Hoops

NBL Grand Final Game 1: United vs 36ers, March 16

# 941 you could be proven right there, it’s still only one, one though. Team has not looked as good since Felix has gone and Moller who was going well is now getting splinters. Sometimes defence gets looked over for offence.

They made it due to Felix.

Sixers 3-1

Melbourne are woeful. How they made the playoffs is beyond me.

Game 2 will make it clear. Look out for the sweep. Otherwise United win 3-1.

We all know how much talent Melb have on paper, and they are playing as a team and complementing each other. They played with no fear and backed themselves in. They seemed like they have done their homework on Adelaide and now how to beat them, where the Sixers still look like they are trying to find a matchup and plan in their favour.

Bench players Hooley and Adnam outscored Sixers entire team for threes. Not good enough at this level.

Sixers lack of hitting any 3pt shots cost them, and then Ware hitting 5/7. Even Goulding missing so many still hit more than Sixers team combined. Sixers had their moments, but when they got up in the third they need a 3pt shot to break it open which is exactly what Casper did. At times went with a small lineup and don't shoot threes.

Thunder Jam, it would hardly be a choke to drop to the best team in the league.

"Wish the Kings could snag a coach like Vickerman."

You did....you elected to use him behind Lanard Copeland.

The way I see it is this... the very fact that United don't impress you means that they are very impressive.

I think all you see is tough shots being made by players who try to take their man 1-on-1, plus ridiculous long threes. Their defence is the best in the league because they are smart. They aren't as flashy a team as you'd expect, looking at their roster, and that's by design. They're talented but so well coached and smart enough to execute gameplans. An example of their smarts in both coaching and players is their quick transition D adjustments last night and how they fared without Casper in the second quarter. The smartest team in the league

Face facts this will be done in 3.
Chokers just like the Crows.

Goulding is so overrated it’s comical. Dude throws up so much shit, passed on a wide open 3, hits the backboard on a 10 foot jumper. then hits one decent step back and the crowd, commentators and fans lose their shit.

United don’t impress me at all.

Sobey is better than Goulding tho...

Sixers playing strength as good as United ,so what is the difference .
Can only be coaching and also PG with Sobey struggling with Joey ism and Shorter not up to top level.
This not a Joey hate but just trying to analyse how we can beat United somehow.
Maybe regardless of results we have a stronger assistant coach.

I admit that I am a bit of a ref basher, but ... in this one [the Sobey USF] Sobey GAVE THE REFS every opportunity to make that call the way they did. Where's the basketball IQ I often read about.

I suspected we might lay a bit of an egg due to the occasion. As Joey said in the presser our effort levels were pretty ordinary. Once again Utd clinically took us apart and they never looked in any danger of losing that game we just had too many guys that played like a deer in headlights.

I think we'll be much better for the run tomorrow hopefully Joey has been giving it to Sobey and expect to see a different team at home in Game 2.

Could use Jacobsen right now. Wonder if Boone has any big men mates that are needing to wind down. We really have guard covered and can keep Sobey if he is given more cash and opportunity. Sign Chill now.

Could use Jacobsen right now. Wonder if Boone has any big men mates that are needing to wind down. We really have guard covered and can keep Sobey if he is given more cash and opportunity. Sign Chill now.

I hope Sixers ignore that man back at the Arena. SA Premier League now has the pleasure of Mr Referee of the year to enjoy !

That unsportsmanlike foul has been called like that all season. I don’t like the rule but It’s been consistently called that way.

I reckon the only call that gave me the shits was the Sobey unsportsmanlike. 2 players under the basket, both inside the circle but because Sobey was trailing he gets unsportsmanlike. His hand was even on the ball and the contact was minimal. Shit rule. Get rid of it.

Watching it o TV last night the atmosphere seemed lacking.I doubt it will be that quiet on Sunday.

United scored inside easy, which stopped the Sixers running game, i too was staggered that Wright was playing small ball when Anderson was out, poor coaching from him tonight, although when you spend your whole game whining too the refs you are not really concentrating on what's important.

Sixers lack of 3 ball hurt them, DJ needs to hit a couple to see if he can drag Boone out of the key and give Childress and Co more space to work on the drive and draw the fouls on United.



Personally didn't think the refs were to bad, but then again i'm not a ref blamer, so i don't really focus on them. the only issue i have with the refs is they allow the coaches far too much latitude, one tech would shut them up in a hurry.

I Shazamed it one time. 'System Shock, Nicholas Hill'

I hope you guys get to see the full Sixers press conference (all 3mins of it). Joey will have a fine coming very soon one would think

'Anyone know the name of the trippy techno tune they play on the fox coverage as they through to an advert ?'

