You would have to place Melbourne in the box seat to get this one. Home court, Childress out.

On paper, Melbourne should win this one by 22.

BUT....in a best of 5, if Joey is going to take a chance, then this is the game to take it, because there is tomorrow.

Obviously the guys to watch from Melbourne are Ware and Boone. Ware can afford to take a chance and through stuff up because he knows Boone is there waiting. CG43 is always a danger man, but he relies on confidence to fire up, maybe a bit of trash talk will put him off (no advice on trash talk from Oscar)

The other player I think has really grown this season is Wesley. I think he is hard to Tai down.....
Prather is like a big cat, so someone bring a chair and a whip!

There's a big gap between the starting 5 and the Melbourne bench. I must admit I do like Dave Anderson's acting ability though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlirSox4GWs

The Melbourne bench is solid, but there's no guy you would say "hey, he would start if he was at another club"

Adelaide without Childress will be down, but I think Joey needs to look at the combinations he can use and develop a plan. I am not too sure if I would bring in Hodgson to the starting 5 as he attracts fouls, but the plan needs to be to get a few easy fouls on Boone early and get Ware and CG43's shooting % down so they doubt themselves. Whether you give Drmic free reign to get into the faces of some guys to get them off their game is something to be considered.

I would be tempted to keep Moore on the bench as he seems to make an impact when he comes on. To mix it up, I would start:

Sobey; Drmic; Shorter; Creek; Johnson. That would match
Ware; Goulding; Prather; Wesley; Boone

Ware should beat Sobey, but Drmic could get right under Goulding's skin (he would need to watch the Academy Award fouls performances). Prather and Shorter look a good match. Wesley would beat Creek under the basket, but Creek would drag him around the court so much so that the Doctors would give him ventolin. Boone would outbox Johnson, so Johnson would need to be smart and get the outside game happening.

Overall, I would say the Sixers would then use their run and gun game to outrun the less fit United, with United looking to slow it all down around the key with them chucking up 3's with the expectation of getting the OR if it didn't go in - would they play a zone in defence?

My X factor would be Deng. He is a hard to contain player and is scoring at a point per minute. Barlow is the United X factor.

Why we got the league's best six man.. I would start him..

I'm hoping Johnson and Deng take plenty of 3's and make Boone run his legs off trying to get to them.

And it's also on TV at the same time as Macgyver. They didn't think that one through did they.

You a Matlock fan?

You also take yourself way too seriously

And it's also on TV at the same time as Macgyver. They didn't think that one through did they.

The Matlock box set comes with dentures and viagra.

How many Adelaide fans are part of that 9,000. Would be good to have 500 crow eaters supporting our team on foreign soil. If we lose and crows win, you can just wear the crows gear on the way home.

I'm tipping Adelaide here and first 5 of Shorter, Sobey, Creek, Childress & Johnson.

@FM - You got SFA chance of Childress being in the 5. Have u been living under a rock ;)

I don't know why you would think United are "less fit"?

They work with the former head of Athletics Australia - and in an post-game interview Tai Wesley said he was the most fit he has been.

After watching game 2 my comment makes zero sense but I feel like in tennis terms Melbourne have game point and Adelaide have a free swing at it in this game and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they win.

I think Drmic will get the start, I feel if he went to say a Brisbane next season then he could win Most Improved Player next season as he has talent and mongrel but bugger all court time!

There is enough Australian court time coming up next season if he stays at Adelaide.

Hisense holds 10,500

1,000 tickets still for sale
plus a curtain at one end blocking off the empty seats......

There may be some confusion as to whether it's a basketball game or the soccer because the basketball team is called Melbourne United.

I know how sad this will sound but I don't recall being this excited for a game of the NBL since... Kings v Razorbacks game 5. Seriously, let's goooooooo!

How do you plug the Childress hole... I would leave Ramone on the bench, he can do his thing and run amuck against the likes of Adnam, Moller, Hooley and old man Dave Andersen. Start Deng in my opinion. Good length, confidence through the roof, and free throws like KD. What more can you ask for?

Anyone else want to see Shorter guard Ware after all the smack being talked? I can just imagine Shorter is begging Joey to guard him at every practice

Barlow is less of an 'x factor', more of a tunnelling enforcer. Good at his job though.

