats to win Game 2 on Saturday night and go on to win the championship, they need more contributors.

That includes young guard Ben Henshall having a better shooting night, after making just 1/6 from three-point range in Game 1.

"Henshall was good, but for us to win the championship we need everyone playing at a good level," Rillie said.

"Ben Henshall will be different when he makes shots, so that's what he's on this team to provide at a high level.

"I know through experience it's not always going to be your night, so for him to get back in the saddle on Saturday night and shoot the same shots with the same aggression, when he makes them and you guys go crazy and we win, beautiful."

Then there's Dylan Windler who was virtually a non-factor in Game 1, with just four points on 1/5 shooting in over 35 minutes of court time, with seven rebounds, three steals and two assists counteracted with four turnovers.

He did take a trademark long, long three-pointer to try to get himself going and Rillie is more than happy for that, because he's proven he can make them throughout NBL25.

"It's two-fold where we can get him (Windler) in different actions, so he feels comfortable and he can play a little risqué at times to see where he's really at," Rillie said.

"I'm OK with him shooting a 30-footer because deep down that's who we are, we're a high efficiency, gun slinging, let's see what happens team. I'm OK with him letting 30-footers go."

The teams face off again on Saturday night at 8pm AEDT, with the pre-game show live on ESPN from 7.30pm AEDT.