WATCH every game of the 2020-21 NBL grand final series LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS VICELAND or stream live via from 8:30pm (AEST) Friday, June 18.
Three-peat season?
The Perth Wildcats are just three wins away from a third straight NBL championship, a feat only two teams have managed in the league's 42-year history.
After Brian Goorjian took the Sydney Kings to three straight titles between 2003 and 2005, the New Zealand Breakers repeated the feat in 2013 and it appears the Cats, too, could add their name to the record books.
Trevor Gleeson's side have not lost a grand final series since the Breakers sealed their aforementioned three-peat and, despite being under-strength, will hope for continued success on home court against Melbourne United.
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Home-court advantage
Perth's path to an 11th NBL championship has been made all the more achievable after it was announced games one and two of the grand final will be played at the RAC Arena.
The Wildcats need to win three out of a possible five games to clinch the chip and will be full of confidence after the coronavirus-enforced change to the scheduled ensured their slender advantage.
"To get the first two at home, we can rest our bodies up, give Mitch (Norton) some rest and lock in to it later in the week," Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson said of the grand final schedule.
“Hopefully we can get this place rocking on the weekend and get some wins.”
"In order to play the best-of-five grand final series with minimal interruption, the first two games will need to be played in Perth," NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger added.
"This is due to the fact that as soon as any of the Grand Final teams enter Victoria, under the current settings, they cannot re-enter Western Australia without having to quarantine."
United chasing six
Melbourne United have been the best team throughout the 2020-21 campaign and a sixth championship would be the perfect reward for their endeavours.
Only the Perth Wildcats have won more league titles, with the two teams going head-to-head in the grand final on two previous occasions: in 1993 (as the Tigers) and 2019.
Coach Dean Vickerman guided United to three victories out of five in their regular-season encounters with the Cats this season, and such a total would be enough to get the gold in 2021.
Landale Melbourne's X-factor
If Melbourne United are to end Perth's quest for another NBL championship, Jock Landale will be a big reason why.
The 25-year-old was instrumental in their game three victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix on Tuesday night, putting up 27 points as United rallied from as much as 17 down in the second quarter.
Landale's efforts - 11-of-13, to be precise - represented the perfect bounce-back game, with United set to appear in their third grand final in the last four seasons.
"I just tried to stay on the floor as much as I could," Landale said.
"And the guys helped me through that, they helped me just keep level-headed."
Those "guys" include fellow Boomers Chris Goulding and Mitch McCarron, with United's deep roster bound to trouble a Wildcats squad still adjusting to Bryce Cotton's absence.
Zero Cotton?
Bryce Cotton has been sidelined since May 21 but, despite ruling himself out of the NBL finals, could yet suit up for the Cats' push for a third successive championship.
Cotton, who was rushed in for emergency surgery after suffering a haematoma to his left quadriceps, admitted "it's over with" before Perth's impressive series win over the Illawarra Hawks.
"I don't even want to give fans false hope," Cotton said.
"I couldn't be out there even if I wanted to."
However, coach Gleeson has since refused to rule out the possibility of the 28-year-old's return ahead of game one this Friday.
"Who knows," Gleeson said.
"I am a coach and I am always looking for ways to improve.
"If that’s a chance, I will go down that path."
If the Wildcats star is to defy the odds and return against United, this grand final match-up could be one of the best yet.
2020-21 NBL grand final series schedule - LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
Friday 18 June
Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United - grand final game 1
20:30 - 22:30 (AEST) *Tip-off time 20:35*
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
Sunday 20 June
Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United - grand final game 2
17:00 - 19:00 (AEST) *Tip-off time 17:05*
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
Friday 25 June
Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats - grand final game 3
19:30 - 21:00 (AEST) *Tip-off time 19:35*
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
NBL grand final games 4 and 5 to be added (if required)
