I reckon they'll give him to end of NBL Cup then make a decision.

This is not sustainable. United is winning yes, but only just, and teams like Sydney and SEM will only improve with full rosters.

I don't think he's a terrible fit. He's just horribly out of form. Not the same player as last season. Lost confidence, lost touch.

I'd consider doing what they did with Trimble. Bring him off the bench. Make him the man with the 2nd unit. Start Ili instead. Or Baba for now.

Wait, Baba's already starting. McDaniel then I guess.

[McDaniel ahead of Hopson, yeah right, you want to put the scotch bottle down.]

You wouldn't have thought United would bring CG43 or Trimble off the bench. They've done both over the past 2 seasons.

Speaking of United players though, going off topic a bit, why is Landale $15 for MVP? He's been comfortably the best player on the team who's 2 games clear on top. That should make him close to favourite. Maybe 2nd after Cotton. This is a guard's league after all but Bradtke, Anstey, Conklin, Bogut all won it.

Hopson is quality.

Watching him struggle is really tough and weird, but I have absolutely no doubt he'll come good.

He's looking a bit like Ware from last year. Some comical level lack of confidence at the moment. Something will flip in his mind and the confidence will bounce back. Maybe it will be that dunk towards the end of last game

True. I don't like the idea of McDaniel starting either. Maybe wait till Ili or CG is back, and if Hopson still struggling do it then

Not sure if it's ever been officially confirmed but I have heard it said that once imports play their first year in the NBL on a one year non-guaranteed contract any contracts they sign from a second season onwards are fully guaranteed like local players.

If that is true then United couldn't release Hopson without paying him out for the full season which would make his release unlikely.

"He's the best passer on the team."

Nope, watch McCarron.

Nope, watch McCarron.

[McCarron's a terrible PG poor decision making almost a walking turnover]

I disagree. That hasn't been my perception this season.

And the stats seem to back me up

McCarron is averaging 4.8 assist per game (6th in the NBL). And 2.3 turnovers.

A better assist/turnover ratio that one of the 5 players above him on the assist table (Tai Webster), roughly same as Giddey, slightly behind Sykes. Only 2 players have a substantially better assist/turnover ratio- Cotton and Machado.

McCarron has more assists AND a better a/t ratio than Ware, Sobey, Cadee.

Norton has less assists and less turnovers.

^ Spot on anon #259. They're both good passers but different types of players. McCarron is more structured, Hopson is more of a creative improviser.

I don't know what you guys are talking about but I watched a United game the other week and he was a turnover machine continually throwing passes to nobody out of court and I've seen enough over the past couple of years of him trying to play PG to say he's a terrible PG.

Maybe not quite Sobey level bad but he just doesn't have any PG skills in him. A good player overall just terrible as a PG but United keep being United.

McCarron's a utility player.

But he can capably run the point.

Damien Martin wasn't a natural or traditional style point guard either, but he won 6(?) championships as a starting point guard.

I'd say McCarron is a more capable point guard at the offensive end of the floor than Martin was.

Yes 6 championships for Martin

McCarron as PG is fine. You don't need the traditional, natural PG that quarterbacks the team in the modern game, as long as you have guys that can create, be a threat, and make good decisions, and Hopson can definitely do that at his best. Looked better in spurts today at least, and MU still 8-1 despite CG43 and Illi missing time. Baba has been really solid.

Getting better by the game he is safe.