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Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United |
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|---|---|---|
2017/18 NBL Season, 5 October, 2017 |
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| Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide, SA | ||
| Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne United | |
| 97 | SCORE | 99 |
| 27 | Q1 | 18 |
| 20 | Q2 | 27 |
| 27 | Q3 | 40 |
| 23 | Q4 | 14 |
The NBL is back, and it all gets underway with the Adelaide 36ers looking to make up for lost time against premiership favourites Melbourne United at the Titanium Security Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Adelaide came from nowhere to claim the minor premiership in 2016-17, but struggled when it came to the finals, being knocked over in a disappointing three-match defeat to fellow surprise packet the Illawarra Hawks.
The 36ers were one of the most exciting teams to watch last season and are expected to do more of the same this time around. While import Jerome Randle is no longer with the club, they have replaced him with Shannon Shorter and domestic duo Mitch Creek and Nathan Sobey will be out to build on NBA Summer League appearances.
If there’s a team you wouldn’t want to start your season against though, it’s Melbourne United. Their roster is potentially the best we have ever seen on the same NBL court, and with a change of coach, anything less than a championship is unacceptable for the NBL’s glamour club in 2017-18.
They had the best roster last year as well, but under the coaching of Dean Demoplous, stagnated badly. He has been moved on though, and Dean Vickerman, who has coached the New Zealand Breakers to championship success previously now gets to work with former Wildcat Casey Prather, along with Chris Goulding, Casper Ware and David Andersen.
They are just the some of the names for United, with import Josh Boone, centre Majok Majok and veteran David Barlow meaning they have more depth than any other side in the competition.
United also fly straight to Oklahoma City for a match with the Thunder after this game, and so an important start, noting they may take some time to recover when they return is key.
If Adelaide are going to compete with Melbourne, they can’t simply hope to outscore them. A change in playstyle and tightening of defence will be a must.
While they were exciting to watch in attack last year, their defence was at times woeful and it formed a big part of the reason they missed the grand final. A change in gameplan needs to see the paint tighten up, and for that Matt Hodgson and Daniel Johnson could be in for a big season.
It’ll be a big ask slowing Melbourne down though.
Prediction
Melbourne have such a strong side and after last season, where they missed out on the finals by a single game, they will be taking no prisoners. Even at this early stage, every game is important and Melbourne should pick up the opening win of the season.
United by 9.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the NBL season opener from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.