I've been asking this for months

Spineless! I have a lot of respect for Ware. Not sure why he’s copping so much - if he wasn’t injured, there’s no way he would have missed so much of the first half. To play like he did in that last quarter was impressive. It just seems like Melbourne have too many guns that pop up at different stages of the game so it’s hard to contain them.

I don't understand why people are hating on Casper for being soft. Saw it on social media too.

He came back and played big minutes in the second half. Taking your anger out on the man who buried you. Pretty embarrassing

I feel like Adelaide are that much worse for it.

Out of those two, labral damage looks the more likely. Good call, Doc

Hip problems can lead to low back and hamstring issues if the deep hip flexors tense up. Hip tightness and reduced mobilty might kick in after he cools down.

Hopefully Ware doesn't have labral damage or iliopsoas tear. Both possible and long term issues.

Casper Ware talks a lot. Josh Boone talks a lot. Lots of players do it. Been happening for a long time. Sometimes you don't like or support a team so it gives you the shits.

Sixers players talk too much, mainly Shorter. Not so cocky when they lose, it's good to see.

Any thoughts on what Casper's injury would be? My guess is muscular seeing as he was able to come back

"Midway through the 2nd and 3rd qtrs, the 36ers looked like they were on top and had momentum. Each time, Vickerman called time outs and made appropriate adjustments on both ends of the floor that allowed United to take back control."

Correct. You rarely see this in NBL, i.e. even the latest title winners like Lemanis and Gleeson. Vickermann also it's easy to forget already has one title but doesn't get the love like weaker coaches do.

#678359 welcome aboard. Where do you live?

There have always been question marks over Joey. Only title was with crazy money Bullet$$$$. He has been given the benefit the doubt with Sixers since he has built up a young squad but a second season where of nearly there it looks like it.

Wish the Kings could snag a coach like Vickerman.

Yep, credit to Melbourne, they should have lost that game but overcame adversity with smarter and better basketball. I was more impressed with their play than the Sixers and I wanted desparately for the Sixers to win.

Should the Dean be the next Boomers coach?

Dean Vickerman has done awesomely well with this team. If you're gonna get beat it may as well be by the highest paid team in NBL history with a coach like that. Come on game 2. Lets go Sixers!

Bill Walton always said the playoffs are about adjustments and this is particularly the case when a series is best of 5 rather than best of 3. Midway through the 2nd and 3rd qtrs, the 36ers looked like they were on top and had momentum. Each time, Vickerman called time outs and made appropriate adjustments on both ends of the floor that allowed United to take back control. The onus is on Joey now to change up the D as Melbourne scored far too easily in that last quarter and a half, switching everything clearly wasn’t working against this Melbourne team with the number of weapons they have.

Melbourne also did an excellent job at walling off the lane with multiple players stepping up to cut off drives by Childress and Creek. They defended the paint against us far better than any other team this season and did well going straight up when defending the bucket unlike many other teams - clearly they have made this a point of emphasis to avoid sending the Sixers to the free throw line in excess.

I thought DJ was a bit unlucky with a few of his fouls but we need more out of him still. I think the Sixers will bounce back on Sunday, we tend to increase the defensive intensity at home and hopefully this will get us across the line. Being tied at 1-1 would set the scene for a great last 2-3 games of the series.

SWEEP

I hear what you're saying there though beantown.

The Sixers either need to hit some threes themselves or limit United's 3's if they're going to win game 2. 2/11 just isn't going to get it done. They need Sobey, DJ and Drmic to hit some threes and have some other guys chip in also.

Run Casper off the 3 point line in game 2 and test out his injury.

Sobey was himself, even Creek was down onto game two.

I wouldn't panic yet. Johnson played the game in foul trouble and sat a lot and Melbourne hit some tough 3's. Adelaide were still in the game the last 2 minutes but things didn't go their way.

Udog it was the threes but it was also the way they got them - quick transition off Sixers TO’s before we could set defence. Melbourne had 32 points off TO’s!!! If Sixers cut their TO’s they would have been right in that.

Did Gleeson make the Joey's coaching and the Sixers' play look better than what they really are? Hope not.

How about towards the end down by 7. You need a three there nothing else yet Creek elects to drive. They hate the three.

Melbourne hit the 3's Adelaide didn't. About sums it up.

No other sports use secondary commentators who are just warm bodies to fill the countless regular season game commentating slots, for their showcase final. Hopefully just Game 1 and we get Casey, Carfino, Harvey a combo like that for G2-5.

I'm astounded at this. NRL season is on yet Russell is commentating a G1 of a GF when you have better leads out there.

Heal been woeful, good game though

Surely thats an unsportsmanlike. Intentional foul before the ball, aylen said it himself