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Townsville Crocodiles vs Melbourne United: NBL results, scores, blog

9th October, 2015
Tip-off: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Townsville Entertainment Centre
TV: Live, Fox Sports News
Betting: United $1.74, Crocodiles $2.00
Last meeting: 14/02/2015 - Crocodiles 105 defeat United 68
Last five: Crocodiles 4, United 1

Townsville Crocodiles (expected)
Point guard: Mitch Norton
Shooting guard: Jordair Jett
Small forward: Clint Steindl
Power forward: Brian Conklin
Centre: Luke Schenscher
Bench: Corey Maynard, Mirko Djeric, Leon Henry, Nicholas Kay, Mitchell Young

Melbourne United
Point guard: Stephen Holt
Shooting guard: Chris Goulding
Small Forward: Todd Blanchfield
Power forward: Hakim Warrick
Centre: Daniel Kickert
Bench: Chris Patton, Majok Majok, Brad Hill, Igor Hadziomerovic, Nate Tomlinson, Emmanuel Golong, Kyle Adnam
The Townsville Crocodiles take on the Cairns Taipans, with only pride on the line. (Image: AAP)
Roar Guru
9th October, 2015
67
1248 Reads

Match Results:

Melbourne United 99
Townsville Crocodiles 84

Melbourne United powered home to defeat the Townsville Crocodiless at Townsville Entertainment Arena on Friday night.

Melbourne started strong and jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter, with the score at the end of the first being United 28 – Crocodiles 19.

However, this was before a Brian Conklin led comeback that put the Crocodiles in front by a point early in the third quarter. Conklin showed why he was last seasons MVP by scoring 25 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 9-17 from the field.

United was able to steady the Crocodiles momentum and riding a wave of three’s hit from Todd Blanchfield get back into the game. He was joined by Hakim Warrick who was working hard inside and United were able to take control of the game during the third and fourth quarters.

Blanchfield, named man of the match was hitting everything on his way to collecting a game high 29 points. Hakim Warrick who started his first NBL game on the bench came on and had a massive impact scoring 21 points.

United gets an important road win with what looks like a tough home game approaching on Sunday against the Hawks. The Crocs now have to turn there attention to the New Zealand Breakers on the road who are coming off a loss on Wednesday night against the 36ers.

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Match Preview:

The Townsville Crocodiles host Melbourne United in Round 1 of the 2015-16 NBL season at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).

Both teams take different form into the season opener, United having won all three pre-season games at the 2015 NBL Blitz, averaging 95.6 points per game, with new import Stephen Holt named joint MVP.

United beat the Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings on their way to the pre-season title.

Maybe as expected after a horror off-season, the Crocs have been the opposite, averaging only 63 points per game, and losing to the New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats and the Cairns Taipans for a winless Blitz.

The Crocs will try to run the floor and attack the basket with import guard Jordair Jett and MVP power forward Brian Conklin to lead the way. The powerfully built Conklin returned to the Crocs last season and took the NBL by storm.

United welcome a star import or two themselves this season, with 206 centimetre former NBA player Hakim Warrick and versatile guard Stephen Holt joining.

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Holt played NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks, putting in some impressive performances, and before that was playing with Cleveland Cavaliers affiliate Canton Chargers in the D-League.

Warrick spent eight years in the NBA playing for Memphis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Phoenix, Charlotte and New Orleans, averaging 9.4 points per game over his career.

Melbourne, under new coach Dean Demopoulos, have worked hard on ball movement this off-season, as last year it was stagnant. This sets up an interesting battle with two different play styles.

The big question heading into this one is will the Crocodiles’ run-and-gun style, or United’s selective ball movement be more effective?

Prediction
Melbourne United to start the season with a road win by a comfortable 10 points.

Join The Roar for our live blog of this match from 7:30pm (AEDT) and if you’re following along, be sure to add a comment of your own below.

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