Hoops

United vs Taipans, Nov 18

Rebounding schmebounding. Ware looks like good value when it comes to unlocking United's offence, so I give him the thumbs up.

Very true re Ware/Holt, perhaps an indication Demopoulos struggled to use Jackson effectively and prefers a shooting PG? Re the possession game, will be interesting to see the impact that has, although a good start being +3 against Cairns.

I'm really trying to like this United team, but still struggling to. It shouldn't be this difficult to like them with a talented creative scorer in Goulding and a smooth operator like Andersen.

Perhaps it's their style of play that bothers me. I'm looking forward to United upgrading coach. Their offensive structure is a bit of a shambles. So much wasted talent. The only positive is at least it let's some of their talent, especially Goulding, free to create for themselves, which can be entertaining when they fire like Goulding did. Otherwise it is frustrating viewing.

I agree LV, they are good at forcing tough shots, but Demopolous' philosophy in press conferences is if you don't grab the d-board you haven't played good D.

They have improved that area though, from last in d-board % in 2015/16 to fifth so far this season. They're pretty much even in the possession game this year, where as last season they were -4 on average.

I don't think Melbourne are a particularly poor defensive team at all. Rebounding can be an issue but if we're purely talking about D, they are decent.

Goulding's overrated

^^ most the buthurt 6ers flogs on here

They keep teams to low shooting percentages (3rd in 2015/16 and this year behind only NZ and Perth) but they don't create a lot of offence from the way they play D, although they are generating a few more turnovers and rebounding a bit better this year than last.

Wow, Goulding back to his best. Gutsy win by MU, but surely they need to learn to play some D?

Goulding has shown (again) that when he's up, he can be a game-winner, but how far can MU & DD ride on his back?

NB: Way to early to start proclaiming Cairns as finalists, certainly not of the back of that.

At the moment, if I had to place a bet, I'd put money on Sydney & Perth, with 4 others fighting over the other two spots. But at this point in the season, anything can still happen.
I wouldn't even write-off MU, yet.

It's always a contrast in styles whomever United are playing! i.e. barely ordered chaos versus structure. United could definitely do with a bit of the flow and motion offense/structure of Cairns.

(But sometimes DD's "thin" offensive playbook works in United's favour because it gives their players a lot of individual freedom and confidence to shoot it.)

How good was the chaos ball call

I think Dwayne Russell has dreams about Goulding

man... i wish Trice had been 100% healthy all season... still 4/6 with an away heavy schedule and with Trice's injuries - it could be worse!

We could have a multi million dollar roster and be sitting at the bottom of the ladder... all right all right allllll riiiiiiight

+1

DD couldn't coach a wave at Bells Beach.

Yeah that's tr00

Not really Mike...this team still relies far far too heavily on the 3 ball like last year

I think you can put a line through Adelaide and Hawks but all other teams could make the 4

This is a game

Wow

What a game. Goulding put on the best shooting performance in United's 2.5 season history but Cairns just fought on D and came up big in the second half as well. Huge game

Cairns will finish top 4, I've been saying it for a few weeks now. They are very good

The illegal screen on Wortho call with a few minutes to go was disgraceful. Weeks nails the three but it doesn't count. At least 9 times out of 10 they don't call that. Why call it now.

Huge call

Look at United...this team is absolutely no different to last year...relying on Goulding 3s to win..

As we saw last year in the post season...good luck with that.

Goulding=MVP!!!

(Of United).

I seriously reckon Dave Andersen tried pulling some moves on one of the refs wives in Rio or something

This has been happening all season

Definitely did not see this coming at half time

Refs want a MU win..

Taipans really stepped up the intensity on D in that third and it has translated to more confidence at the other end

Set for a cracking finish

DD booking his own uber!!

Thought it might be interesting if MU got their new guy in. He seems to be doing ok, adding a bit more to the score than Cedric.

Am I reading this score right? Cairns scored 35 points in the 3rd quarter? WTF?

Some call an Uber for DD to get on that plane!

Lol, DD sits CG43 with the red hot hand for the last few minutes and let's Cairns back into it.

Now you're cooking with CGas

CG is the classic confidence player. It was only a matter of time til this game happened, it felt around the corner when he went down

Happy to take any bait if United will play like this!

Casper and Chris - they need a name. CC something

6) Jawai is a beast
7) CG43 has that look about him

I suspect you're taking the bait again LV!

DD drawing up a strategy to fry this 14 point lead.

DD drawing up a strategy to fry this 14 point lead.

Barlow shot 47% from 3 in 2014-15, his last season, who said anything about Europe

Why let the facts get in the way of a good story hey?

Give a guy 5 minutes to return from injury and the keyboard Warriors are out in force with their baseless opinions, sheeesh, spare me....

Damn that was some painful-to-watch basketball from the Taipans :/

Enjoying Casper though, despite his ugly jumper.

Sorry LV but Barlow has always been over rated. Case in point: Played for the Boomers years past his use by date.
He is very limited. Has a decent 3 point shot on occasions but that is about it.

Block of the season? I don't think so.

What he did in Europe years ago isn't going to help you now

@ Mike

yeah, 40% career 3 pt shooter. his jumper is trash? makes sense...said no sensible person, ever

biggest diff tho is everyone is hustling on D and boards

Casper is full of energy and everyone is feeding off it

Casper pushing the ball like I wanted

I like him.

We are seeing the diff CG makes too

Sorry for not doing an update last week but i was away and too busy. anyway here is the leader board after this weekends round.


RANK TIPPER TOTAL SCORE
1 panamax 24
2 FallOutBoy 23
3 Finny 22
4 Betty Kunath 22
5 LC 21
6 Nick Wooden 21
7 Benno 21
8 Alan Ballard 21
9 Kylie 21
10 illicit 20


Leader board is still really close. should be a nice close one

The full court press is the most stupid thing i have ever seen..

It is never used in the NBA...absolutely NEVER...yet ALL teams in the NBL live and die by it.

His jumper is still trash doe

LOL Barlow just got one of the blocks of the season, following on from a strong drive to the hoop where he got to the line

But he's "shit"

LOL at internet tryhards

Lol.

United are junk when CG43s off the floor.