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Philadelphia 76ers vs Melbourne United |
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|---|---|---|
NBLxNBA, Game 1. Time: Pre-game |
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| Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, USA | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers | Melbourne United | |
| 104 | SCORE | 84 |
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Last year’s Eastern Conference semi-finalists the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Aussie Ben Simmons, will get this year’s NBLxNBA series underway as they face champions Melbourne United. Join The Roar for live scores from 9am (AEST).
This time last year, there were just three NBL teams involved in the series as they played three games. Now, it’s up to seven games across five teams.
United came closest of the NBL teams to causing a boil over last year as well, taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to within a shot of victory.
While it is pre-season, the Thunder in that game last year played close to their best line-up and gave their stars plenty of minutes, so for United to take them all the way to the wire was impressive.
Melbourne only got better during last season, but there is one notable absentee ahead of the new NBL season – Casey Prather.
Unfortunately for United, the battle will only get tougher with import centre Josh Boone out injured. It means they are probably going to get exposed in the paint, with David Andersen also leaving the club over the off-season.
While they have signed Alex Pledger to fill the void, they are a man down for their games in the states, and Philadelphia’s big men, led by Joel Embiid, will have a field day.
United’s only hope is that they can space the floor effectively and have Chris Goulding light it up from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia will make life tough on defence though. Embiid was one of the best big men in the league last year, while Australian rookie of the year Ben Simmons is also likely to feature prominently in this one.
Joining Simmons to make an Australian presence this season will be Jonah Bolden, while sharp-shooter JJ Redick could also cause headaches.
The Brett-Brown coached team surprised last year with just how well they were able to go, ending in the conference semi-finals after finishing bottom of the east the season before.
Prediction
Philadelphia were the Eastern Conference finalists for a reason. While it’s unclear whether their big stars will play or not, Simmons and Embiid should, and they will leave the 76ers to a pretty comfortable win against the understrength and undermanned United.
76ers by 15.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scored from the opening NBLxNBA game from 9am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 9am (AEST)
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
TV: Live, ESPN
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, WatchESPN
Betting: 76ers $1.01, United $19
Philadelphia 76ers (if at full strength)
Point guard: J.J. Redick
Shooting guard: Ben Simmons
Small forward: Robert Covington
Power forward: Dario Saric
Centre: Joel Embiid
Bench: Jerryd Bayless, Jonah Bolden, Anthony Brown, Wilson Chandler, Markelle Fultz, Amir Johnson, T.J. McConnell, Mike Muscala, Emeka Okafor, Landry Shamet
Melbourne United (expected)
Point guard: Casper Ware
Shooting guard: Chris Goulding
Small forward: D.J. Kennedy
Power forward: David Barlow
Centre: Alex Pledger
Bench: Sam Short, Peter Hooley, Craig Moller, Mitch McCarron, Tohi Smith-Milner, Daniel Trist, Sam McDaniel
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