This was published 7 years ago
NBL: Melbourne United chase top four in hectic final week of the season
By Roy Ward
Melbourne United believe they have hit form in time for the decisive week of their NBL season.
Entering the last seven days of the regular season, Melbourne has three games left. Three wins should secure them a place in the top four, while two wins will leave them relying on other results.
United's Chris Goulding and Casper Ware celebrate their round 18 win over Sydney Kings.Credit: Mark Metcalfe
Melbourne host Illawarra Hawks at Hisense Arena on Monday night before visiting Auckland to play New Zealand Breakers on Friday night, and will then host Perth Wildcats in a sellout season finale at Hisense Arena on Sunday at 3pm.
Melbourne still plan to open the roof for Monday night's game, and remain undeterred by a forecast of morning rain. Officials are confident conditions will dry in time to allow for an open air game.
Sydney Kings take on Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.Credit: Mark Metcalfe
United put Sydney Kings playoff hopes in jeopardy when they won 89-76 in Sydney on Saturday night, with David Andersen scoring a game-high 21 points in his second game back from a knee injury.
In a season blighted by injuries to key players, Melbourne stars missed games through injury, including Chris Goulding, Todd Blanchfield and David Barlow. Imports Casper Ware and Josh Boone were signed during the season as replacements.
Assistant coach Mike Kelly is confident the injuries have led to the team's best basketball coming just as the finals arrive.
"We've had so many guys who have missed stretches of this season or come in late," Kelly said.
United's David Anderson gets a shot away against the Kings.Credit: Getty Images
"Hopefully we've used this last few weeks as a sort of preseason and the guys are feeling good about themselves and their bodies - it could end up as an advantage for us."
Ware has received an abundance of physical attention since starring in his opening weeks in the NBL and Kelly said the former NBA playmaker and NBL leading scorer was expecting more heavy treatment from the Hawks.
"It seems early on he had such success and was so comfy on the court that the rest of the league said "let's test him out and see how he takes a beating"," Kelly said.
"He has started to give it back and a lot of that has been at training against our point guards Kyle Adnam and Nate Tomlinson - they've taken the brunt of that and all three have been going at it.
"I think Casper knows he has to mentally prepare himself for those confrontations.
"I hope his body can hold up because he gets pushed, kneed, elbowed and whatever else - Illawarra is one of the teams they will push him that way."
Kelly was also impressed with his team's mental toughness during Kings game which saw the home side draw a New South Wales' record of 11,000 supporters at Qudos Bank Arena for Saturday night's game.
"We made plays throughout that game and when Sydney pushed back it was nice to see the guys step up late, especially in what was very much a play-off type atmosphere," Kelly said.
Melbourne United play Illawarra Hawks at Hisense Arena on Monday night.