Hoops

Bullets vs United, Saturday 21 Jan

I feel Anderson coming back in will make a massive difference. It will then allow them to go inside out. Right now Wesley is there only low post option, when hes not firing you just have to defend the perimeter.

Maybe moving Barlow and/ or Blanchfield next year to get a 3 that can play inside out (Mitch Creek? as Bill said).

I like Todd's game but it doesn't help when he just stands in the corner on offence.

Will be a tough one in Perth next week, we don't seem to be travelling well ATM. MU need a big scalp if if they are serious about finals...

Goulding shot at a better clip than Ware but it's all his fault for shooting crap shots?

Pretty harsh IMO considering he is still clearly hampered both by his ankle issue and having a coach who has no idea.

Basketball is a pretty simple game, move the ball through hands and exploit where the defence isn't. Get the ball inside and if the defence collapses then things open up for outside shots and vice versa. A playbook totally reliant on 'get it to Chris or Casper and let them create' doesn't bode well for long term success

For the money they pay Goulding, they are not getting the returns. Goulding doesn't have the class of a Kirk Penny.

When a player hogs the ball with useless three's, he takes up opportunities of the team. And the coach can't do too much to contain them as they are meant to shoot the daylights out.

A team player like Mitch Creek, who is more of a team player and shoots responsibly is better for team cohesion.

Cotton and Martin would be good too. Randle doesn't spray as much this year..he is doing the right thing by setting up the team first and then only starts his three's play at the end. In other words, he gives the team a go first before he goes 'crazy' for his own glory. That should be the way. Cotton does that well too. Dillard also practices that.

Goulding still up at 12:30-1AM watching the Perth game and Twittering afterwards showed his focus for the Brisbane game.

So LV a game like that is expected when United are playing an under manned team but when the Sixers play an under manned team it shows they are no chance for the title..... Hopefully you have now learned playing a team like that bring's unique challenges and under performing is not a surprise.

Also Kromah looks bad. Moore was excellent at coming in and being effective, United don't have that anymore. Barlow's athleticism looks gone. Andersen will be their last chance.

DD's body language tells me that Goulding controls their relationship.
I've never yet seen DD taking the tough line with CG43, even when he's being a prat or having brain explosions.

Is it just me or was Goulding's body language towards DD questionable.

At the 3 min mark time out DD called for a big pick and roll for Casper. Goulding got up mid sentence and went to walk off and DD had to pull him back into the huddle.

Not great from your leader. If your having a poor shooting game try and be an influence elsewhere, and if your not hitting shots dont expect every play call down the line.

On another note, I just wonder at this level whether a jump shooting team can go deep into the finals? MU relies on getting hot to win. The only team in the world that can do it is the GSW and even they may not win the championship over Cleveland.

Just hope Anderson can give them something inside if/ when he comes back.

"Macdub...your comparison of Goulding is spot on imo. As for Te Rangi...I never thought he was much chop and it doesn't surprise me that he has faded when the league has improved."

This year is probably the best he has played in the NBL since his debut season, not that there's a lot of stiff competition there.

I imagine Lemanis will have him back given some of the praise he's had for him post-game at times throughout the season and the fact he's one of the youngest players in the league.

Macdub...your comparison of Goulding is spot on imo. As for Te Rangi...I never thought he was much chop and it doesn't surprise me that he has faded when the league has improved.

United are pure trash.

Appear to lack heart and soul.
DD out!! :P

I don't put it all down to DD.

MU simply don't have enough guys who genuinely want to win. There is some selfish players in that team.

Goulding reminds of of the Carmelo of the league.

As much as I hate/d the likes of Hire, Wagstaff, Knight (though not as much) and Robbins (when he was there), those guys are selfless and genuinely want to win. Its no coincidence thatbl Perth have been so succesful with those types of players.

On another note - Will Te Rangi even be in the league next year? (Did he sign a 2year deal?). NZ won't want/don"t need him back with Avercrombie, Delaney and Rusbatch. Dude has literally forgotten how to basketball.

Any team that lives by 3-pt strategy will die by that strategy. Kings and United both live by that strategy.

Wildcats have that tendency.

In saying that he was United's second best player on the night. Daylight after Ware mind you but the rest of the United team was crap all game.

Goulding was horrendous. Love seeing him throw brick after brick.

Any team that lives by 3-pt strategy will die by that strategy. Kings and United both live by that strategy.

Wildcats have that tendency.

A very good TEAM like the Taipans should make it because you know they will play the right way.Hopefully the Melbourne individuals miss the playoffs

If Melbourne had a coach that they believed in this would have been a different story. I'm not sure I've ever seen a coach more tuned out than Demopolous.

