Are United back or was last game a false start, should no tonight. Cairns have been very good and should be favourites. This could be a very close game, taipans should win but I'm going United by one on Vickerman experience on sideline.

It was interesting listen to Roth talk about the young coaches around the league. It's not long ago we had Gleeson, Wright, Vickerman, Beveridge, Lemanis and Fearne, all very experienced and having learned the hard lessons. Now it's only really Roth and Vickerman with a high level of experience.

And now we've lost Sam Waardenburg with a foot injury; Jonah Antonio game-time decision due to illness.

Refereeing poor again to both sides. Cairns by 8 at halftime. Humphries playing well for United, Hogg doing great for Cairns.

Does the NBL have an integrity unit?
Check with bookmakers who and what places bets?

Pinder going super saiyan in 3Q.

Its going to be one hell of a fight for the wooden spoon between the Hawks and United.
This United team is one of the worst teams ever assembled.

Mirko has a sense of humour!

Majok Majok's son is named Majok Majok junior.

I think Newley might be cooked.

A lot to like about this Cairns team, a lot can be said for getting the imports right!

United need changes/additions

What happened to the best import in the NBL?

United are finished, Newley been a great player but should've given it away, Barlow still offers a little but he’s a team minute max. Mvp Tucker should be gone, XRM been very average except for two games. Humphries having a reasonable season, can’t keep up with the Cooks, Pinder etc centres. Okwera got good offensive talent but very poor defensively.

Cairns on the other side are firing on all cylinders, there imports are great contributors.

There is a new order in the league this season, United and cats are gone unless major changes happens.

I honestly think some of United's players need to be investigated for this performance.
Something smells rotten.

If Melbourne only beats Perth for the rest of the season, it's still a good year

Melbourne won't beat anyone, unless they bring in all new imports.

Mvp Tucker is woeful, he reminds me of a few of those imports hawks had a couple seasons ago.

With all these betting apps, would not suprise me if we start to see alot of pros get investigated and busted in small roster team sports.
Easy to tell ya mate I'm going to suck along with my fellow teammates on purpose while ya mate sitting at home places a large bet for the opposing team.

I remember Rosell Ellis, on signing with Perth, told the media how he could tell when his teammates from his former side would down tools in certain games. It's extremely rare for a pro athlete to be so honest but it does happen.

I love Andrew Gaze but this commentary from him tonight has been atrocious.. all about 'what's wrong with Untied and how can we fix them, they’re not supposed to lose like this’ .. Ever since day one of this Taipans franchise, he’s considered them the red headed step child of the NBL

To be fair, the way United have been all season, that's what the discussion will be.

It’s not unreasonable

When it's completely at the expense of praising what the team on the other side of the ball is doing, it is unreasonable

There's 2 sides of the coin, there’s been plenty of pro cairns talk

Well done Taipans.
Glad to see a regional team doing so well & playing for each other.

United can be better than that.
Theyll play better on Sunday.

Well done Taipans, solid win. United are a dysfunctional mess. This terrible roster creation sits with Vickerman. Goulding looks lost in this structure, reverting to hero-ball. Tucker doesn't provide enough and can’t shoot. XRM has been their best player but he was supposed to just provide the bench scoring punch. Agreed that Newley looks done (as he did last year), while Barlow will continue to slow down. Vickerman talks about replacing Caroline with another centre, but should it also be Tucker being moved on?

Totally reasonable for the discussion to be around United

2 titles, 1 runner up, and 2 tight game 3 semi final losses over the past 5 years. They, along with Perth, have been the benchmark for 5 years.

This year they're nowhere near it. Desperately need a quality replacement for Caroline.

But tonight did illustrate One of the (several issues) with United

Pinder has killed them twice

But tonight, in Q3, Humphries was trying to avoid his 3rd foul, so only mildly contesting

Then you've got Barlow and Newley- both pushing 40 and playing major minutes in their wrong positions

With Hukporti still there, and/or a better Caroline, or even Mason Peatling that's much harder for Pinder

But of course Cairns has injuries too, and United issues run deeper than just injuries

LV, what moves would you make? Caroline for a genuine import center?
Good point on Peatling, easily forgotten but has been a valuable high energy contributor.

They desperately need a stretch 4/5 to replace Caroline. If I could make one move that would be it

Think Gary Wilkinson back in the day. Jarell Martin a recent example.

Benefits

- Spacing the floor which will help the entire offense and help get the most out of everyone. cos right now, too easy to double them cos the D is sagging off others, so there's always help nearby. Eg Caroline, Okwera, Humphries, Tucker, too many players the D can sag off. Tucker and Humphries especially, would be immensely helped by another spacing shooter forcing the D to spread

- Genuine back up for Humphries. He's foul prone. Shifts roster balance instead of 39y/o Barlow and 37y/o Newley playing out of position

Yeah totally reasonable for the commentators to turn the second half of that game into a wee Melbourne United forensic, cos they're a big club who’s won titles.. how dare anyone else take their limelight, even when they’re up by 30 against them

Wonder if they can go full European and sack all their imports immediately. Then sign 3 difference makers to go with Goulding and Humphries.
Tread water for a couple of weeks for them to arrive and acclimate, then make a push. Season is still relatively new, so could make a late run and slip into playoffs. Better than keeping the current trio who don't belong in league.

Bring back Sam short, at least he'll play defence and pass the ball.

United = Soft.