Cate Blanchette, looking far better off screen, watches the rushes between filming scenes for Little Fish as onlookers crowd Thomas street in Haymarket watching Cate watch Cate. High winds scream the louvres of the Ent Cent, banners flying off their hooks just missing the eyeballs of those in line to buy tickets. There one second, gone the next, a clownish man on stilts held up by a gigantic balloon last seen talking to the band setting up outside McDonald's. From another direction, Jade and Ryan walk up as the actor parks a car, careful not to run over the cameraman's foot. A quick lesson in numerical designation pops the Korean seated in 14, the others with him looking more than upset at not knowing where the numbers start.
Co-incidence awards Jason Smith the player of the month as Perth's Scott Fisher accepts the Philips coach of the month before the start of the game. Tip-off is messy, flailing arms eventually see the Sydney Kings running it to the board and out of basket. Peter Crawford of the Perth Wildcats begins the notching as both teams start slow, the tally just as incremental and sparse. Minutes run down and the score board just barely sees either team break in a 20. Rodney O tests out the bass level of the sound system checking in the roar of the crowd. First quarter ends with Kings up 24 on the Wildcats 19.
The Lion spends some time hounding the corporate boxes amidst being nearly invisible for the most part. One is covered under a blanketing stream of green silly string, emptying out the can before the next turn is up. Later, taking duties as a seat warmer in the neighbouring box. Toward the close of night, an altercation looks set to occur, a woman teased out for whatever reason, best left to those with watery eyes from the bright lights.
Rough play picks up the second quarter, a passing game starts but is summarily dismissed. Elbows start flying, the intensity walking along the line of out and out violence. Jason Smith sets up a phantom alley-oop or lay up, but the board is too low to feel the hit and the ball flies right out of the court. Kings' CJ Bruton and Wildcats' Tony Ronaldson start to get rough, but fouls go elsewhere. Things tighten with the Wildcats making the Kings look over their shoulders, walking out of the second 47 on 46.
Half-time, and adding one or two, the mini cheerleaders run on court with fairly even heights, no bean giants here. Presented with a far better song selection, their act is a whole lot more coordinated than in past games. The routine showing more range in their ability and skill.
A quick and quiet trophy presentation for the ACBA leads into a Chinese red dragon flooring the boards. Narrative is hard to decipher, the act and structure of the story not exactly an easy thing to make out. Dancing is more consistent and stronger than the drums nearby, connection between the quieter moments still not helping with what happens between. The dragon almost eats itself between a mid-beat switch. Dizzy makes it revolve watching the two circle the centre throughout their act.
Quarter three shows up more of the King's propensity and predilection for staying outside the arc to shoot their threes and just inside twos. Even though they fail to make most of these shots, they endeavour and continue with the crazy. This happens all night, but with the tide turning in the third, it's most visible here. Referees watch every bit of the Kings to call fouls on their every move, disagreement heard very much from the stands. Every time they step up to take a shot, Kings fans collectively urge for closer tips, but voices aren't heard and Perth, who drive through most of theirs, hold over their lead of 65 against 58 into the last.
The well-bodied crowd makes for a warming atmosphere of a sonorous reception. Frustration and elation booming in great spectacular unison, the sheer weight of the crowd easily felt. Rodney O remains fairly quiet all night long, the Voice not exactly rubbing against the opposition, in a state of reserve even. Row Q make for some light entertainment on their part, comments throughout the night clear of crude. Criticism on performance woes high on rotation.
Kings stretch out the last standing minutes fouling the Wildcats to free throws, the margin waves around 8. Desperation abandons with the prospect of another home game win, the Kings continue their pot shots from the outer. From the looks of it, both keys are disease infested states, warding off approaches from the Kings yet seeing the Wildcats bunker down. Staying outside all night long yields appalling results, perseverance strong as ever. Rebounds and shooting is dismal, hands just out of reach on both accounts. Steals, however, are plentiful and continuous, the breaks always coming apart to much despair. Wild and erratic shooting cannot save the Kings. Strong defence hold the Perth Wildcats in good stead as they take out the win, 90 on 83.
Reviewed on Sunday, 14 November 2004