The Perth Lynx are riding a wave of momentum in the WNBL, but coach Ryan Petrik insists his squad's eyes are firmly fixed on the competition ladder, not their impressive string of victories. The Lynx will aim to extend their winning run to six consecutive games when they host the Geelong Venom this Sunday at the Perth High Performance Centre.
Ladder Battle Trumps Streak for Focused Lynx
Despite winning their last five matches by a commanding average margin of 22 points, Petrik is ensuring his players remain grounded. The team currently sits in third position with a 10-3 record in the 23-game season, and the coach emphasised the relentless pace being set by front-runners Townsville and Bendigo.
"We haven't won enough yet," Petrik stated bluntly. "You've probably got to win at least 12 to make finals. We're still short on that so we've got to keep winning." He highlighted the critical importance of securing a top-two finish to earn home-court advantage in the playoffs, a significant factor given the strength of the leading teams on their own floors.
Han Xu's Arrival a Game-Changer
The Lynx's period of dominance coincidentally began with the arrival of Chinese international centre Han Xu. The 211cm star's immense presence in the paint has created newfound freedom for Perth's other offensive weapons, fundamentally altering the team's dynamics and contributing heavily to their scoring prowess.
Defensive Grind Complements High-Scoring Style
While renowned for their fast-paced, high-scoring offence under Petrik, the Lynx have built a noticeably sturdier defensive identity this season. This was showcased emphatically in their pre-Christmas victory over Canberra, where they held the Capitals to a mere 49 points—the lowest score conceded by the franchise since 2002. Canberra managed only 20 points in the entire second half.
Petrik was quick to note that the defensive improvement is the result of years of work, not a sudden philosophical shift. "People just think that because the offence comes so easily that we never spend any time on defence. It's something we've been working our backsides off on for six years," he explained. However, he reaffirmed his commitment to an entertaining style, quipping, "No-one is paying to watch that [a defensive grind]. People want to watch us score 120-103."
The immediate challenge is to maintain their intensity against the Geelong Venom, as every win is now crucial in the tight race for a prized top-two ladder position and the home-court advantage that comes with it.