Gonna be a steuggle without Childress. Tai Wesley looks to have the measure of all the other defenders he's had, but Childress seemed to worry him.

I think they need to roll the dice with Deng more and hope Sobey can produce. I think United by 15 tonight though

Barlow is less of an 'x factor', more of a tunnelling enforcer. Good at his job though.

Joey will start Teys tonight I reckon...

You only need to play 8 in a playoff match with Moore, Deng and Hodgson off the bench.

Anyone know of any streams for those of us without Foxtel/NBL app?

http://pages.nbl.com.au/tv/

That page will give you a free stream.

Joey will start Teys tonight I reckon...

We'll find out soon enough.

I'm of the option that you either want minimal disruption, or Joey throws caution into the wind.

Options to replace Childress:
* Teys - use him as the sacrificial GOAT to draw fouls and take fouls. Give him the ball and tell him to drive into Boone. Either Boone fouls, or Teys gets a foul. Either way, get Boone on his bum. You're the Captain, time to step up.
* Hodgson - yeah...probably will end up to two cheap fouls and the side hasn't got any benefit.
* Moore - the obvious choice, but I do like it when he comes on at the first rotation
* Deng - Nothing says "hey, we have faith in you" like a starting 5 spot, but, he is the X factor, so do you bring him off the bench when the B team is on and he gets 8 points by the time you've ducked off for a wee.
* Drmic -high risk, but do you just get him to be all over Casper like a cheap suit on a Buck's Show Buck
* Doyle - now you're just being silly
* Larkins - Nothing says "Hey, we have zero respect for you" by putting Larkins on to guard Ware, or Prather at tip off. FAAARK.... would Joey have the stones to do that? I'ld almost chip in some coin for the EOS trip if Joey did that.

I'd start Deng because he doesn't seem to have those x-factor type games on the road so I'd shake things up start him in the hope he gets going early and try and blow them out of the water.

No doubt Melb are the red hot favourites now without Childress so we need to swing for the fences tonight, try and jag it and then hope the home crowd gets us over the line on Sunday.

C'mon 6ers. I just want 3 things. A well officiated game, all the 6ers to play their hearts out and not drop their heads if they get behind and a 6ers win.

What type of bird is in the Adelaide logo? I'm guessing Indian Minah but happy to be corrected.

Piping shrike/magpie

Joey refusing to give Carfino anything lol

Moore starting

Let's hope we don't see Hodgson having to defend the pick n roll anymore tonight.

Two shocking efforts in a row.

Maybe Joey didn't give Carfino anything because he didn't actually have anything

NBL basketball baby!!

So the ref called a jabstep travel. Fk me dead

How's that for shades of Game 1

That was such a crap call on Hodgson. How can you call that a foul? Ware is pushing of with one arm and Hodgson clean blocks it and a foul is called. Utter crap.

So the ref called a clean block a foul. Fk me dead

Scores might be level now but I think we've got their measure.

No tech for shorter leaving the bench, again....

clean block by Hodgson.

If you're going to foul, make it one where they get a bruise

"No tech for shorter leaving the bench, again...."

Siren had sounded though. Quarter was over.

Must be frustrating for Hodgson. Plays awesome D and gets called for a BS foul. You're right Uncle Phil - Ware was warding him off with one arm and Matty blocked it clean. That's why his stupid fouls like the one he picked up early hurt so much because he's bound to get called for ones that simply aren't there. And he's more important than ever with Childress out.

Boti made the point in one of his articles that it's interesting that Hodgson doesn't get into foul trouble playing for Australia under foreign refs.

Rather than retort for the sake of retorting, twenty four, think about the call I was talking about. How many times have you seen a travel called this season when a player jabsteps and changes direction

Clearly a BS call on Hodgson, but there have been calls on both ends. How about you bag the players for doing stupid shit rather than refs all the time?

The refs are so bad, I'm embarrassed. Sharing the NBL app with US friends, wish I didn’t. Our refs are horrible, proud, stubborn and total shit house.

Shorter - PLEASE STOP FLEXING. you are a great player, but you have guns like my grandma (aka Bingo wings) find something else to do to pump yourself up.

Let’s go Sixers.

Manu, have you gone back and looked at the play? He shuffled his feet a bit. Travel.

