United didn't impress me last Friday. They’ll need to produce better than that if they’re to get their season really going, in the lead up to matches against Cairns and Perth.

From what I’ve seen of Townsville, Jett has impressed- at times- while Conklin has yet to really hit his straps. Conklin is the key- if Townsville want this win, pump it inside and maybe he can wreak Havoc on United like Ogilvy did, and like DJ and Petrie did in the first half before going off the boil a bit in the second half last Friday.

In terms of a tip, Townsville will be scrambling to get a hand on the 3's after what Blanchfield did to them last time and what Kickert did on the weekend. The defenders will be forced to leave plenty of room for Warrick, who will have his best game yet and United will win by about 15 again, except death by a different poison this time.

I'm rooting for Blanchfield to destroy us again just to highlight to management how stupid it was to let him walk for any dollar sum.

But it will be United by double figures.

My picks would normally be the home sides, but the league is so close and I am loving it. Still, probably the home sides will get the chokkies.

Should be United by about 100.

That wasn't even close to counting.

A referee singled a three pointer when the shot was clearly after the buzzer? Are you serious????

Okay, this has to be said, I wonder who else noticed how many walks these officials allowed in that first quarter, seriously?

Oh, and near the end when Conklin drove in against Kickert who had position in front of the ring, had his hands up the whole time and stepped backwards as Conklin caused all the contact, then put up a shot that missed.

Just a NO CALL, why the hell do these officials make an unnecessary and incorrect call on the defender, who didn't flop and just stood his ground?

I even looked at it in slow motion an a couple of replays, so bloody inconsistent, terrible officiating IMO...

No wonder players feel they have to flop!

PS. Does the United Coach say 'Ohright' too often, or is it just me???

Vent over :)

Embarrassing stuff, Crocs.

Bart Simpson: "Stop, stop! He's already dead!".

If United don't win the Comp this year it would be an almighty choke.

AngusH closest on the prediction so far.

Holt should have got a training camp invite. Dude is legit!

JayZeuss!
Who will stop United?

United is legit generally. Looking very sharp at both ends.

Townsville, not so much.

Igbo can play. There should have been more competition for his signature.

Iggy - auto correct. Waphat isn't an Igbo?

Whilst Goulding will be happy to be part of a great team, he must be frustrated that he's not the only big dog in town now (especially given he'd want to press his claims for Rio). Funnily, Blanchfield is making a fairly strong case.

Poor Townsville there will be a few more nights like this, but unlucky to face United twice so early on when they are clearly clicking like a playoff team already! I cant see United losing a 3 game series, it feels so odd saying so so early on, but i just dont see them having struggling at all.

Dennis' subs must be frustrating to play under. As soon as a player makes even the tiniest mistake, Dennis pulls them (unless your name is Conklin).

It appeared like Maynard yelled and gestured to Dennis his frustration with being pulled after commiting a foul.

Is Adnan a shooter in SEABL, because those are two horrible airballed threes?

I've tuned mostly out of this snoozefest, but any particular reason behind Warrick's 5 minutes of play time outside of the big lead?

Yeah Conklin is definitely playing by a different set of rules compared to the others on that team it appears. He really wants his stats, no matter what. I cant figure out if United are just insanely great or the Crocs are just that pitiful. That was one of the harder games to watch...

When are united going to get development players who are developable

I traded him into my DT this week. That's why he only played 6 mins AngusH.

Nah cant see Perth having the weapons offensively to cause them much problems. They are awkwardly good, inside and out, but its still very early in the season. Nice start though, likes of the Breakers will be playing catchup. Hawks will most likely have to pull the second import trigger if at some point to try get them over the hump ala Matt Garrison.

They will make the playoffs, they have a very very good starting 5. And the option of that import to bring in makes the all the difference. As it is they will struggle to keep Weeks in the team once Martin is back, so yeah they have some depth.

I think some people are getting a little hyped over Perth's 2-0 start. They've played an undermanned NZ and Adelaide from memory? Both games they looked like how I expected - crash the boards and hope they knock down enough open shots. Majok Majok is going to battle with their bigs pretty well I think.

As long as Melbourne aren't in a shooting funk, I don't see Perth as a serious contender. Until I see them perform against some of the better teams, any way.

Wollongong may not have much of a bench, but when Lisch gets back it won't really matter - they have two of the best scoring guards and a quality post player. Their bench is serviceable.

Re: Warrick, I understand the game was never in doubt, but considering both the coin AND press being thrown around about his presence in the league, I gotta think there's more to him not playing tonight than just that.

People are getting a little carried away here.

We should wait until United plays a full strength opposition that isn't the Crocs, before we crown them champions....

Anon you picked the wrong game then, a blow out was always on the cards and Warrick was likely going to be rested. Dont be a sour puss, suck it up take it on the chin, and go when Wortho is in town cos guaranteed Warrick will be sent out there to show him up!

