‘One import each - it is now a fair game’ - Melbourne United stir Perth’s pot ahead of the NBL grand final series

Bryce Cotton’s season-ending injury means Perth only have one import left - American big man John Mooney, prompting Melbourne United to jokingly declare that the grand final series will now be “fair game”.

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has set the scene for Friday’s grand final opener against Perth by cheekily declaring the series is fair game because “We’ve got one import each”. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has set the scene for Friday’s grand final opener against Perth by cheekily declaring the series is fair game because “We’ve got one import each”.

United have landed in the west for the opening two games of the five-match series having been on the road for more than three weeks.

Vickerman’s tongue-in-cheek dig comes as the Wildcats will play without star guard Bryce Cotton, who was ruled out for the season after suffering a haematoma to his left quadriceps.

Cotton’s absence leaves Perth with just one import, American big man John Mooney.

It prompted Vickerman to joke that the grand final series will now be an even playing field, with both clubs having one import each in Mooney and United forward Scotty Hopson.

Bryce Cotton’s season-ending injury means Perth only have one import left - American big man John Mooney, prompting Melbourne United to jokingly declare that the grand final series will now be “fair game”. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Stirring aside, Vickerman has the highest respect for the Wildcats, even without Cotton.

“It is always a possession game with them and can you match them rebounding and taking care of the basketball,” Vickerman said from Perth on Wednesday.

“Right now, I think they (Perth) lose a bit of that isolation game without Cotton but they double down and go a lot more off the basketball.

“(Todd) Blanchfield and (Clint) Steindl and the way they play off Mooney is going to be the key.”

United remain strong favourites to take out the opening game, and the series having finished three games clear of Perth on the top of the ladder at the end of the regular season.

Vickerman concedes playing the first two grand final games in Perth wasn’t ideal but he remains confident on the back of his team’s defence and resilience, which was on show during Tuesday’s impressive comeback semi-final win over South East Melbourne.

“Well it gives you a chance,” he said.

“To play a really good fourth quarter the other night to lock down defensively and shift the ball, that was probably the most pleasing part.

“Also seeing different people step up, like Sam McDaniel and the job he did on (Phoenix guard) Keifer Sykes after halftime.

“That just got everybody else going and I thought he (Sam) really drove that start defensively.

“We have to continue to find those things.”