You are a United fan - and hope they lose??

I definitely hope THEY WIN - they are in a tight battle just to get to play finals and can't afford to drop this one.

They only have 2 home games left - vs Hawks & Wildcats

And away games to Bullets, Kings, Perth and an in-form Breakers.

I don't think you should be thinking about finals position just yet - they are not even assured of making the finals

GO UNITED !!

If Bullets stick around for 3 quarters and then United beat them by only 27 then I think United are no chance to win the title this season ;)

Bullets need Dolla Beal to turn up and hit 40!

Let's be realistic. Bullets need to rebuild next year.....this year is a learning one.

United to win by 8+.

Brisbane have to play perfect game, United have to be awful just for Brisbane to have any chance. Not going to happen.
Kickert, Beal and Craig have to get 20 each. Kickert will get his, Craig 50/50 but Beal is a long shot.
It is getting to the embarrassing stage for Brisbane.

Bullets were always going to be terrible and I had them written off from the start of the season. They picked the wrong balance, too many forwards and completely unreliable guards. I hope they get spanked in every single game from now on as a lesson not to put every single mobile powerforward in the league on one team and expect that somehow that would fill all of the other gaps left wanting.

Make that Kickert, Kendle and Craig have to get 20 each for Brisbane to be in the game.
Maybe possible with Beal not required.

I had mine on at $1.60

Brisbane's bench makes me want to vomit. One of the worst I have ever seen.

Kendle looks alright with the opportunity to start.

Bullets playing like they have nothing to lose and putting up a great fight so far. They look better without Beal

Kendle looks miles better than Bruce.

'Melb trying to live and die by the 3 too much'

WHAT YEAR IS IT.gif

As skilful as Goulding is, he takes some rubbish shots. It's a difficult one because whilst he can make those ones, they're still really poor shots. (I.e really deep 3's; fade away J's).

I still reckon he could expand on/better utilise his mid-range game..especially considering he can get to that midrange area comfortably with his handle.

Wow there goes my United 11+ bet. What a joke. Garbage performance so far from United.

Kyrie2Nation you said in another thread that you thought Brisbane would be worse without Beal but Beal is dead wood.

It is a learning lesson for a lot of people. As I've said before it can be extremely difficult playing against a team that has lost players.

@Brunson don't remember saying anything like that?

@Kyrie2Nation "My Multi with United 11+ likes this." Regarding the sacking of Beal. I am going to lose money on this game also but was just making the point that Brisbane made a smart move.

WHAT is DD thinking having Tomlinson out there to close the 3rd. Absolute trash.

Kendle is a gun

Kromah has so far been woeful for Melbourne in his first two outings.

solid close out by the Bullets

and... ol' mate Wang Tong makes his NBL debut :P

Yes!!

Melbourne now the team to beat.

Just shows Goulding is not a winner if h is shooting is bad.

Nope Melbourne does not figure in the finals.

what.. the... f..

Today's game just makes me scratch my head even more as to why the Kings didn't go after Kendle... does not look out of place at all at this level.

Not a totally unexpected result. A Lemanis coached team was unlikely to be blown out again off the back of a 33 point loss, regardless of who was suiting up. I'd say Beal's departure galvanised them too.

The Bullets D was well planned and well executed, United's shots weren't falling, and Brisbane's extra little bit of desperation helped too.

This season continues to get more intriguing.

If Melbourne had a coach that they believed in this would have been a different story. I'm not sure I've ever seen a coach more tuned out than Demopolous.

Any team that lives by 3-pt strategy will die by that strategy. Kings and United both live by that strategy.

Wildcats have that tendency.

Goulding was horrendous. Love seeing him throw brick after brick.

In saying that he was United's second best player on the night. Daylight after Ware mind you but the rest of the United team was crap all game.

Any team that lives by 3-pt strategy will die by that strategy. Kings and United both live by that strategy.

Wildcats have that tendency.

I don't put it all down to DD.

MU simply don't have enough guys who genuinely want to win. There is some selfish players in that team.

Goulding reminds of of the Carmelo of the league.

As much as I hate/d the likes of Hire, Wagstaff, Knight (though not as much) and Robbins (when he was there), those guys are selfless and genuinely want to win. Its no coincidence thatbl Perth have been so succesful with those types of players.