What BS. Sobey ejected for that.

Joey going to get another fine after today, win or lose.

1999, Herschelle Gibbs, you just dropped the world cup

2018, Nathan Sobey, you just lost the grand final

Whiny little bitch got what he deserved

Still disappointed we don't get the chance to see a full strength 36ers tho

Sobey. I hope you learn from this. Control yourself.

I'm ashamed of you.

That play isn't being whistled this year, champ

Why doesn't Prather get ejected for headbutting him first?

Home cooking.

I was pretty impartial before that. I'm an unofficial Sixers fan from this point on.

Manu, don't 'champ' me, champ.

Wtf was Spbey thinking. All he had to do was take the hit and play it off. Idiot

Prather clearly puts his head into Sobey to make contact first, utter bullshit and they had the whole half time break to review that.

Goulding should get a tech for that flop

Lol, Drmic getting sucked in big time.

Now dumbass drmic. Ugh

Adelaide losing their minds

Can't understand why they aren't getting the same BS calls they got Sunday

Jesus, that's pathetic from Goulding.

Just such shithouse refs

He should've got a tech for even trying that on.

Here we go, Teys.

May as well move this game over the road and call it AFL

Far out Adelaide, you better gather your tempers. You WILL lose it you keep this shit up

Drmic is so annoying. Can't handle his sooky soccer anger

Oh. My. God

Not even watching but loving the two teams with the best cooking all year getting so frustrated at the level of cooking the other is getting. Haha enjoy it. Also the one time sobey doesn't flop he gets ejected, its kinda funny

Calls going United's way tonight

Hodgson clean block on Casper before. Now DJ softest of fouls on Casper

To be fair though, the refs owed Casper a few favours after Game 2.

Foul on Goulding? No way what's going on.

Shorter did himself no favours smack talking Ware during the week and put the guns away and do something.

What part of DO NOT SWITCH does the coaching staff NOT tell the players. Result is poor defence, guaranteed Melbourne points and foul trouble for the big guys - so frustrating!!

It's not great coaching having DJ exposed by their guards all the time.

Commentators are meant to be unbiased and impartial right???

That head butt call and ejection was an absolute disgrace.

Saw the replays. Goulding haha pathetic. Sobey, should have flopped, but thrusting his head forwards like that was very silly

Pauk. I know. Commentators have been disgustingly one-sided tonight. Very poor.

How good has Barlow been. At both ends

After watching the replay, I doubt Sobey will be suspended. Which is good. I'd like to see a game 5. I've expected it all along

Obvious should have been a blocking foul on hooley missed by shocking refs

They are killing us

heal and commentary team are really flogs. Is the guy who would sensationalized the old 70's wrestling shows , or the "roller derby" still around ?

Sobey should be demanding an apology from the NBL for that.

Although having said that, if Moore misses along with Childress then United will probably win in 4.

This series deserves 5.

Are you guys being serious?

Of course Sobey deserves to be ejected. It's a headbutt......

So Homicide is a player agent. Any notable clients?

Pauk
A few minutes ago
20:36 23 Mar 18


Commentators are meant to be unbiased and impartial right???

That was sooooo last century, now the more 4h1t and inflammatory crap they speak the more they get paid. Thats why we have heal (never close to being a NBL MVP) instead of a class act like Rucker. Of course heal needs the $'s desperately.

These refs are a joke.

Wow. Vaughn is shit

I honestly can't believe what I'm seeing tonight.

Drmic. Again. How is he this stupid. Drinks are on him after this game

@ LV; Prather initiates the contact (including the head contact), and Sobey pushes him away... with his head, sure. But softest "headbutt" I've ever seen.

Yeah, the refs are just going to decide this series.

In my opinion, you represent everything that is wrong with flopping in todays game Goulding. Disgusting.

Of course it wasn't a headbutt Angus, LV knows that ignore him.

A unsportsmanlike for that. WTF
I can't believe what I’m watching

Mayberry is such a dick. He obviously has something personal against Sobey and Drimic, he always calls absolute shit on both of them. There is no room for personal vendettas against players from referees, Mayberry should be reprimanded and sacked.

I don't blame Goulding really I blame these shithouse refs, this is an abject disgrace.

Commentators calling the 36ers the 76ers lol

I wish these clowns would shut up with this Ware Shorter crap, there is something else much important going on.

