An underperforming Melbourne United will look to turn their NBL season around with an important home game against the inconsistent, but still dangerous Cairns Taipans. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Melbourne might have come into the season as favourites, but some key injuries, a stack of road games and a trip to the USA seems to be messing with them.
A roster with Chris Goulding, Casey Prather and Casper Ware – who on paper at least form the strongest backcourt combination in the competition – shouldn’t be sitting with a record of two and three from their five games.
This is only their second home game of the season though, and they have suffered some close losses, including last time out on the Gold Coast when they fell to the Brisbane Bullets by just two points.
Other close losses have occurred against the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers, both of which are not each places to travel.
United will need rapid improvement though, and it has to start on their home floor against a Cairns side who they should soundly beat. Falling too far behind an even win-loss record in this competition is a catalyst for disaster and will put alot of pressure on them over what is shaping as a difficult back half of the season.
The Taipans, on the other hand, have been up and down. Their last start loss at home to the Adelaide 36ers was a tough pill to swallow, but a win against the Wildcats the weekend before – especially by 21 points – was both unexpected and fantastic for the northern Queensland-based club.
That performance sets the bar. Last season, it was their defence which was the starring light for the Taipans, and while they have lost Mark Worthington who led them in that field, it’s been up and down this season.
Against the Wildcats, they were restrictive, with Perth scoring just 69 points and if they want to challenge Melbourne with their offensive firepower, they will have to play at a similar level.
Prediction
It’s hard to tip against United with their stacked roster at home, no matter what their form has been like. Cairns will keep it close, relying on their defence, but United have too many weapons and will win down the stretch.
United by 7.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the NBL as Melbourne got the better of Cairns in a blowout victory. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We will be back next weekend with another game in the NBL. Before then, I'll be live at 8pm (AEDT) as Week 2 of the Rugby League World Cup gets underway with Australia taking on France. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
It certainly did. Much-needed win for United, but they need to do that again on Saturday against Adelaide. That will give us a true indication of exactly where they are at.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Taipans with a few points down the stretch here, but we are well and truly into garbage time. Melbourne with a stack of misses, then an offensive foul against Kuany Kuany. 12 seconds and United will just dribble this out - in fact, Hooley will hit a three on the buzzer. What a victory for Melbourne. They have been absolutely dominant from start to finish here at Hisense Arena. They put up 31 points in the first quarter and they just haven't looked back. Their defence was also superb, led by Casey Prather with a number of steals. He was strong on offence alongside Casper Ware and Chris Goulding who made his return to form. Melbourne now get ready to host Adelaide on Saturday night. A lot to work on for Cairns. The inconsistency is killing them, and while they hung around for most of tonight's game, they never remotely looked like they were in a position where they could win it. Melbourne United - 87 Cairns Taipans - 61 United - Taipans -
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Dam wall way have broken here Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Moller to Andersen in the post, then it's Hooley to Tohi Smith-Milner who hits a wide open three with his opening touch of the game. United - 84 Taipans - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Carrera makes both and then heads straight off. Crowd giving him plenty. United - 81 Taipans - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' You have to guard Casper Ware. Come on now. Wide open three and that's too easy. The Taipans must fight till the end here. Percentages could be the difference when it comes to the end of the finals, so, it's worth scrapping for every point. Smith answers back with a bucket, United miss and then Carrera is fouled in the paint by Majok. United - 81 Taipans - 59
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Melbourne are just dominating here. 20 point game, but there are no easy points here. Scoochie Smith goes up and Ware brings it down with a huge rejection. From the inbound, it's Smith to Loughton and they have a shot clock violation. United - 78 Taipans - 56
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 3' Prather looks to convert an ally-oop here but there was a whistle for an offensive foul. The Taipans will take it the other way, but turn it over themselves and Prather scores on the break. United - 76 Taipans - 56
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Loughton with a missed three, but it's a long offensive board for the Taipans. Smith now goes into the paint and drops it in. United - 76 Taipans - 56
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Timeout called. United - 76 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Misses at both ends, before Prather turns it over driving into the paint. Not much drama left in this game. Carrera is back out there, getting booed and then cheers when David Andersen rejects him. They get the offensive board, but McCarron gets bullied in the paint and misses his shot. Out off Melbourne though. United - 76 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Scoochie Smith misses on the runner, then McCarron commits a quick floor in the midcourt. United - 76 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The Taipans are just struggling to find a good offensive option here. McCarron misses a long range three before Goulding fires and Andersen grabs the offensive board. It feels like Andersen has barely been on court tonight, but here's a miss across the lane. Taipans can't control the board, then it's Prather with a miss. Carrera has the shirt on. Looks like he is done for the evening. United - 76 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Taipans with it now, but this is really starting to look ugly. Gliddon a missed three from way, way out before Ware makes a shot from the high post. Gap is 22, 6 to go. This is over. United - 76 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' I was about to say points are difficult to come by in this final term, but not for Goulding! Bang! Big three from the wing. United - 74 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Ware with it and he threatens for a pull up three, then runs around to the corner and misses anyway. Quickly up the floor goes Weeks, but the defence get back nicely and they have to slow things down before Loughton misses. Weeks the board, then it's McCarron out of the corner, finding Egwu who fakes, then misses. United - 71 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' United through Prather to Ware and he drives the paint, hitting the runner. Lovely shot from the point guard right there. No defence within cooee of him. Loughton a miss and there's a foul on the rebound. United - 71 Taipans - 54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' The Taipans bringing it around through Weeks now and he is called for a travel. He can't quite believe it either. United - 69 Taipans - 54