NBL: The four acts that kept Melbourne United in the playoffs hunt
Melbourne United is still in the NBL finals race and the attributes they showed in downing Cairns will put fear in their rivals should they clinch a spot in the playoffs.
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You know what can’t be taught?
Hunger.
Not for points and rebounds, or even assists, but genuine contests.
The line-ball plays that decide matches.
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Melbourne United relied on it on Thursday night and delivered 99-83 against Cairns Taipans at Melbourne Arena in front of a crowd of 6315 to keep its season alive.
All of a sudden, United has gone from the also-ran to a finals bogey.
Is Sydney thrilled about taking on Melbourne in a knockout final?
A team which sent the glamour Kings packing last season in straight sets.
Granted, United still needs a win over South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday to punch its playoff pass.
But how could you put a line through Melbourne?
If anyone at Melbourne reeks of desperate and hunger it is Shea Ili.
A shrewd signing last season, partly as back-up for Melo Trimble, but mostly to harass the best playmakers in the competition.
A stand and deliver three opened United’s account and from there the hungriest ruled.
Hunger I: Trimble finding half a gear to surge past Taipans star Scott Machado and win a loose ball.
Hunger II: David Barlow charging into the paint after a blown three-point shot attempt only to regain possession, complete a contested layup and draw the foul for good measure.
Hunger III: Shawn Long doing just enough in a mismatch on the perimetre to worry DJ Newbill out of possession.
Hunger IV: Jo-Lual Acuil, the second tallest man on the court, scrambling on the floor to win back possession and set up a transition which could United a seven-point break deep in the last.
United would not look back from that as Long punctuated the performance with the last seven points of the match, including a three and emphatic alley-oop.
GOLD STANDARD
Not the first time Chris Goulding has answered the call.
With United at its desperate best the captain delivered in spades.
Catch and shoot threes, crafty assists and buckets out of nothing were the order of the day as the 31 year-old paced United with 23 points including five three-point bombs.
NATE THE GREAT
He only played 12 minutes but good grief did Taipans enforcer Nate Jawai make his presence felt.
United threw everything at Jawai, pitting the giant Snake against Shawn Long, Alex Pledger and Jo-Lual Acuil but Jawai made them all look inferior.
For a giant, Jawai was crisp.
Be it mid-range or on the run, the 140kg block of flats, whose highlight reel included a running mindmill dunk over Barlow, gave the Snakes every chance with 16 points and three rebounds.