Star Taipans import Machado builds his case for NBL MVP
The call for Scott Machado to be considered the frontrunner for NBL’s Most Valuable Player award has grown louder after another show-stealing performance.
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The call for Scott Machado to be considered the frontrunner for NBL’s Most Valuable Player award has grown louder after another show-stealing performance.
The import point guard was electric, scoring a game-high 29 points and eight assists as the Taipans beat South East Melbourne Phoenix 92-84 at a sold-out Cairns Convention Centre on New Year’s Eve.
It was the Taipans’ 10th win of the season and brought them level with Melbourne United at third, as the six-way battle for two spots in the top four heats up.
Machado and fellow star import Cameron Oliver were at the centre of the surge.
Machado’s hot start – he scored 16 points in the opening term – showed this team was ready to play, while Oliver’s explosive third term, in which he scored 15 of his 26 points, took the game away from South East Melbourne.
The New York native entered the contest with aggressive intent, but it was when he noticed a change to the Phoenix’s defensive approach that he shifted into overdrive.
“I play what I see,” Machado said. “I noticed that last game they were switching, but they started the game off not switching straight away.
“My bigs were setting great screens and I was wide open.
“I kinda wanted to come out aggressive but not always just to score, just to push the offence and make sure we get a good shot. That’s all I do, I try to do that every day.”
NBL assist-leader Machado shot 61 per cent from the field, but it was his season-high five-from-seven shooting from three-point range that not only reminded fans of his versatility, but added extra weight to his case for MVP.
His 71 per cent efficiency from downtown wasn’t part of a predetermined plan with the Taipans’ bigs allowing Machado the space and time to make his shots count.
“If I see the hoop and I don’t see a defender, I’m going to shoot it,” he said, offering an insight to his mindset. “But if there’s a defender, I know I can try to get by him to try to get somebody else a better shot.
“Shooting the ball is something you can always do, you just want it to be a good one.
“You just want it to be a good shot. You don’t just want to take threes, that’s not my mindset. I want the best shot on the court from that possession as possible.”
Oliver produced another standout performance, as he shot 75 per cent from the field for his 25 points, including all four from long range.
But when asked who was most important to the Taipans’ win, coach Mike Kelly spoke of their and their teammates’ team-first approach.
“I love the way these guys play and I love that when you asked that question I heard some mumbling under their breath because they don’t want to be the man, they want to be a great teammate, and that’s how it is through the locker room,” Kelly said.
“We’ve been really good with that. Everybody who stepped on the floor was really important for us.”
Originally published as Star Taipans import Machado builds his case for NBL MVP