Spotlight – CJ believes Redbacks best can't be stopped

Perth Redbacks coach CJ Jackson had every reason to not know what to expect from his group entering the NBL1 West finals, but they saved their best for Saturday night and now he feels this could be his best chance to become a championship coach.

When this Redbacks team came together for the inaugural NBL1 West season, in terms of pure talent without the addition of imports it looked as good as it could get just about at least as individually skilled players.

A big man who could do it all in Louis Timms was recruited to join the outstanding athletic scorers Marshall Nelson and Zac Gattorna along with the all-round abilities of Tevin Jackson, and then the leadership and guile of captain, club games record holder and the league's all-time assists leader Joel Wagner.

That's as good a starting five of local players that any coach in the league could just about hope for and then you also have good depth with the likes of Kyden Edman, Ezra Nikora, David Swaby, Derek Igbenoba, Jordan Herbert, Lachlan Bertram, Denzel Jackson and Matt Giorgi to call upon.

However, having everyone available was an issue right throughout the season and the Redbacks would end up playing precious few games with everyone available, and form fluctuated wildly as a result.

The season started with heavy losses to Warwick and Perry Lakes, and along the way they had disappointing showings to the Hawks again, Geraldton, Mandurah, Lakeside and Cockburn, but their better performances offered a glimpse into what was possible.

They produced superb wins throughout the season against East Perth, Cockburn, Warwick, Joondalup, Willetton, Lakeside and Kalamunda, but Jackson just had no way of knowing which team would be showing up come playoff time.

The one great positive was that he knew all his stars would be available but the challenge was still ahead of them last Saturday night against the Warwick Senators in a cut-throat elimination final at Warwick Stadium.

But right from the outset, it was quite the impressive performance from the Redbacks and the signs of what was to come was there from the energy the players brought to the warm up and bench with them, and they fed off the bench and the fans in the stands all night.

Without question, the end performance was the best the Redbacks have produced this season to beat the Senators 111-88 and to eliminate them on their home floor while advancing to this Friday's semi-final against the Willetton Tigers at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

CJ Jackson was left in no doubt that performance was their best of the NBL1 West season.

"I 100 per cent believe that it was the best game we've played the whole season. It probably illustrated for us and the Redbacks fans, and our whole club, that when we are together and at our best, we can be the most dangerous team in the comp or close to it," Jackson said.

"We just have the talent and pieces that make us hard to stop, but that's only when we play the right way. When anyone starts to think about themselves and goes individual, then we know what can happen. 

"But when we play like we did as a team in this game, I don’t think there's a team that can stop us because of our talent level, how deep and athletic we are. When our shots are falling and we are playing like that, I just don’t think anyone can stop us."

The Redbacks just came out an inspired outfit from the outset and they kept shooting at a high clip the entire night, finishing up hitting 40/67 at 59.7 per cent from the field and 13/27 at 48.2 per cent from deep. Warwick went 44.6 per cent from the field and 20.8 from the three-point line.

When the four guns from the Redbacks are firing they are mighty tough to stop, and they all had tremendous games on Saturday night.

Louis Timms was the dominant figure on the floor with 32 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks on shooting a phenomenal 13/17 overall and 3/4 from deep.

Zac Gattorna was outstanding too with 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals while Tevin Jackson added 20 points, six boards and three assists, and Marshall Nelson 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Add in captain Joel Wagner's six points, five assists and three rebounds, and it was the best display all season against quality opposition from the Senators.

"It also illustrated how much we've been missing Zac with his athleticism, shot-making ability and he was pretty big for us. But I must say, I was impressed with everyone but I think it was Louis who played his best game for the club," Jackson said. 

"This was a much more controlled game from him and he shot the ball a lot more to his character, took the right shots and still scored 30. He had rebounds, he had dunks and he had the kind of impact game we've been wanting from him. 

"Some of the shots he's been taking during the season were shockers and surprises, but all the shots he took in this game were the ones that were there for him and now look at the result on the back of it."