Seems like Shorter is making this all about himself

You have to play with who you have, but I'd have to say that 36ers with no Josh, and no Sobey for the second half, should not be still be within 10 .

At least we know it's advantage Casper Ware, how about concentrating on the actual game?

Shorter has fallen into the same trap as Randle did thinking it's all about him.

Casper obviously nowhere near 100% fit

DJ has been very impressive tonight, huge heart shown by him. Has had huge growth as a player since Joey took over.

Ware's alright he's just keeping his hip warm

Zodiac, the criticism of the refs is fair; they've done a horrible job tonight IMO.

But part of me finds it hard to blame the refs totally for the Goulding calls..he goes flying everywhere...I'd rather be mad at Goulding to get rid of that crap and even prevent having putting the refs in that position

This has been a gutsy effort by Adelaide

Hell of a game. 6ers showing some ticker.

Sensational game! Adelaide depth keeping them in it. Deng, Moore and Shorter are killing it!

Sobey is every bit as bad as Goulding at flopping

There is a simple solution if they really want to stamp out flopping- Video review after each game

Agreed Macdub but Sobey is almost as bad as Goulding

Grand Final game decided by the possession arrow...

36ers will take loads of confidence from this game.

Regardless what happens in the last 3 seconds

I would give it to Deng for the 3.

ADL and your fans should hold your heads up high. A helluva an effort tonight. Showed so much heart to keep coming back when they could have easily caved in adversity when the margins were at 8-10.

Really proud even though I'm not an ADL fan.

Not that I would be expecting him to make it!

so one person rightly or wrongly cost the game for their team.

damn boy, you be running laps til u kark it.

shit like that, shouldn't be tolerated.

end result, you got booted be it right or wrong.
that cos a game, and possibly a GF.

#allforadelaide my ass!

Yeah really proud of the Sixers tonight. We had three big things against us no Childress, no Sobey 2nd half and screwed royally by the refs to only lose by three points is an incredible effort.

What a terribly disappointing game.

Not Melbourne's best outing. Got the W but only by 3 points against a team with 1 starter and another ejected for half a game. If the NBL doesn’t intervene Sunday could be a lot of fun

Very brave effort by the Sixers. Made the fans proud tonight. Unfortunately the refs were just a bit too much - possibly the worst reffed finals game I have ever seen - clearly the reason we lost. Thanks Mayberry, Reid and Aylen for ruining a great series, I'd rather see 3 Div 5 refs on Sunday.

If we only get half the dodgy calls Melb got tonight I'd be pretty confident we're going to tie it up on Sunday.

36ers lose by 3, with no fould trouble or injuries to9 melb, when most ( inc me) would have expected a clear win to melb, if 36ers win by 15+ in adelaide , whats the odds for game 5 in melb ?
Interesting

MACDUB I'm with you there. Great effort and had a shot at it at the end.

Two quality teams and an epic game with a LOT of spice.

Hope Adelaide can force a game 5.

Pity we didn't get to see more of Chill on the big stage.

* 1 starter out

* 1 starter out

If there's a game 5 in Melbourne, I'd hope Goulding and Prather start baiting guys from the 1st Q rather than waiting until half time. Game 3 was still a little close for comfort.

Sixers playing on emotion. Even at home it is going to be tough if both Childress and Sobey are out. Love to see it go to 5 if the last 2 games are as good as that one.

"ADL and your fans should hold your heads up high. "

Yes it was a good game by the Sixers but I am livid that Sobey got himself ejected, he would have been useful for a few more points and rebounds, and in a 3 point game that could be a win.

Sobey's lack of composure followed by Drmic likely cost us the game.

Brave effort Adelaide. Probably a moral victory for Adelaide but at end of the day 1-2 down and need to win 2 in a row.
Always given edge to Melbourne, and careless play is their archillies . Almost undid them tonight.

Perhaps is shows the conflict between team ownership and league ownership.
Curious how a player gets ejected at half time, and shut the f up about Shorter coming on - the whole Melbourne bench was in the melee - what the?

So angry. We just make so many dumb plays. The sobey thing, light but why give them a chance, same with drimic.

I feel like the Joey press conference is must see viewing. How big of a fine can he incur?

