Melbourne United thrash Cairns Taipans to effectively book place in NBL finals

MELBOURNE United has all but secured a playoff berth after the NBL ladder leaders scored a fifth consecutive win on Friday night.

Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans and State Hockey and Netball Centre. melbourne United's Hakim Warrick . Pic: Michael Klein

MELBOURNE United has all but secured a playoff berth after the NBL ladder leaders scored a fifth consecutive win on Friday night.

A red-hot United dominated from start to finish to score a 98-68 thrashing of Cairns Taipans at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.

Import Hakim Warrick continued his recent rich vein of form, finishing with a game-high 19 points and four boards off the bench.

Guard Chris Goulding drained five of seven triples to finish with 18 points, while Stephen Holt (15 points, five boards, four assists) was also a big contributor.

Coach Dean Demopoulos was thrilled with the win and warned his side still had plenty of upside.

“It was a great result for us,” Demopoulos said.

“We’re a work in a progress and we’ve still got a lot of improvement in my eyes and their eyes.

“They’re not satisfied; they’re hungry and hopefully we can keep building.”

It also got the win a man down with Demopoulos unable to draw upon Chris Patton after the Melbourne big man was accidentally left off the official scoresheet.

Patton tried to enter the court in the second term, but was denied entry by the score bench due to NBL rules.

Melbourne United's Chris Goulding at the free-throw line.

“That was my fault; I signed a sheet that didn’t have a name on it,” Demopoulos later said.

“I felt bad about it and I still do.

“It was a great opportunity for him to grow and get better and I didn’t give it to him.

“It was my job and my responsibility, so it was my fault.”

The Victorian side put the issue aside to score its second win over the Taipans in three days.

It did it in style, too, with almost every player having an impact in a ruthless display.

It was clear immediately Melbourne was on with a 4-point play from Goulding helping Melbourne get off to a solid start.

United quickly had the game on its terms but the Taipans were able to stead to trail by just six points at quarter-time.

Although the visitors already had two players – Cam Tragardh and Shaun Bruce - on two fouls before the first break.

Melbourne went on the attack in the second quarter with Warrick and Goulding the main destroyers.

The home side led by 16 points at the main break and then by 31 points at three quarter-time.

The final term was merely a curtain call with Demopoulos clearing his bench to give young development players Kyle Adnam and Tohi Smith-Milner some valuable court time.

Although Adnam had to leave the court after being sick on the floor with Demopoulos later saying he had been feeling “under the weather.”

Melbourne’s next game is against the 36ers in Adelaide next Friday night.

Originally published as Melbourne United thrash Cairns Taipans to effectively book place in NBL finals