Finals dreams on offer in United battle

Melbourne United will have everything to play for when the Adelaide 36ers visit John Cain Arena on Sunday.

After being 5-10 midway through NBL23, United can make the finals with a win over Adelaide, and the 36ers can make finals with a a 23-point victory coupled with a Perth Wildcats loss to Sydney and both results ending up 43 points in the 36ers favour.

The season is on the line for both sides and expect a playoff-like atmosphere as the NBL23 regular season goes down to the final day.

Both Adelaide and Melbourne require Perth Wildcats to lose to Sydney Kings at RAC Arena in the game following this match, but the equation is now simple, win and win big.

THE KEY
United sharpshooter Chris Goulding torched the 36ers in Melbourne’s 94-87 success at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 21.

His game-high 28 points, including five three-pointers, set the tone as United continued their late season push for a finals berth.

Goulding will be at the top of CJ Bruton’s whiteboard and the 36ers need to quell his influence if they want to walk away winners.

A match-up with former United championship-winner now 36ers captain Mitch McCarron could be an interesting one to watch come Sunday.

THE SECRET
Former Adelaide 36ers big man Isaac Humphries is back from a knee injury and looms large as a big inside presence.

Humphries will partner with United import centre Marcus Lee and the twin towers could cause serious headaches for the 36ers.

Lee had a near double-double of eight points and nine rebounds in United’s win in Adelaide last month, and that was with Humphries on the sidelines.

Adelaide’s frontcourt of Kai Sotto, Daniel Johnson, Robert Franks and Kyrin Galloway will need to be on guard from the opening tip.

Expect Galloway to feature heavily as the 36ers will look to play a switching defense to stop United from causing numerous mismatches.

THE FINAL WORD
It’s now or never. Expect Adelaide to throw everything at a United side who really just need a win to make the top six.

All the pressure will be on the home side, with United being a finals constant in recent seasons the potential of missing the post season is real for the 2021 champions.

The 36ers should come out loose and with nothing to lose. Even though the 23-point victory Adelaide requires is achievable, it does loom as a long shot given how tight the NBL23 season has been.

Shea Ili and David Barlow will both miss the match with concussion, but expect Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Rayjon Tucker to be up and about after their recent success against the 36ers.

Prepare for a shootout in Melbourne, with both sides chasing points, and finals dreams.

DEPTH CHART
Rathan-Mayes | Triplett
Goulding | Barker
Tucker | Newley
Peatling | Okwera
Lee | Humphries