Casper Ware catches fire as Melbourne United beat Illawarra Hawks
STAR Melbourne United playmaker Casper Ware went into Round 3 of the new NBL season riding the worst form slump of his career. But, as the Illawarra Hawks found out, form is temporary, but class it permanent.
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CASPER Ware has made the adjustment.
Now, it is up to NBL champions Melbourne United to wipe out the sloppy turnovers and wayward shots that mar lapses in concentration.
Ware went into Round 3 riding the worst slump of his 49-game NBL career with scores of 15, six, and an NBL career-low equal five to his name.
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He walked out on Monday night victorious, 99-93, against Illawarra Hawks at Melbourne Arena in front of a crowd of 6478, with 26 points, less than 48 hours after bagging 21 points and six rebounds in the double overtime loss to Perth Wildcats.
BOO! 👻 has got them shook!
— NBL (@NBL) October 29, 2018
Three early 3s, none better than this #ILLatMEL #NBL19 pic.twitter.com/xSvK9507i9
United coach Dean Vickerman knew Ware’s form could be reversed with hard work and time.
What Vickerman is unable to predict, however, five games into United’s title defence is if and when troubling fade-outs that have plagued his team so far this campaign will be erased — for good.
United led by 22 points during the second quarter.
Two minutes into the third quarter the never-say-die Hawks had pegged it back to eight points before back-to-back David Barlow (17 points, seven rebounds) and Mitch McCarron (14 points, five rebounds, four assists) long-range hammer blows righted the ship.
Then DJ Kennedy (13 points), Ware and Barlow went bang again — with consecutive triples — to all but sink the plucky Hawks, who still closed to within four points with seven minutes to go.
It's Halloween this week, so of course it's all 👻👻👻...@CWARE22 getting things going early in #ILLatMEL #NBL19 pic.twitter.com/VcfPO4Tj6U
— NBL (@NBL) October 29, 2018
The night belonged to Ware, however, who sparked the offence going 3-4 from the perimeter in the first quarter alone, including a shimmy and shake that bedazzled Hawks import Jordair Jett.
Vickerman praised Ware’s impact, especially early, stepping up in Chris Goulding’s absence.
“Unbelievable start (from Casper) only fouls slowed him down a little bit there for a while,” Vickerman said.
“He’s a guy that we’ve known over time when Chris is out (he steps up) ... certainly a guy that senses moments when you really need him and that’s what you want from imports.”
Ware was matter-of-fact about his role.
“We just had to step up with Chris out ... and we did it collectively,” he said.
With Chris Goulding (knee) sidelined, Ware delivered a complete performance — attacking the paint with intent, it created mismatches and, he drained important buckets.
United has 40 minutes of basketball in Cairns to iron out the kinks before the inaugural Melbourne Cup eve showdown with Andrew Bogut’s Sydney Kings.
Vickerman signaled Goulding could miss Saturday night’s game in Cairns with bone bruising despite having made good progress in recovery.
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