Melbourne United recorded a big-margin win over the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday afternoon, coming away the victors by 24 points.
Final score
Melbourne United 98
New Zealand Breakers 74
Corey Webster is almost certain to be back on court for the New Zealand Breakers as they look to get back into the winners circle on the road against what will be a desperate Melbourne United outfit. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 3pm (AEDT).
United have struggled this season to put it nicely, having very little flow to their offence and being able to get enough stops on defence to cover it.
While they have struggled at times with injuries, that is simply no excuse given the depth in their squad.
Simply put, they have been poorly coached and their on-court play has shown it. Sitting last in the competition, wins from here on out are a must nearly every time they step on the court.
There isn’t a heap of difference across the competition, with the ladder being compact but United play plenty of games on the road in the second half of the season and to turn it around is going to take a mighty effort.
Even their last performance, a win against the Sydney Kings wasn’t free of errors, with only a Casper Ware bomb pulling them out of trouble in the dying stages.
As for the Breakers, they are looking a little unsettled off the court more than anything at the moment.
Like United, they had a poor start to the season and were looking like they were going to struggle to get into gear at all.
Those fears were eventually put to bed with a 119-point effort against the Adelaide 36ers before they have continued that offensive cohesiveness to record a few wins.
With star guard Corey Webster being arrested during the week though and stood down by the Breakers for their game against the Hawks, they made it two losses in a row and suddenly look to be on the back foot again.
While Webster is expected to be back for this game, their record now reads six and six which is not what they would have had in mind before Round 8 got underway.
Even though the Auckland-based club still sit in the top four, that may not last for long with a loss here having the potential to drop them all the way to seventh showing again exactly how volatile the league is.
Prediction
Melbourne have been up and down like a yo-yo, but their performance last week against Sydney was solid. With Todd Blanchfield back on the floor and playing against an unsettled New Zealand outfit at home, they should pick up an important win here.
United by 5.
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Ryman White
Editor
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar this afternoon for our live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Season as Melbourne United picked up a 24-point blowout win against the New Zealand Breakers at Hisense Arena. Hopefully you enjoyed it! I'll be back tomorrow night with the final game of Round 9 as the Sydney Kings travel down the Princess Highway to take on the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong. You can join me for that one from 7:30pm (AEDT). In the meantime, be sure to join Kishan Badrinath right now as he brings the first One Day International between Australia and New Zealand to The Roar, live - http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/12/04/australia-vs-new-zealand-international-cricket-1st-odi-live-scores-blog/ Bye for now from Melbourne.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Scott Pryde
Expert
CASPER WARE is the man of the match. He had 26 points shooting 50% including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Brilliant performance from him.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the game? Melbourne are back... Seriously worrying for New Zealand then.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Tomlinson is fouled on a full court press and makes both at the line. Melbourne dribble it out and this has been an absolute shellacking. Melbourne United with an absolutely huge win against the Breakers. 24-point blowout at Hisense Arena. Casper Ware and Chris Goulding along with David Andersen, Tai Wesley and David Barlow were fantastic, with plenty of soul-searching to do for the Breakers moving forward, losing their fourth straight. Melbourne United - 98 New Zealand Breakers - 74
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Penney makes both. United - 96 Breakers - 74
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Akil Mitchell makes one shot before Tomlinson runs the floor and misses a lay up. The Breakers can hold for the last shot but a foul is called as Penney looks to drive. United - 96 Breakers - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Williams makes both. United - 96 Breakers - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Odigie to Blanchfield who pulls up in the post and that shot falls before Mitchell runs into Williams on the rebound from a missed shot and a foul is called - offensive so Williams goes to the line again. United - 94 Breakers - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Corey Webster comes back with a three from the corner here but it's all too little too late. United - 92 Breakers - 70
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Devin Williams misses both. United - 92 Breakers - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Ili works it into the paint, is called for an offensive foul and he is fouled out. Devin Williams will walk the floor to the free throw line. United - 92 Breakers - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Both made from the line for Wesley. United - 92 Breakers - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Nice move from Ili here to get through the lane and that shot falls. Every point is important here, given the Breakers will be about to lead the series 2-1, but are going to be somewhere in excess of 10 points down on F/A - they had an 11 point advantage coming in here. Melbourne with a sloppy play before Vukona commits the foul and he is done for the night. Mika Vukona is fouled out. United - 90 Breakers - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Timeout called. Paul Henare will probably give his side an absolute ear-bashing here. United - 90 Breakers - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Absolutely no defence here as Wesley cuts in to the basket, gets a long ball through the lane and lays it in. 25 point lead, terrible defence and the Breakers are just getting hammered here. United - 90 Breakers - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Breakers with another miss and we are well and truly into garbage time now. Adnam misses at the other end before Webster puts up another three that won't fall. United - 88 Breakers - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Webster misses one three, then another after an offensive board and it will be aMelbourne ball. Adnam brings it up the floor before Andersen misses inside, gets his own miss and puts it back in with some assistance from Wesley. New Zealand turn it over now before Moore goes to Andersen and he lays it in. United - 88 Breakers - 65
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Andersen to the line and he makes one. United - 84 Breakers - 65