Because I dont think many people think adding Damian Martin makes them title contenders, he really needs a jumpshot and Prather really needs to do a bit more. If Jawai get a rhythm up and Knight stays healthy they may cause some trouble.

Hakim Warrick's ongoing bench role became the elephant in the room tonight.

It was a little bit jarring seeing, perhaps, the best player in the stadium sat on the bench for 90 percent of the game - and that was even before the big lead at half time.

As much as I like Majok Majok - and I do - I think that this has to be playing with Hakims confidence something serious. I don't think he has gone from the NBA to come here and be on the bench behind some Australian kid.

Four games into the season. The excuse of not knowing rotations and plays no longer fly's. What exactly is the deal?

Hakim isn't underperforming; he averages 17 points in 24 minutes while shooting at 63% from the field. And yes, United are still winning, but they arguably could win with Kickert or Blanchfield benched also. Just because it 'aint broke' doesn't mean it makes a whole lot of sense. It also doesn't mean there wont be cracks showing in the locker room caused by the coaches decisions.

Hakim should be the teams main selling point, and their first port of call inside the key. I can't help but feel that the coach is just trying to 'humble' an NBA guy.

"why play your best player when you are up by 30? rest him now and get him ready for the latter part of the season and hopefully for playoffs. that's what they brought him in for, not junk time minutes in a blow out game. Pus united have alot of weapons still out there who are pretty good to watch.
"

Has every game been a blow out? If not, it doesn't explain games 1-3. He was barely played when the team was gaining the league, too. You say "why play your best player when you are up by 30" but it's funny the same logic didn't apply to Chris Goulding.

Like I said, I think the coach is trying to 'humble' an NBA guy, and I would keep an eye on the situation.

By the time the real stuff starts Warrick will be starting and wont see much bench time at all. Its a shortened season remember so any game time rest you can get early will help. A locked in win against the Crocs is not the game to be judging his court time on. Guys like Hakim Warrick don't lose confidence either.

Hope you're right, Kobe.

Also he was a last minute inclusion in the scheme of it so still learning plays etc not to mention Majok Majok has been a million times better than I atleast thought he would be, so you have to reward that effort a little bit. United really are in a win win situation at the moment, injuries aside they will be in the title series no doubt.

Kickert and Majok had great synergy and were both playing great in the first half. No reason to bench either. Guys like Patto, Hill and to a lesser extent Iggy won't be seeing major minutes (or any at all) when the finals come around, so getting them out there for 15+ minutes tonight infront of their home fans will only increase their confidence and chemistry playing out on the big court.

Might be a brash marketing choice that obviously many fans didn't enjoy - sponsors too probably - but Demopoulos is a smart guy and is thinking big picture. We just have to hope that this doesn't upset Warrick at all and he is aware of why he had only 6 minutes tonight.

They play Cairns next, not Perth.

Majok Majok has really impressed me. He appears to me to be a better defender and a better rebounder than Warrick, and he also plays with more energy. Whereas Warrick is obviously a much more adept scorer.

There are several advantages of starting Majok, which have worked so far and I see no need for Demopoulos to change anything:

1. Majok's big time energy, hustle and physical presence is most useful at the start of the game, and can more easily wreak havoc at a start when the finess players are still settling in to a rhythm.
2. Warrick will come on and be defended by tired starters or bench players.
3. Warrick will avoid getting into early foul trouble- avoiding the situation that has happened to Khazzough in a couple of recent games.
4. From a team balance perspective it’s great, because the other main guys coming off the bench- Tomlinson and Hadziomerovic- aren’t going to put up big numbers points wise. This means we have one elite scorer coming off the bench, playing through the middle of each quarter.

And as for Warrick only playing 6 minutes last night, it's more likely that he's sore.

Demopoulos probably thought it better to rest him instead of sub him back on, considering United were already cruising to a massive win by quarter time.

And don't forget Larry Davidson. You know, the guy who’s been a starter in the NBL for most of the past decade. Oh, and Tim Coenraad, he’s pretty handy too.

(Not a bad bench for Illawarra at all).

Yes United looks great, but unfortunately I suspect the Crocs will be at the wrong end of many 20+ point thrashings this season. United won’t be the only team to do it- most teams probably will, at some point.

Worked it out last night he's actually saying alright. But it does sound like Aiiight!!!!!

And as you cant see the shot clock on TV how about Fox showing it, SKY NZ can do it why can't Fox????

Thunder Jam, some of the other fox games have got a shot clock on the screen, so I don't know why it is not happening on some other games.

Who does the recruiting for the Crocs?? Is it our Coach or someone else. We haven't had a decent import since Homicide and Larry Abney.

He's ok but only gives you 16/17 ppg and 4/5 rebs. But it's not only him that should be performing better. Maybe the coach isn't that good.

I kind of appreciate how Dwayne Russell is an enthusiastic commentator and is trying to play his role and pump up the NBL

BUT... he does go a bit over the top at times.

Like commenting about how Townsville is "working their way back into the game" because they just scored a basket and cut the lead to 35.

ha.