Big United test for refreshed 36ers

Adelaide 36ers will be looking to get back into the winners’ circle when the club travel to John Cain Arena to tackle Melbourne United on Thursday night.

After fall to a narrow loss to Perth Wildcats in front of a record home crowd at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last round, the 36ers face a United side in a similar predicament, looking to get their NBL23 season back on track.

The 36ers, with a 3-4 record, will be looking to build on a solid week of practice during the FIBA window which saw Kai Sotto, Mitch McCarron and Hyrum Harris play on the world stage.

Thursday night’s match will see the 36ers face their former starting centre Isaac Humphries for the first time since the big man moved to United via free agency in the off-season.

THE KEY
Chris Goulding looms large and is always a danger when facing United as the Boomers sharpshooter can catch fire real quick.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist was back to his brutal best last round in United’s 110-85 win against South East Melbourne Phoenix with a game-high 30 points, including 7/12 from downtown.

Goulding, who is averaging 13.2 points per game in NBL23, has found his groove after United’s major roster overhaul in the off-season, and also dealing with the Shea Ili missing the early rounds due to concussion.

There’s no better man to match up on the United star than his former championship teammate in McCarron.

The pair shared the backcourt in United’s 2021 title success and the 36ers captain would have spent countless hours on the practice floor chasing around Goulding.

But expect head coach CJ Bruton to also throw multiple defenders at Goulding, including Sunday Dech, Anthony Drmic and Antonius Cleveland.

THE SECRET
Melbourne United have had their fair shar of struggles in the import spots this season,already parting ways with Jordan Caroline and sending Rayjon Tucker to the bench.

But Xavier Rathan-Mayes has been playing his part for United and the former Illawarra Hawk, and teammate of Cleveland, has played a major role at the point guard spot as Melbourne look to get their season back on track.

Cleveland guarding Rathan-Mayes looms large as ‘XRM’ can be a matchwinner in so many different ways. He can score heavily, get teammates involved and also shut down his man on the defensive side of the ball.

Tucker will be out to prove a point as he looks to stake his claim not only in the United rotation, but on the league.

Adelaide fans don’t have to look back too long to see what an import can do when their job is on the line after Perth’s Brady Manek poured in 25 points in the Wildcats’ narrow win last round.

THE FINAL WORD
Adelaide has superior depth in the frontcourt, with Humphries the only known ‘big man’ in the United roster.

Robert Franks, Daniel Johnson and Sotto should exploit this advantage in the paint, limiting United’s second chance shots while scoring the ball inside, which will lead to more open shots on the perimeter.

Franks is finding his groove, averaging 24.5 points per game in the last round and the 201cm power forward should have a mismatch inside for most of the night.

Johnson will know how to play Humphries at both ends of the floor, but so too will Humphries, this match-up will be mouth watering as both players can spark their side with intensity.

The loss of New Zealand international Shea Ili is huge for United, the point guard has been battling concussion and he will again miss Thursday's game under protocols. Expect Tucker to step into the starting role and partner Rathan-Mayes in the backcourt.

Adelaide need to bounce back and with this game the first of three consecutive battles on the road, a win could spark some much-needed momentum.

DEPTH CHART
Tucker | Triplett
Rathan-Mayes | Barker | Duach
Goulding | Maluach | Machar
Okwera | Newley
Humphries | Barlow