On another note - Will Te Rangi even be in the league next year? (Did he sign a 2year deal?). NZ won't want/don"t need him back with Avercrombie, Delaney and Rusbatch. Dude has literally forgotten how to basketball.

United are pure trash.

Appear to lack heart and soul.
DD out!! :P

Macdub...your comparison of Goulding is spot on imo. As for Te Rangi...I never thought he was much chop and it doesn't surprise me that he has faded when the league has improved.

Amazing game. Right from the tip off the game plans were set. Brisbane relied on defense esp focusing on Ware, Goulding (as best they could), and their two stars Kickert (always high %) and Craig (getting taking and making good shots) offensively. Melbourne were sloppy out of the gate and relied on the brilliance of individual talents Ware (could not do any more) and Goulding (degree of amazement and wonder, but as stated unorthodox). The usually reliable Wesley's array of low post plays dried up and Melbourne could not seem to get anyone else involved offensively.
Transition points went to Brisbane because they played better D and created more opportunities. The better team on the night was Brisbane.
Contrast that with Adelaide and Sydney. Same scenario. BUT ADELAIDE came from behind, played the D, got everyone involved offensively, etc. etc.
They left their Beal decision till it was too late to help with this season.

"Macdub...your comparison of Goulding is spot on imo. As for Te Rangi...I never thought he was much chop and it doesn't surprise me that he has faded when the league has improved."

This year is probably the best he has played in the NBL since his debut season, not that there's a lot of stiff competition there.

I imagine Lemanis will have him back given some of the praise he's had for him post-game at times throughout the season and the fact he's one of the youngest players in the league.

Is it just me or was Goulding's body language towards DD questionable.

At the 3 min mark time out DD called for a big pick and roll for Casper. Goulding got up mid sentence and went to walk off and DD had to pull him back into the huddle.

Not great from your leader. If your having a poor shooting game try and be an influence elsewhere, and if your not hitting shots dont expect every play call down the line.

On another note, I just wonder at this level whether a jump shooting team can go deep into the finals? MU relies on getting hot to win. The only team in the world that can do it is the GSW and even they may not win the championship over Cleveland.

Just hope Anderson can give them something inside if/ when he comes back.

DD's body language tells me that Goulding controls their relationship.
I've never yet seen DD taking the tough line with CG43, even when he's being a prat or having brain explosions.

Goulding still up at 12:30-1AM watching the Perth game and Twittering afterwards showed his focus for the Brisbane game.

So LV a game like that is expected when United are playing an under manned team but when the Sixers play an under manned team it shows they are no chance for the title..... Hopefully you have now learned playing a team like that bring's unique challenges and under performing is not a surprise.

Also Kromah looks bad. Moore was excellent at coming in and being effective, United don't have that anymore. Barlow's athleticism looks gone. Andersen will be their last chance.

For the money they pay Goulding, they are not getting the returns. Goulding doesn't have the class of a Kirk Penny.

When a player hogs the ball with useless three's, he takes up opportunities of the team. And the coach can't do too much to contain them as they are meant to shoot the daylights out.

A team player like Mitch Creek, who is more of a team player and shoots responsibly is better for team cohesion.

Cotton and Martin would be good too. Randle doesn't spray as much this year..he is doing the right thing by setting up the team first and then only starts his three's play at the end. In other words, he gives the team a go first before he goes 'crazy' for his own glory. That should be the way. Cotton does that well too. Dillard also practices that.

Goulding shot at a better clip than Ware but it's all his fault for shooting crap shots?

Pretty harsh IMO considering he is still clearly hampered both by his ankle issue and having a coach who has no idea.

Basketball is a pretty simple game, move the ball through hands and exploit where the defence isn't. Get the ball inside and if the defence collapses then things open up for outside shots and vice versa. A playbook totally reliant on 'get it to Chris or Casper and let them create' doesn't bode well for long term success

I feel Anderson coming back in will make a massive difference. It will then allow them to go inside out. Right now Wesley is there only low post option, when hes not firing you just have to defend the perimeter.

Maybe moving Barlow and/ or Blanchfield next year to get a 3 that can play inside out (Mitch Creek? as Bill said).

I like Todd's game but it doesn't help when he just stands in the corner on offence.

Will be a tough one in Perth next week, we don't seem to be travelling well ATM. MU need a big scalp if if they are serious about finals...