The NBL’s top two players face off in the semis

JORDAN GERRANS

The 27-year-old Cotton, who led the NBL for scoring (22.5 points a game) and steals (1.74), was quick to acknowledge the campaign Machado has compiled in FNQ.

“I think he had a hell of a season; he is a very unselfish player as a pass-first point guard,” Cotton said. “He is that way even though he can score the ball great as well.

“Cairns has so many offensive weapons; he is a willing passer and they all do well because he wants to share the ball and not take a shot every time he comes up the floor.”

All three of the CairnsPerth games this season, of which the Snakes claimed the season series, 2-1, were played in the first half of 2019-20, with the two clubs not meeting since way back in December.

“It is going to be a hardfought battle,” Cotton said.

“Every year I have been in this league, no matter what Cairns’s record is, they always play us tough and this year was no different.

“They got us in the regular season series this year and we are expecting a hard-fought battle, as I am sure they are expecting from us.

“It will be a lot of fun.” Cotton has mixed memories about playing in FNQ across his career, having been beaten earlier this season, but having also won a finals game in Cairns.

The last time the Snakes made the post-season, then

Wildcats imports Cotton and Casey Prather, now with Melbourne United, had their way with the Snakes guards as they danced past former Taipans leading man Travis Trice and the rest with ease.

Trice led the Snakes’ scorers with 15 but his opposite number, Cotton, was the winners’ driving force.

Cotton and Prather shared in 56 points that night, before securing the series a few days later in Western Australia.

“We definitely have some good memories,” Cotton said with a laugh.

“But, we also have some bad memories there too, but that is what it is all about.

“It is going to be a lot of fun and we will see what kind of memories we end up with this year.”