Without Barlow Melbourne are crap

Joey is just going to do a Popovich I imagine.

36ers would smash this overpriced mob with a full roster tonight.

I posed the question to this forum a few weeks ago... is it possible to limp into a championship?

Seems that way for United

Anonymous
A few minutes ago
21:20 23 Mar 18

Very old - Wesley fouled out.


thats true, and i noted that, but IMHO Foul trouble is when someone gets hit 3 fouls in the first Q , or are on 4 by half time. Fouling out in the last 7 mins of the last Q is just fouling out, even if it makes it tougher for the team. JMHO

"The arrow should have been Adelaide's should it not. last jump ball was when Hodgson tied it up under the backboard in the 3rd quarter and Melb got that"

We started the 4th Q with the ball, so it went back to Melbourne.

Watching a replay - disgusting commentary

Memo to Drimic:

If your going to get tangled up with CG43, make the foul count. Rip that arm out of its socket then beat him with the severed limb

'Joey is just going to do a Popovich I imagine.' - AngusH

Or a Rasheed Wallace? ‘Both teams played hard’

Is it just me or has Drimic not developed into as much of a NBL force during this 2nd NBL season as was expected ?

I think the difference in this series so far is Barlow. He's been phenomenal. The rest of his team have been very average except for Casper tonight. Adelaide just had rotten luck in that game and outplayed Melbourne significantly in the second half.

I think Adelaide could win the next game to be honest but the series is obviously a tough ask now.

I tell you what, on the final possession of the first half it was a clear foul by Drmic on Andersen on the inbounds catch. Lucky it wasn't whistled as it led to Prather's corner 3

I think with Sobey back we go in favourites now for Game 4.

If we win that game anything can happen in a deciding Game 5.

Ha I thought Joey would do that

'Is it just me or has Drimic not developed into as much of a NBL force during this 2nd NBL season as was expected?'

I think a lot of that has to do with the knee injury he had. I thought he was playing very well before that but it stopped the momentum he had built up and with the team then winning most of their remaining games and the roster being so deep, he hasn’t really got a lot of opportunity since.

I really like him as a player and think he could be starting quality in a couple of years. I also think it’s a bit harsh to get on him for those fouls tonight, the first one Goulding just ran into him and flopped, the second one both guys got tangled and Goulding did the better acting job. It’s clear Mayberry has in it for him, he called both those fouls tonight and ejected Drimic for a couple of rubbish flop calls in a game earlier in the season (Goulding flopped far more obviously in two nights game). There’s no room for that personal crap from referees in professional sport.

The 'good' thing about Drmic's stock dropping this season is he's a free agent at the end of the season and it would make him that little bit easier to re-sign ;)

Commentators calling the 36ers the 76ers lol

There's not much to like about United but you have to give props to Barlow. Two years ago when he missed all of the season due to his back injury it looked like career over.

He was pretty fortunate to get another contract from United and now in this GF series he's not only played himself into another contract next season but could get a multi year deal from them. He's been sensational playing good defence, making the right passes and plays and of course knocking down some big threes.

Early Sportsbet odds have both sides at $1.83 for Game 4

Hope the Crows lose this

Matt Russell doesn't know what's going on, Homicide's barely able to string a coherent sentence together (e.g. Tai 'grownest' Wesley) and Heal was too busy beating off under the table for his home town team knowing what LK wants to hear.

Barlow IS the difference for sure. And losing 2 starters. And a little bit of bad luck.

I'd almost put my house on the Sixers in Game 4...sorry the bank's house.

I don't at all feel that Adelaide were truly on top tonight. They just made a lot of shots. 10 three-pointers at 47.6 per cent?! That's one more made three and 13 per cent better from deep. That ain't Adelaide basketball. They just did what they could to stay alive, I don't think it's sustainable. Felt like United was in control for 90+ per cent of the night. They focused early and blew the margin out then played complement for most of the night from then on. $1.83 each odds are pretty accurate imo

*That's one more made three and 13 per cent better from deep than United

*United were complacent from then on

Haha, nice anon

Manu. Come on. United couldn't put away a team missing two starters at home with probably the most expensive team in NBL history. Ware and Barlow are the only two guys who turned up.

Agree Udog, but Flop Goulding was there, wasn't he?

