Pet dog Jett was just the mate Dean Vickerman needed after Melbourne United’s shock loss in game three to Tasmania JackJumpers

Sunday night’s loss for Melbourne United was gut-wrenching but like after every game, Dean Vickerman’s canine mate Jett provides the silent counsel the coach needs, and the positive vibes have been returned, writes MICHAEL RANDALL.

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has guaranteed an “inspired, passionate” response from his team as it teeters on the brink of grand final oblivion.

Vickerman insists United has washed away the shock of Jack McVeigh’s stunning half-court game winner that left them with the daunting task of a trip to Tassie for a do-or-die game four.

“That’s out of us, there’s nothing but real positive vibes about how we have to go ahead and compete,” Vickerman said, when asked if his side was flat after McVeigh’s stunner.

“I can guarantee you flat is not a word that will be used when you see us play in game four of this grand final series.

“You’re going to see an inspired, passionate team throwing everything they can to go and get this win.”

After every game, Vickerman takes stock with his trusty canine mate Jett, whose silent counsel was as important as ever on Sunday night.

“Every game at home I come home and walk the dog around the block before I do anything,” Vickerman said.

“That was a good start for me to just have a dog that doesn’t care about the result and gets on with life.

“(Monday) was an off day so I think everybody needed that day to kind of gather themselves to get over it and to move forward.

“I sent some messages to the group about the things we need to be focusing on the things we can control, it’s a five-game series for a reason and we look forward to going down there.”

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman with his dog Jett.

United was smacked on the offensive glass, 21-10, and allowed the JackJumpers to take 33 shots from deep — with an almost 50 per cent success rate.

“Watching the game again … we see the areas (where) we have to be better,” Vickerman said.

“So, give yourself some time to be disappointed about the loss but (we’ve) got to come in with a plan how we move forward and I thought we were very clear about what our defensive plan and our physicality needs to look like to go and win in Tassie.”

‘So sick of them’: Why NBA draft hopeful wants revenge in Tassie

It’s the revenge date Ariel Hukporti has waited two years for.

The NBA draft-bound Melbourne United Next Star flagged it before a ball had been bounced this season.

“Tassie,” he said, pre-season, when asked if there was one team he was particularly looking forward to taking on.

The German giant has stewed on the NBL22 semi final defeat at the hands of Tasmania, where the JackJumpers reversed a 1-0 deficit to win the next two games and move on to the grand final.

A ruptured Achilles wrecked his NBL23 season and robbed him of a chance to square up.

Now, with a 1-0 grand final advantage after he and twin tower Jo Lual-Acuil Jr dominated the big man battle on home court, the 21-year-old is hellbent on avoiding a repeat.

“Yeah, sure — but now we’ve got Tassie, bro, spoke that s**t into existence, far out,” Hukporti said, when asked if he recalled his pre-season comments.

“I’m so sick of them, I can’t lie. Tassie’s such a good team, we got the first win, that was so important.

Can this destructive duo get it done for United? Picture: Getty Images

“But now we’ve got to be alert, Tassie is such a tough team to play, especially defensively.”

The seven-foot shotblocking, slam-dunking monster was an equal team-high +20 in just 12 minutes on the floor, combining with Lual-Acuil Jr for 27 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks in the 104-81 game one demolition.

They picked apart Tassie towers Will Magnay, Marcus Lee and Fabijan Krslovic but he’s conscious of a bounce back — and of what the Tasmanian fans have in store on Friday night.

“It’s hard to play in Tassie, man, when we play at home, it’s so cool,” he said.

“The fans, they always be talking to the players. I don’t know how to describe it. They start doing the march.

“It feels so great to win down there and quiet the crowd.Hukporti says the “bad man” image his “big brother” JLA gives off is just an on-court persona.

“He’s a great teammate, I know from the outside it seems like he’s really angry, never really smiles like a bad man kind of thing but he’s actually a really nice guy,” Hukporti said.

“I see him as an older brother. You can talk to him, ask him for advice, he will help you in any way he can.

“When he sees you frustrated, he will help you.”

A perfect example of JLA’s impact came during game one when Hukporti was part of a huge defensive stand that led to six consecutive stops, but was left frustrated with himself after missing three easy buckets at the other end.

“I hate that I didn’t finish those plays. I can’t miss lobs, that’s what I do,” he said.

Ariel Hukporti is just 21-years-old. Picture: Getty Images

“I was deflecting the ball and doing my job but then not finishing my work, missing a layup, missing a dunk.”

Coach Dean Vickerman revealed he’d asked Lual-Acuil Jr to go to Hukporti — although he needn’t have.

“Ariel was a little bit flat at half time. When I went to Jo and said ‘go give Ariel a little bit of encouragement right now he’s feeling a little flat’ and he’s like ‘I’ve already done it’,” Vickerman said.

“Those two have been magnificent, I don’t really sub them anymore they just sub themselves … those two have found a really good rhythm with each other.

“Ariel’s a monster defensively and for him to be +20 in 12 minutes is a major impact on the game.”

The immediate goal is bringing a title to Melbourne United, but a crucial off-season for Hukporti looms, with his NBA draft dream edging closer.

“Step-by-step, right? Go to Tassie first, get the win, get the job done in the series, then worry about that stuff,” he said.

“I might play overseas, play at home in Frankfurt maybe to stay game fit, travel between wherever I play and the USA for the combine and then when teams are calling me to workout.

“NBA teams aren’t allowed to talk to me and my agent doesn’t really tell me anything (about what they’re thinking).

“But I don’t ask either, I don’t want to know, it doesn’t really interest me because people can say anything, it’s not really a reality until it happens, it's our of your hands and you can’t control it.

“So I’m just going to play the game of basketball and enjoy the journey.”

Originally published as Pet dog Jett was just the mate Dean Vickerman needed after Melbourne United’s shock loss in game three to Tasmania JackJumpers