Melbourne are a joke. Waste of all that talent. If Sydney and Perth get their act together they will probably miss the playoffs.

Not a totally unexpected result. A Lemanis coached team was unlikely to be blown out again off the back of a 33 point loss, regardless of who was suiting up. I'd say Beal's departure galvanised them too.

The Bullets D was well planned and well executed, United's shots weren't falling, and Brisbane's extra little bit of desperation helped too.

This season continues to get more intriguing.

All United imports are useless except for Casper, might be time to give DD the shove and get someone into see if they can save the season. For all his haters I'd get Shane heal.

Today's game just makes me scratch my head even more as to why the Kings didn't go after Kendle... does not look out of place at all at this level.

what.. the... f..

Just shows Goulding is not a winner if h is shooting is bad.

Nope Melbourne does not figure in the finals.

Melbourne now the team to beat.

Yes!!

and... ol' mate Wang Tong makes his NBL debut :P

Melbourne kept getting it to around that 6-7 point margin with possession and a chance to turn it into only a 4-5 point lead, but every single time chucked up a bad shot then Brisbane scored an easy basket down the other end to bring it back to 8-9. Happened so many times in that final quarter.

solid close out by the Bullets

Kromah has so far been woeful for Melbourne in his first two outings.

Kendle is a gun

WHAT is DD thinking having Tomlinson out there to close the 3rd. Absolute trash.

@Kyrie2Nation "My Multi with United 11+ likes this." Regarding the sacking of Beal. I am going to lose money on this game also but was just making the point that Brisbane made a smart move.

@Brunson don't remember saying anything like that?

I think Melbourne can still win this easily, they just need to pick better shots like they did at the start

Kyrie2Nation you said in another thread that you thought Brisbane would be worse without Beal but Beal is dead wood.

It is a learning lesson for a lot of people. As I've said before it can be extremely difficult playing against a team that has lost players.

Wow there goes my United 11+ bet. What a joke. Garbage performance so far from United.

As skilful as Goulding is, he takes some rubbish shots. It's a difficult one because whilst he can make those ones, they're still really poor shots. (I.e really deep 3's; fade away J's).

I still reckon he could expand on/better utilise his mid-range game..especially considering he can get to that midrange area comfortably with his handle.

They made something like 4/5 threes to start the game, now 5/21 overall for the game

'Melb trying to live and die by the 3 too much'

WHAT YEAR IS IT.gif

Melb trying to live and die by the 3 too much

Kendle looks miles better than Bruce.

Adelaide lost to Hawks by 34 on a Friday night
On Sunday beat Melbourne by 8

Adelaide defeated Hawks by 32 on a Thursday night
On Saturday Hawks defeated Melbourne by 18.

Could Brisbane repeat the dose there going pretty good so far.

Bullets playing like they have nothing to lose and putting up a great fight so far. They look better without Beal

Kendle looks alright with the opportunity to start.

Brisbane's bench makes me want to vomit. One of the worst I have ever seen.

I got on United @1.65, also have them as the last leg in a couple of multis. In for a big pay day if they win this one

I took United -2.5 now line out to 4.5 but surely they winnby double digits. Too much offense for what Brisbane right now can handle. Again feel for the bullets but got to take $ advantage of the wounded beast.

I had mine on at $1.60

Melbs price is dropping with the bookies. Into $1.50 at WillHill, can still get $1.65 at sportsbet if interested before it goes down.

Hope no one had booked a road trip!

The National Basketball League has made a number of changes to both its iiNet NBL Championship game schedule and its broadcast schedule on ONE HD, Basketball Australia has advised.

The Sydney Kings’ home game against the Adelaide 36ers at the Sydney Entertainment Centre which had been scheduled for 5 February will now be played on Friday 4 February at 8:00 PM (local time).

The Gold Coast Blaze home game against the Adelaide 36ers at the Gold Coast Convention Centre previously set down for Saturday 12 February will now be played on Sunday 13 February at 5:00 PM (local time).

On the NBL’s ONE HD TV schedule, the Sydney-Adelaide game will replace the previously announced Cairns Taipans versus Perth Wildcats match on February 4, while the Gold Coast-Adelaide clash will replace the Townsville Crocodiles - Cairns Taipans match as the broadcast game on February 13.

The changes have been necessitated by logistical issues around the two previously planned broadcast games in Queensland.

Bullets were always going to be terrible and I had them written off from the start of the season. They picked the wrong balance, too many forwards and completely unreliable guards. I hope they get spanked in every single game from now on as a lesson not to put every single mobile powerforward in the league on one team and expect that somehow that would fill all of the other gaps left wanting.