Crows and Sixers both lost tonight :)

Yeah, precisely my point. They were playing like crap and Adelaide were making shots they normally don't make to keep themselves in it. I was seeing a United team playing like crap and playing timid, but still in control.

Make no mistake, United was shit, but it just gave me that extra bit of comfort knowing they had a lot more to give. Hairy moments for sure, but for a large part (I'll say 80 per cent) the lads were fine

And what about Felix?
WTF?

We'll agree to disagree Manu but Adelaide could have won tonight if the chips were in their favour. They had some bad luck and lost 2 starters. They smashed Melbourne last game. Adelaide have shown so much heart but Melbourne for all their plumped up pay checks only really had Ware and Barlow show up tonight after having their pants pulled down last week. If Sobey is back Sunday they could be a chance still but if he's not they may find the extra minutes to cover the 2 starters will lead to tired legs. Melbourne aren't as good as you give them credit for and maybe you need to analyse Adelaide a little better too because you kept writing them of but they keep coming (right down your throat of course (what a spud commentator)).

Haha right down your throat, absolutely. Yeah they're better than I thought, Adelaide.

Melbourne were amazing with Felix and I think they've gone south since Prather came back. I maintain that Melbourne with Felix instead of Prather go close to sweeping the Sixers

The salty Adelaide fans are hilarious

Sobey has disappointed me this season. Assuming he plays, he needs to put in a stellar performance on Sunday, otherwise I reckon tonight's headbutt could become a career defining moment for all the wrong reasons

So much potential everyone thought he had after he found his groove playing alongside Randle last year

Turns 28 in a few months, it now looks like he's destined to remain just a decent NBL player and never reach those lofty heights people started predicting for him. And it looks like what's between his ears might be part of what's holding him back

I don't mind people poking fun at our fans, putting down our players, saying our coach is shit and writing the team off. They finished second after a bad start to the season, knocked off the Cars in 2 and now they're taking it to the rich kids whose Dad owns the company and they're showing loads of fight. A full, fit Adelaide roster would have made a meal of United tonight.

Didn't think the refs were bad. Not sure Sobey gets ejected and Prather stays on though. Couldn't understand that one, especially after they reviewed it. The Hodgeson block called a foul on Ware was a doozy though.

Opps. Cats in 2 sorry

Home cooking is a natural feature of the NBL

NBL without home cooking wouldn't be the NBL

I've been a critic as much as anyone. But a small part of me does enjoy United having home court advantage for this very reason, after so many years of experiencing the other side of it (Game 3 of the 2014 semi finals and United's loss early this season in Perth being two good examples that come immediately to mind)

And having said that, United beat 36ers 4-0 in the regular season and finished 2 games clear on top, so they've well and truly earnt their home court advantage

I didn't actually think it was that bad tonight. United got a few calls but it wasn't particularly egregious by the NBLs standards. Sobey gave them no choice but to eject him imo, and Drmic could've easily extracted himself from Goulding without lifting Goulding off the ground- as even Joey said himself

2/11 = 18% (last game of regular season)
8/18 = 44%
3/14 = 21%
5/19 = 26%
5/15 = 33%
11/17 = 64%
9/20 = 45%

The three big outputs were all against Illawarra; all other teams they were subpar. Melbourne is a good defensive team, but tonight loaded up and focused a lot on stopping the drive so Sixers cashed in

LV - Agreed

Anyone notice Deng on that Moore spin layup play with a minute left in the game? Clapped his hands for the ball, wanting to jack up the 3 but Moore didn't give it to him. After a couple seconds of asking for the ball he just chucked a big ol' sook as Moore drove to the bucket. Pissy by Deng

Also, it's on the NBL YouTube page's highlight video... have a go at the Deng travel while changing direction (just like the Prather jabstep travel I was talking about earlier). Same thing, but letting the travels like this egregious one here, is the way the refs have called it all year

*first possession of the final quarter

Manu, how is it "pissy" by Deng!? He hadn't missed a shot in the game until that point and was literally keeping them in it with his defense, steals and rebounds and 3pts in stead of 2 would have made things even more interesting! To me it shows passion and confidence and was just simple frustration that he was missed in a great position to help his team.

How about recognising how incredibly he played, especially in the fourth instead of over analysing in such a negative way one frustrated moment that is most likely out of passion to try and get the win in crunch time?

