to much one thing for sure the general manager needs to have a long look at who they picked up as marque players because its one of the reasons why the team sucks, along with the fact that the team is playing for them self and not for the team, so much for united about as united as Russia and Ukraine

A team of finishers at the moment. Guys like Barlow and Kickert are role players, talented role players but nothing more.

They need their imports making the defence shift but Dennis is still finding his feet and McRae is selfish.

That leaves everyone bar Wortho out of their depth offensively and not too many of them appear overly interested in playing defence.

It doesnt look good....i know its early but Goorijan is the only one that can save them and he will cost a pretty penny.

To smugly toot my own trumpet: I called this before the season.

Too many egos. Poor coaching. No leaders. Not enough outside shooting.

Watch the replay,Macrae makes 3 point play does anybody go to him....NOT ONE!!!!That might say something.

Two things. They rely to much on 3 pointers and they are small as f***

Breakers will be short as for this game betting wise.

Happy Days - Actually NZ are not the favourites at $2 to win.

It's possible NZ could actually lose as they could come to the game complacent while United could be fired up with McRae having a big game.

Kickerts salary at the moment is a hotdog and can of coke, well that's what he deserves..

They definitely need more set plays in the half court getting guys like Walker, Barlow, Kickert in the right spots. Can't rely on them to consistently create their own shots.

A quick side note, the Cairns courtside announcer makes the game almost unwatchable for me with his constant screeching of 'Defence'. It seems like it's every single defencive possesion. Are people at the stadium cool with it? Because it is really grating on the broadcast. Just wondering if there's a reason the announcer does it constantly other than his own sheer bloody-mindedness.

I'm not buying into this "Cairns are just Melbourne's bogey team argument"

I think they will struggle to make the top 4 in general.

They don't have the size and inside presence to compete with the likes of Perth and NZ and can't beat Cairns.

Those three teams will finish ahead of them.

Then they will have their usual inconsistencies and nightmare games (like the Tigers of last year) and drop a few games to the other sides.

I see them 5th or just limping into the top 4 for an early finals exit.

Whose the guy who stands at the end of the tigers bench, he one of the owners

Calm down, one win does not a season make, and Kickert hitting a few jump shots doesn't tell us anything. I tipped them today but I'm not completely on the bandwagon yet, if they play with today's energy each week they'll win me over.

They'll have to play well to win in Townsville next week, then the Hawks will be no easy beats, then a trip to Perth, they've got the talent but have to do the work.

Breakers aka Brickers were plain horrible at both ends. United still have a way to go to get anywhere. They will struggle with TSV/ADE/Perth size - expect kickert to foul out and be ineffective. Pledger is injured and unable to come out to cover kickert - well that was most of NZ.

Venom I share your concern about facing Perth's size. United would have been better off signing Luke Nevill or Matt Burston instead of Barlow to round out the roster. Walker could have played the 3 like last season with support from Odigie. Other options would have been playing Wortho for a few minutes at the 3, or playing more small ball with 3 guards at once.

Not Adelaide though- Schenscher has always been soft as butter, and BJ Anthony might have muscle but he lacks the skill to make them pay- refer Tai Wesley yesterday.

You have to admit though, that the Kickert matchup works both ways. If he shoots like yesterday, will any of the true paint players of the NBL be able to follow him out to the perimeter, firstly to get a hand on the shot and secondly will they have the footwork to defend him off the drive? Think Burston, Tragardh, Jervis, Gladness, Schenscher, Nevill. I watched United vs Crocs at the Blitz, Kickert was hitting from everywhere and utilising footwork to get to the basket and Gladness couldn’t stop him. (Admittedly Gladness was dominant around the basket at the other end).

Offensively they've struggled against zone and played well against man. Both Townsville and Wollongong's zone will be a good gauge.

I think the defensive intensity they finally showed against NZ will be important to generate some buckets before the D is set.