Jackson noticed from last Tuesday night's training session that the group had decided to put the regular season behind them and make a commit to throw everything at having a successful run during this finals series.

They made a commitment to one another to give it their all and to try their best to reach their potential, and you could just see in the energy of the whole squad on Saturday night that they were ready to fire.

If they can do that again on Friday night against the Tigers, they could end up in Saturday night's preliminary final against the Perry Lakes Hawks and then win that, and a Grand Final is the reward.

Jackson sees it difficult to see the Redbacks being stopped if they play at the level they did on Saturday night.

"I think we all felt that after we won that game that our energy levels in the locker room were sky high, and at the ultimate level as we belted out our winning song. It was clear that the players could just like they are onto something now and the penny might have dropped just how good they can be," Jackson said.

"Now going into playing against Willetton, I'm confident that we have the pieces that can get it done. We've got some bigs, we've got some coverages and we have some guys who can probably throw a team off. I'm just confident that when we play the way we did to win that first playoff game, then I know we are really hard to beat.

"I feel that we are a hard team to match up against and when we play the way we did, then I think we should be able to cover whatever Willetton throws at us. I feel like we are a very hard team to match up against and I feel like our thing all this year has been about how teams match up against us on the defensive end. 

"You talk about Tevin, he can play inside/outside. Marshall can shoot but also go inside and create problems. Wags can really attack the rim and does all the fundamental things to make us click, and he's like our John Stockton. 

"Zac is a hard match up too who can do a lot of things, and when you can go inside and outside that's when you create a lot of problems for other teams. I think that's where our biggest advantage is."

Jackson also feels this could very well the best chance his had over his journey to become a championship winning coach.

He initially arrived in Western Australia from California to join the Perth Redbacks as an import in 1990 where he won a championship right away, but throughout his 260 games all up that was his only title after stints with Willetton, East Perth and Mandurah.

He would go on to coach at Cockburn, East Perth and the Swan City Mustangs along with a stint as an assistant with the Perth Wildcats in the NBL and then as general manager of the SBL before returning to the coaching chair with the Perry Lakes Hawks.

He got them to the semi finals in 2016 before again stepping away, but he was lured back to the Redbacks men's job in 2020 and now he feels despite having gone close as a coach a couple of times before, this could be the best chance to become a championship coach.

"I went to the final four twice when I was coaching Cockburn and we got to the semi finals when I was coaching the Redbacks the first time, but now it's all about taking that extra and I think this is my best chance in my coaching career to win a championship," Jackson said.

"I feel like one of those Cockburn teams probably could have gone further and also at the Redbacks when I had Jamie Baker, Lackovic, Earpy, Stone and all those guys, but this team can be really special. 

"I just feel like if we were to play to our full potential again and cover for each other, and hit big shots when they are ready to be hit, and execute offensively and defensively, then we'll at least give ourselves a chance to play against Perry Lakes."

NBL1 WEST MEN'S DIVISION 2021

FINALS WEEK 1
FRIDAY – QUALIFYING FINAL
Lakeside Lightning 95 defeated Willetton Tigers 92

FRIDAY – ELIMINATION FINAL
Mandurah Magic 63 defeated Cockburn Cougars 62

SATURDAY – ELIMINATION FINAL
Warwick Senators 88 lost to Perth Redbacks 111

SATURDAY – QUALIFYING FINAL
Perry Lakes Hawks 90 defeated Rockingham Flames 75

FINALS WEEK 2
FRIDAY – SEMI FINALS
Rockingham Flames v Mandurah Magic – Mike Barnett Sports Complex 7pm
Willetton Tigers v Perth Redbacks – Willetton Basketball Stadium 7pm

SATURDAY – PRELIMINARY FINALS
Lakeside Lightning v Flames/Magic – Lakeside Recreation Centre 7pm
Perry Lakes Hawks v Tigers/Redbacks – Bendat Basketball Centre 7pm

FINALS WEEK 3
SATURDAY – GRAND FINAL
Lightning/Flames/Magic v Hawks/Tigers/Redbacks – Bendat Basketball Centre 7pm