Sunday, December 6, 2015, 3pm AEDT, Watch on Nine Network
Ladder position
Melbourne United: Top
Adelaide 36ers: Fourth
Season record
Melbourne United: 10-3
Adelaide 36ers: 7-6
Last five games
Melbourne United: WLLLW
Adelaide 36ers: WWLWW
STILL hanging on to top spot by a thread, under fire Melbourne United welcomes the tough fourth placed Adelaide 36ers in the NBL’s Sunday national television game.
And don’t they need a win?
Both teams will have already been in action this week, with United ($1.25 to beat the Sixers with CrownBet.com.au) visiting the Illawarra Hawks and Adelaide ($4 to knock over Melbourne with CrownBet.com.au) copping another tough break in the Perth Wildcats.
After winning its first nine games of the season, United once looked invincible, but a three game losing streak shattered their air of supremacy.
Beaten first by the Cairns Taipans and then the bottom of the ladder Townsville Crocodiles – who incidentally just sacked the league’s reigning MVP Brian Conklin – United copped a feeble 80-69 loss to the New Zealand Breakers in their trip across the ditch.
Stars Chris Goulding and Stephen Holt carried their weight, with 19 and 17 points respectively, but only sweet shooting centre Daniel Kickert managed double figures outside of those two, with 13.
The Breakers only had two guys in double figures, but when one of them is superstar Corey Webster dropping 39, it doesn’t really matter.
Former NBA man Hakim Warrick epitomised the United effort, scoring just one point in 11 minutes off the bench in his return from injury.
But they bounced back to the winners’ list in their second clash with the Crocs in a week – just.
The 66-63 result has been called one of the ugliest games in recent NBL history.
Holt was the star in this one, single handedly hauling his side to victory with 20 points. No other starter reached double figures – including just six from Goulding – but at least Warrick got things going with 15 points, five boards and three blocks in just 17 minutes.
Holt said he was proud his club had won on a difficult night.
“We were struggling a little offensively, I tried to be aggressive on offence, they gave me the three-ball while in their zone and I knocked them down,” Holt said.
“They are a great competitive team, they beat us last week, so obviously we wanted to come out with energy and get the win.”
With Goulding down on form, United is expected to look to Warrick to provide the offensive firepower in support of Holt – who has been struggling with an eye irritation himself – against the Sixers.
Goulding has avoided hot water and will be free to play after the NBL received a report of a post match incident between a spectator and his 11 year old son in the game against Townsville.
“The NBL received a report following the game between Townsville and Melbourne regarding an encounter between a spectator and Chris Goulding,” the league statement read.
“This was investigated, with multiple reports indicating no wrongdoing on the part of the player and as such, any allegations have been dismissed.”
While he hasn’t addressed the incident, Goulding is clearly hoping his team can turn the corner.
“The way we were playing at the start of the year – we haven’t played that way the last couple of weeks, so we want to get back to that and adjust to the way teams are defending us,” Goulding said.
United’s feisty combatant Nate Tomlinson said his side was well aware Adelaide was awaiting it on the horizon when he spoke ahead of the Hawks game on Thursday night.
“To be honest, the next game is the most important one, no matter who it is,” he said.
“We will take care of Illawarra first and then Adelaide, but that’s so far away.
“If you look too far ahead you will get in yourself in trouble.”
By contrast, the 36ers are rolling, having won four of their last five clashes to grab on to that top four spot on the ladder.
Diminutive import Jerome Randle has been the key figure in the Sixers’ resurgence, his imprint never more evident than in the side’s 88-83 win over the Cairns Taipans last time out.
His 28 points led the way for the Sixers, but he didn’t have it all his own way after he was clobbered by Taipans’ giant Matt Burston.
The Sixers were angered and asked the NBL to investigate after Burston appeared to use a screen as an opportunity to hammer Randle as he tried to fight through, leaving him sprawled on the floor.
But the NBL has decided not to pursue the incident.
“While the review found a foul had been missed by the referees on Burston, it did not find the play was unsportsmanlike and as such, no charges were referred to the NBL Tribunal,” the league wrote in a statement.
Averaging over 21 points and five assists per game, Randle caught fire after half time, pouring in 21 of his 28 points after the break.
He has promised fans his best is yet to come.
“I’m going to do some amazing things in this league, man” Randle said.
“I’m just trying to feel the guys out right now … there’s definitely going to be some real excitement going on around Adelaide for sure.”
Gun centre Daniel Johnson continued his superb start to the season with 17 points and five rebounds to back up Randle’s efforts, while Adam Gibson was the floor general for the Sixers, directing play and barking orders in the clutch.
The Sixers will be boosted by the return of big man Matt Hodgson, who has recovered from surgery to repair his knee.
The last time these two teams played was also in Melbourne and the decision went to United, 84-75.
But that was in round two and a lot has changed since.
In that game, Kickert caught fire with 22 points on six treys, while Warrick had 16 and seven off the bench in 27 minutes.
Gibson led the way for Adelaide with 17 points andseven boards, while Johnson had a 14 point, 19 rebound double double.
Predictions
Match result: Melbourne United wins ($1.25 with CrownBet.com.au)
Line: Adelaide 36ers +7.5 ($1.90 with CrownBet.com.au)
Ask us a month ago and we’d probably have tipped Melbourne United by 20. But, fast forward a few weeks, and this clash looks like it will be a tantalising one that could go either way. Even though they played poorly, United managed to squeak out a win agains the Crocs. The Sixers are a much tougher proposition. Led by Randle, Gibson and the monster up front in Johnson, on their night, the Sixers are a match for any team. Of course, it’s always tough to come to Melbourne and win and we think coach Dean Demopoulos will have his charges breathing fire after their sub standard effort over the past four games. We’re not supremely confident, but we think United has the weapons in Holt, Warrick, Goulding and company to preserve that home court advantage and come away with a slender win. We feel this game is that close and, hell, the way United has been going, it might be worth a tiny drink on the Sixers at solid odds.
