Team effort required in United battle

Adelaide 36ers point guard Jason Cadee says his side must stick together on the road ahead of Sunday afternoon’s showdown against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

The 36ers, who currently sit fourth on the NBL25 standings with a 6-4 record, have won all five games at home, but have won only once on the road so far this season.

“With the league so close that it is, you can’t go on the road and do it all by yourself,” Cadee said.

“We have to go on the road and be a collective, stick together, whatever happens.”

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Cadee said travelling to Melbourne to face the league leaders is a great test to see how far the 36ers have come since the beginning of the season.

“We are happy to be sitting where we are sitting, but we can always be better,” Cadee said.

“We go into this Sunday trying to push our win-loss a little further in front going into the FIBA break.

“We have just been together longer, we have gone through some things, we are continuing to get better as a group.

“Sunday is a great test for us, as Melbourne are the benchmark of the league.”

Adelaide fell 106-79 last month to United on their home court, but Cadee said the 36ers are better prepared this time round.

“For us to go in there again after what happened last time, there should be a bit of fire in the belly,” Cadee said.

“The last time, it was like out fourth game in 10 or 11 days, and they got the better of us in the second half.

“This time we have had a full week under our belt, it’s a mindset, we must come in to this together with a plan as United is not a team that beat themselves.

“We have to come out and do things to beat them, if we can do that as a group, I think we will be OK.”

MELBOURNE UNITED vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
John Cain Arena, Sunday 2pm ACDT
LIVE ON ESPN | 10 & 10 PLAY

OVERALL
Played 42, Adelaide 13, Melbourne 29

LIKELY STARTERS
United: Matthew Dellavedova, Ian Clark, Chris Goulding, Kyle Bowen, Rob Loe.
36ers: Kendric Davis, DJ Vasiljevic, Sunday Dech, Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphries.

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Oct 13, 2024 – United 106 def 36ers 79 at John Cain Arena
Jan 6, 2024 – 36ers 100 def United 96 at AEC
Dec 16, 2023 – United 107 def 36ers 96 at John Cain Arena
Oct 1, 2023 – United 82 def 36ers 74 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Feb 5, 2023 – United 116 def 36ers 107 at John Cain Arena

STATS THAT MATTER
- Adelaide has won each of its last 11 games when allowing fewer than 90 points.
- The 36ers have never won at John Cain Arena after trailing at half-time (0-18 all-time).
- Adelaide has lost the first half in each of its last six away games.
- The 36ers have won six of its last eight games.
- Over the last three games, Kendric Davis has recorded 24 assists to just four turnovers.
- Montrezl Harrell has scored 20+ points in four consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Kendric Davis has scored 15+ points in eight consecutive appearances - longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Adelaide is +68 with Montrezl Harrell on the floor and -88 when he's off this season - the best on/off split differential in the league, heading into Round 9.
- Montrezl Harrell ranks 1st amongst for points in the paint per game (13.4) this season.
- Melbourne has won each of its last seven games when scoring 90+ points.
- United has won eight of its last nine home games against Adelaide.
- Melbourne has won five of its last six games.
- Heading into Round 9, Melbourne and Adelaide are the only two teams ranking top five for both field goal percentage and free throw percentage this season.