Perth are out to prove a point during the NBL finals series after suffering two big snubs at Sunday's awards night.
Star Wildcats guard Bryce Cotton missed out on winning a second-straight MVP award, with Sydney centre Andrew Bogut crowned the winner.
Cotton finished third on 65 votes, behind both Bogut (83) and Melbourne United's Casper Ware (77).
Even more surprising was the fact that coach Trevor Gleeson wasn't even nominated for the coach of the year award despite guiding his team to top spot.
Cotton described that decision as crazy.
United's Dean Vickerman won the coach's award ahead of Illawarra's Rob Beveridge and the Kings' Andrew Gaze.
The Wildcats take on Brisbane in a best-of-three semi-final series, starting on February 28 in Perth.
If they win that, they'll face Sydney or Melbourne in the five-match grand final series.
The Wildcats received some recognition at the awards night, with Cotton and Nick Kay named in the All NBL First Team.
But the Wildcats couldn't help but feel a bit snubbed.
"It would have been great for both of them (Gleeson and Cotton) to be given those big awards," Kay said.
"I just think it gives us a point to prove - come out play our style, play the best we can.
"If we end up with the trophy at the end of the year, I think the point's proven."
Cotton couldn't help but wonder why Gleeson wasn't even nominated for the coach of the year award.
"We're not even talking about winning the award - we're talking about being nominated. It's interesting," Cotton said.
Cotton praised Gleeson for backing his squad instead of signing a third import during their early-season slump.
