^
Me

Ware, Goulding and Prather...

Someones going to need to sacrifice their scoring a bit. Who's it going to be.

It might work better to play Andersen with Majok and Moller with Boone.

Basically I'm not sure if DA is starting quality on a top 4 team.

Agree, I think Majok will start and Boone off the bench as per last year.

Is prather at a point in his career were he's happy to let his scoring production numbers slide?

By that I mean Majok/Andersen starting, Boone/Wesley coming in off the bench.

Damn thats a good team and without Dean Demopolous as head coach this team is deadly.

Sorry to say this folks but its looking like United for the Championship (barring things like injury or NBA call ups).

This team can hurt you from outside or mid-range at the 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Can't see any team capable of stopping this line up for 4 quarters.

Sorry to say this folks but its looking like United for the Championship (barring things like injury or NBA call ups).

What is more likely this season - Cairns winning the chip or the NBL releasing player salaries like they promised last year?

What is more likely this season - Cairns winning the chip or the NBL releasing player salaries like they promised last year?

Yep.

History tells us teams of talented individuals don't necessarily become champion teams.

It will be either frustrating or fun to watch. One or the other....

Best case scenario is a 97 Tigers team. Multiple stars all working together, or as Goorj said at the time, a bit like playing whack-a-mole and you just can't keep them all down at once.

Worst case might be.... it just doesn't work and they miss playoffs. Aka Kings 2017

United were paying $4 for the championship the other day.

I wouldn't put money on them!

Expecting them to re-sign Ware I thought the Prather signing was a curious one. Shades of Ebi Ere at the Tigers, just too many cooks in the kitchen.

Is Prather going to be comfortable being Ramone Moore on this team? Goulding is obviously the #1 guy and Ware is probably #2 so Prather is likely going to be the third option.

I could see a Cedric Jackson style meltdown coming again.

Tough team, interesting to see how they go. Which team will have the best match up against them? Ware for mine and Boone we're consistent, bubbles and cp can go missing more bubbles.

Seen in all sports, there is always a Cinderella story wonder witch team will it be this year.

Difference is this year the players are better than last year and the coach is now elite. You would think they are over the so called cap by the full team salary of the Hawks or tampons. Heck I'd say they even make perth look cheap this year!!!

#644479

Lovely post. I wish you happiness in your life.

I could see a Cedric Jackson style meltdown coming again.

For the interest of Prather's future career prospects, I can't see him wanting to play a "supporting role".

While you want imports to play selfishly and forgo shots and points (like the GSW players do), Prather's numbers directly impact his livelihood.

If Prather goes a season only average 9 points a game, that would have to diminish his stock for other leagues right?

^Unselfishly not selfishly

I see Goulding dropping to number 3 option with Prather and Ware 1+2.

I love Goulding but he showed last year there's only so many fade away 3 pointers you can make plus it wont carry a team deep into the finals.

I expect his production to go down but he will have the opportunity to hit plenty of open 3's with two playmakers on the team.

Very excited, although dreading a 1-3 start...

Prather compliments the 3pt shooting of Ware/Goulding perfectly. Seems to be a good balance on paper, especially if Andersen is healthy. Bench is fine if none of the starters miss significant time.

B.O., I'm not saying 9 PPG. I'm saying 17 PPG and solid boards/assists. I can see the three big guns sharing the scoring fairly evenly, even if the guards take more shots to get there.

Melbourne have smashed the soft cap by 1.5 million or more...

Hmmm if you look at their bench only: Adnam, Hooley, Moller, Wesley, Majok and Barlow... outside of Wesley, scoring may become a bit of an issue. There will be roughly a 10 minute window where two of the big three will be sitting and the one left on the floor can step up and get their shots.

Pretty sure Vickerman would be preparing to make sure that it will be an offensive capable lineup for 40 minutes straight.

Stevek2, if Majok starts, they have Boone providing impact off the bench. Moller will be useful too.

Melbourne have a tricky start, two games in Adelaide punctuated by trip US and then back over to Perth followed two days later by game at home against NZ. Still a really good looking squad of players but could be a few games down early.

"#4479 id clrarly a dickwad. Adnam and hooley eont get it done. Undoubtedlt. Training bait so why even bother."

Drunken ramblings on a Wednesday night. Nice!

Every year it seems Melbourne have a ridiculously stacked starting 5. This year seems the most stacked I've seen, though.

Yeah that's quite likely that Boone comes off the bench to spread the talent more evenly. The starting 5 of other teams may be able to match Utd's starting lineup for stretches but if Dean smartly manages his 2nd unit makeup, that would be where they may have a slight unfair advantage over other teams with weaker 2nd unit.

Last year Melbourne were 214 points better off with Goulding on the court than on the bench. He was one of the league leaders in +/- differential over the season, that tells me he plays a pretty important role.

Because Boti said Goulding is on $400k a year and Andersen is rumoured to be on $500k-$600k a year. I doubt Prather, Ware & Boone are playing for peanuts.

Goulding, Andersen, Boone, Prather and Ware would be on a combined $1.5m at the very least, but I would say more. Majok certainly wouldn't be dirt cheap as he could pick up a gig in Europe, Wesley wouldn't be cheap either.

If this roster is under $2mill it would only be by a bit of change.

Holy crap...the NBL could have a $2m team (I say could because these are unsubstantiated claims).

Thank goodness we have a soft cap that is strictly policed and a luxury tax process that is open and transparent as advertised.

Seriously, I hope this type of arms race is sustainable.

Would've thought there were $2m+ teams in recent years also.