Your dislike for the 36ers is "pissy" ;)

Agree cavolo - Deng was very very good. Stepped up in the absence of Childress and Sobey in the second half. His threes kept the Sixers in the game and his rebounding and intensity was ultra impressive. He grabbed an equal high 8 rebounds along with Creek. Can definitely feel very proud of the way he performed tonight.

Because Goulding put it on so much I'm guessing.

Has anybody seen the footage of Wesley doing to Sobey what Sobey did to Prather?

I was at the game and didn't feel the refereeing was as terrible as is being claimed here. If it was how could Adelaide attempt 28 free throws to 22. Yes there were some incorrect calls but the referees don't have the advantage of replays and 3 different camera angles the tv viewer has. They have a split second to make decisions. The Goulding "flop" was wrong on Drimic but in real time it looked correct. Plus Drimic should have been smarter. The Sobey ejecting was harsh but as a coach once told me. Don't get involved and force the referee to make a decision. I agree that the owner of the NBL shouldn't also own a team as well. But people remember the NBL was at deaths door until he took it over. These are my thoughts. Disclaimer: I am an ex Adelaide person living here in Melbourne.

https://www.facebook.com/botibasket/posts/1853372931393309

Rasheed - see link above for wesley's Headbutt on Sobey. Notice it is right in front of Mayberry too. Hmmmmm

"Very brave effort by the Sixers. Made the fans proud tonight. Unfortunately the refs were just a bit too much - possibly the worst reffed finals game I have ever seen - clearly the reason we lost. Thanks Mayberry, Reid and Aylen for ruining a great series, I'd rather see 3 Div 5 refs on Sunday".

The worst reffed game since game 2. Adelaide's already had their home cooking this series.

Lets see if the refs can let the boys play for the last 2 games...

It doesn't feel like United have a true grudge match rivalry like Perth/Adelaide or Perth/NZ or Adelaide/Brisbane or Sydney/Illawarra but regardless of who wins the championship this season I think this United/36ers matchup will have a sting in its tail for a good couple of seasons and I think that is a wonderful thing for the league.

Home cooking and NBL, of course, it's why we go to games so we can try and influence referees when making their fifty/fifty calls.

Great discussion by all but my take away from the game was Russell saying "100% that was 50/50" and Making me laugh a lot!

That I wanna grow muscles like Shannon Shorter

That Carrick Felix incident was just crazy!

And that 3 games in we have no clear Larry Sengstock medal winner yet and that is great but imagine if Barlow won it!

@LV
Why would you think it is Drmic who could have extracted himself from Goulding. Goulding is the one who could have extracted himself from Drmic. He just hangs on his back and then falls to the floor as Drmic extracts himself. I don't understand how the refs get sucked into all this stuff. Goulding is supposed to be an elite athlete who can shuffle, turn on a dime, hit amazing stepbacks. but then all of a sudden he has lost all his strength and athleticism and falls to the floor like a 3 year old, just like that. The problem is the refs lose all understanding and get sucked in, and they are supposed to be the best we have. Can't even work out when players are milking it.

Did anyone pay much attention to Josh Boone last night? How did he look on court. His minutes and stats aren't flattering, is he visibly hobbled by the back?

Manu, I thought both Boone and Ware looked very good in the 1st qtr but after they went to the bench, they never quite came back to the game with the same form. It may be that initial adrenaline pump to start the game helped them not feel the injuries as much initially but they didn't seem 100% when they got back on the floor.

Nobody at the NBL or in the media will bring it up. Can't derail Melbourne's championship by fining or suspending their players for anything like that.

Like the unbiased commentary last night was saying. Adelaide fans just imagine everything. Fake news

Proud, the winner of the Grand Final MVP may come as a shock.

Irrespective of which team one might follow, I believe there are 3 clear favourites to win "Larry". All three have had a big influence on the games, are on the same team but none are actually players.

Uncle Phil, yeah watching the replay I'm not too concerned by either player. They were both moving well.

I kept picking up on more travels by Deng on the replay too. If he wants a US/Euro career he needs to tidy up the footwork

Funny how what happens outside the 10 players on court will probably be the deciding factor in this series.

