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Melbourne United in 'desperation mode' ahead of New Zealand Breakers clash
By Roy Ward
Round five shouldn't find teams in "desperation mode" but that is where Melbourne United are ahead of a home game against New Zealand Breakers.
In the eight-team NBL, no one wants to fall into a losing streak and have to play catch-up with the rest of the league so when Melbourne run out against the Breakers at Hisense Arena on Friday night, they will do so with the urgency usually reserved for a late season clash.
Melbourne forward Tai Wesley said his 3-4 [win-loss] team couldn't afford more losses this weekend and they are expected to line up without star shooter Chris Goulding who continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Melbourne small forward Todd Blanchfield will get a final look over on game day after hurting his groin at training on Wednesday.
Desperate: Melbourne's Tai Wesley says players will need to step up across the board if Chris Goulding is ruled out of the clash with the Breakers. Melbourne's Tai Wesley and Chris GouldingCredit: Getty Images
The Breakers beat United in their round one meeting in Auckland and with the season series used as a finals tie-breaker, going down 2-0 with two games to go leaves them little wriggle room in their clashes later in the season.
Wesley and starting point guard Cedric Jackson are former championship winners with the Breakers which adds to the occasion.
"That first game was emotional and it was exciting and the nerves were there but we are looking to get a win, we don't care if we are playing the Lakers," Wesley said.
"We've got to get a win. We are in that spot where our backs are against the wall and you can't fall behind in this league because everyone brings it in this league every night. We are in desperation mode."
Since Goulding went down in the fourth quarter of their win over Brisbane Bullets, Melbourne have lost two straight games and with a visit to the dangerous Illawarra Hawks on Sunday, a four-game losing streak would place them under even more pressure.
Wesley said his side would find a way to win without Goulding but it would need everyone to find extra baskets and more rebounding from across the team.
Melbourne's rebounding has been a constant problem this season and has only been saved during nights when they shot well.
Since their loss to Cairns Taipans last Thursday night, Wesley said United had endured several physical practice sessions and scrimmages all aimed at better rebounding and conjuring more desperation in their play.
"We've had some tough practices where we have got beat up quite a bit," Wesley said.
"The main focus has been on rebounding. We beat each other up for four or five days, hopefully that shows in the game on Friday.
"Rebounding is pretty much a thing of effort. One big thing about rebounding is you have to assume they will miss or you will miss and you have to go get the ball.
"That's what I think we have worked on and we have seen an increase of guys going hard to the glass, so if we take that from practice to the game then we should be in good shape."
The Breakers outside shooting is fuelled by international calibre marksman Kirk Penney, Corey Webster and Thomas Abercrombie. Last round the Breakers posted 119 points in a thrashing of Adelaide.
Melbourne can score with the best teams in the NBL but Wesley said they couldn't let the Breakers get loose.
"I felt like that caught us at a time where we weren't ready but we are ready now and I think the outcome will be good," Wesley said.
"In saying that they caught us at a bad time, [first meeting] they had some guys out injured and weren't ready either.
"I hope they don't shoot as well as they did in their last game as they shot unbelievably and all their guys were on.
"We are going to have a handful if that's the case."