Bullets, United, stars grounded as NBL’s foul Blitz leaves sour taste
Fans of whistles and free throw shooting would have been elated with the ‘show’ put on by Brisbane and Melbourne United at the NBL Blitz, as they combined for a mind-numbing 61 fouls.
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BRISBANE BULLETS 111-104 MELBOURNE UNITED
Fans of whistles and free throw shooting would have been elated with the ‘show’ put on by Brisbane and Melbourne United at the NBL Blitz.
The two teams combined for a mind-numbing 61 fouls.
Memo to the referees — it’s the pre-season, let’s bite the whistle a touch.
In between the 78 visits to the free throw line, a game did break out.
Read what you will into the Bullets seven-point win over United — and then forget most of it.
The Blitz is often a mishmash of line-ups as teams search for their best form and connection, while blooding young talent.
But injury robbed this battle of its biggest stars — much to the chagrin of the NBA scouts in attendance, who primarily landed on the Gold Coast for a glimpse of blue chip draft prospect Rocco Zikarsky.
The 220cm teen tweaked an ankle in practice and wanted to play, but Bullets basketball boss Stu Lash made the call to hold him out as a precaution.
Bullets’ wing Sam McDaniel was also out, the former United man edges closer to a round one return after suffering a dislocated shoulder in last month’s NBL1 finals.
United’s pair of Boomers Tokyo bronze medallists Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova rested up, while Brissy big man Josh Bannan is touch and go for round 1 as he continues to recover from a fracture in his hand, suffered during a pre-season clash with Chinese club Shanghai.
That, combined with the incessant fouling — some there, some not — and free throw procession made for an immemorable spectacle.
TY-RANNOSAURUS-WRECKED
Tyrell Harrison continues to stake his early claim as the Bullets’ most impressive player.
Harrison has been a man possessed in pre-season and this was the best of his body of work so far.
The 25-year-old proved too big a problem for veteran United duo Rob Loe and Marcus Lee.
His pressure around the hoop left that pair with no option but to get physical and it resulted in both punted from the game with five fouls each — and Harrison going to the free throw line 10 times, where he was true on seven attempts.
It made for a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, laced with three assists and two blocks.
Shout out to Deng Adel, too, who has also been mighty in his return to the NBL.
He’s long and athletic and
BUILDING WHITE WAY
With Goulding and Delly watching on, Jack White had to step up and, after showing glimpses on Monday night, he produced his best offensive outing since his off-season United return.
The 17 points came on 7-10 shooting, many at the cup, with a couple of threes to round it out, and he added a game-high 13 rebounds to top it off. It seems ludicrous the 28-year-old shot just one free throw, given the liberal whistle.
United’s biggest chance of going one better this season lies in the capable hands of White, who looms as the biggest x-factor among a talent-laden squad.
THE CHAMP IS BACK
United fans rejoiced and Dean Vickerman and Co were elated when veteran NBA champion Ian Clark decided to return for a second season with the club.
A title stint at Sydney followed a late call up in Adelaide, before the former Golden State Warrior settled in at Melbourne United last season.
It’s the first time the 33-year-old has spent back-to-back NBL campaigns at the same NBL club, and his ridiculously high basketball IQ shines out every time he steps on the floor.
Tonight it was a 21-point outing on 10-20 shooting as he picked seams, found his spots and displayed the customary shotmaking that has made him a winner wherever he goes.
THE OTHER CHAMP IS BACK
The sight of Casey Prather balling out in a Brisbane uni, hitting threes, crashing the glass and getting to the rack would be heartening to Bullets — and basketball — fans.
Knee injuries have cut years off his late career, but the 33-year-old backed up Monday’s 14-point outing with another sign he can be a difference-making piece for the Bullets — his 17 coming on a near-perfect 6-8 shooting, one of those buckets coming on a tough drive with the athletic White draped all over him.
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