Derick Rucker summed up Sobey's ejection with his tweet last night "what a joke".

There was a lot more to losing that game unfortunately.

Yep. Could have been different. Can't knock their effort though. The first half was a blinder but that second half just threw too many curve balls.

Adelaide are playing with so much heart! Saw them live in game 2 in Perth and what they did last night will be up there as one of the best game I've seen a team play with the situation they faced.

Just glad this stuff never happened in Perth arena imagine the shit Perth would cop.

For a grand final that was piss poor to get ejected for that. Why don't the refs get reviewed? Such a dession that decides the out come of a game and maybe the series.

Looking forward to tomorrow Adelaide have grown on me more everytime I watch them.

Check out @NBL DT On twitter for the Tai Wesley headbutt/ non-ejection right in front or Mayberry.

Very professional refs we have

Haha Derek Rucker "straight up 'no lube' job"

United in control. It's over ladies and gentlemen

In control of the league from the board room you mean.

Manu, care to provide rationale as to how United are in control? They fell over the line last night playing Adelaide's bench for most of the night on their home floor with some pivotal calls going their way...

I'd very surprised if it isn't a big blow out again tomorrow squaring the series at 2-2. 36ers were up 30 in game 2, had leads multiple times in game 1 and 3 and are priming for the right time to win the most important away game of the year! :)

If any Adelaide fans are confident, they're paying $4.40 now for the title

Cavolo, I feel like United is in control for the reasons I said last night (pasted them below).

I don't at all feel that Adelaide were truly on top tonight. They just made a lot of shots. 10 three-pointers at 47.6 per cent?! That's one more made three and 13 per cent better from deep. That ain't Adelaide basketball. They just did what they could to stay alive, I don't think it's sustainable. Felt like United was in control for 90+ per cent of the night. They focused early and blew the margin out then played complement for most of the night from then on. $1.83 each odds are pretty accurate imo.

United were playing like crap and Adelaide were making shots they normally don't make to keep themselves in it. I was seeing a United team playing like crap and playing timid, but still in control.

Make no mistake, United was shit, but it just gave me that extra bit of comfort knowing they had a lot more to give. Hairy moments for sure, but for a large part (I'll say 80 per cent) the lads were fine

Larry got their backs

I feel like United locks in mentally a lot more and they'll win Game 4. Championship. Cash money. Win.

They looked mentally gone in game 2 and most of 3. Only looked ok in the second half of game 1.

Haha Derek Rucker "straight up 'no lube' job"

Really, and people wonder why he has no job calling the game anymore

Melbounre posers or Adelaide bogans??

I said earlier that game 3 was Adelaide's chance at a free swing and younhave to imagine that game 4 is United's chance for a free swing, play as aggressive as they like and they may even shoot 35 3s for the game.

Of course United are in front, they lead 2-1 with a free swing away and home court advantage for game 5.

As for anon's comments, yeah not letting your opposition get into the bonus and then needing to foul at the end is certainly costly!

Should I hedge and put 2-3 grand on Adelaide now?

Proud, I think Adelaide used not being in the bonus very well strategically as it gave them 3 (?) opportunities to force a turnover which they successfully did but Mitch was a bit rough to not get a foul in the scramble and it ended up being a jump ball. Don't think people would be saying it was costly if the possession arrow was our way and we had a shot to tie or win with 10secs left....?

With Sobey in, huge dumped up crowd, Sixers are gonna take game 4. They get in front with some rhythm, they will put their foot on the throat. A super fit team. Can't wait. Let Sobey and Deng off the leash. Even with everything Melboure and the refs have thrown at the Sixers they still didn't give in and nearly took the game. If Sixers win tomorrow, the pressure is going to be all on Melb. The longer this series goes the more pressure United are under and they will start clenching.

"pumped" up crowd

Haha you got me kid, I possess food stamps as an Australian citizen.

It's imperative that Deng plays well as he's their only real bench threat in this series

It's imperative that Deng plays well as he's their only real bench threat in this series

Need I point out the obvious, LoveBroker?

Almost every post of yours that I see has a bitter undertone. For your sake, ease up

Need I point out the obvious, LoveBroker?

I don't have time for you, man

Yet you have the time to type dumb sh!t.

Wow. How is it that a non player is allowed to even be on the floor let alone the bench?