United front required for crucial battle

Adelaide 36ers has 48 hours to get back on track and keep their NBL23 season alive when they host Melbourne United in a Heritage Round showdown on Saturday night.

The 36ers face a red-hot Melbourne United, who have won seven out of their past eight matches, in a must win contest on Brett Maher Court.

Melbourne will travel to Adelaide rested and full of confidence, while the 36ers will have to rebound from their 106-101 overtime loss to the Bullets in Brisbane on Thursday night.

On a night where Adelaide will celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the 1998 NBL championship, the 36ers will need to bring the energy against a United side wanting to continue their roll to the post season.

THE KEY
Shea Ili has been the man who has turned Melbourne United’s campaign around.

The point guard missed a big chunk of the start of the NBL23 season with concussion issues and United’s season has gone a full 180 degrees since the Kiwi international has returned.

Melbourne are 10-3 in the 13 games Ili has played and 3-9 in the matches he has missed, averaging 9.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per night.

Ili runs the United offence, can get to the basket and can now hit the open three-pointer. But it’s his defence which sparks Melbourne, his intensity on the ballhanders is stifling.

Adelaide, who have been suspected to committing several turnovers in NBL23, will need to be careful around Ili for the full 40 minutes.

THE SECRET
Marcus Lee arrived in Australia on the day Adelaide defeated United 91-86 at John Cain Arena on November 17.

Lee had his struggles early adjusting to life in the NBL, but over the past month, he’s arguably become United’s most important player.

After Isaac Humphries went down with a knee injury a fortnight ago in Tasmania, Lee has relished the increased role, and responsibility.

The stats will not say this, but Lee has had a huge impact at both ends of the floor and Adelaide should look to attack the foul prone big man early.

Lee can change shots and block shots and finish around the rim in spectacular style, but is known to attract the ire of the referees.

If the 36ers can limit Lee’s impact, it will go a long way to winning the match.

THE FINAL WORD
It’s a simple equation for the 36ers, win on home court or the NBL23 season will not involve a playoff run.

The 36ers haven’t seen United in nearly two months and both sides’ rosters have changed considerably since.

One player who remains vital to the result is United sharpshooter Chris Goulding, and Adelaide must limit his attempts and make life difficult for the Boomers bronze medallist all night.

Import duo Rayjon Tucker and Xavier Rathan-Mayes have been stepping up when it matters most for United, and both can be matchwinners on their night.

This is the first of two match-ups between the clubs in the run home and Adelaide must hold home court. A win for Adelaide will leave both United and the 36ers on 13 losses for the season.

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