NBL: Melbourne United hope to prove they’re over mid-season slump with win over Sydney Kings

RETURNING Sydney Kings star forward Josh Childress stands between Melbourne United and its attempt to claim a second NBL win in four days on Wednesday night.

Chris Goulding of United runs the ball up the court under pressure from Casey Prather of the Wildcats during the NBL Match Melbourne United versus the Perth Wildcats at Hisense arena in Melbourne on Sunday 27th December, 2015. Picture: Mark Dadswell

RETURNING Sydney Kings star forward Josh Childress stands between Melbourne United and its attempt to claim a second NBL win in four days on Wednesday night.

Childress and Melbourne United import Hakim Warrick will go head to head for the first time since the pair were NBA teammates at Phoenix Suns in 2011 and 2012.

Either Childress or Warrick have been injured in the previous three meetings between the two long-time rivals this season.

It looms as a crucial battle in another big game for a Melbourne side looking to prove it has shaken off its mid-season malaise once and for all.

Third-placed United’s impressive 92-87 win over ladder-leaders Perth on Sunday night was the perfect tonic after a tough run with seven defeats in its previous nine starts.

But Wednesday night’s meeting with bottom-placed Sydney should tell us whether Melbourne really has turned the corner or not.

“I hope we’re better; I want to be better than we were against Perth,” Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos said.

“And we’ll work towards that between now and then.”

Melbourne’s revival against Perth was led by guard Chris Goulding, who scored 27 points in his best display for some time.

Goulding said he will continue to go on the attack on Wednesday night.

“I think I need to work on being aggressive and trying to get everyone involved,” he said.

Chris Goulding starred against the Perth Wildcats on Sunday night. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“More so than on previous years on this team, I think I need to shoulder a bit of that load and make sure we’re getting good looks and getting the ball to the people that need the ball.

“Steve (Holt) and Nate (Tomlinson) do a great job, but anytime I can help out in that department is good and I think we can be better.

“It is about being aggressive and trying to make the right basketball plays.”

Melbourne will need to lock down on point guard Jason Cadee, who is enjoying a huge season and torched United earlier this month.

Opposition guards have often got off the chain against Melbourne this season, and Demopoulos expects Cadee to go hard at the likes of Stephen Holt and Goulding tonight.

“They (Holt and Goulding) got a tough job,” he said.

“Every team comes and they are marked men and they try to get us out of what we try to do.

“So we strap it on again on Wednesday and we’ll look to do the same type of thing obviously.”

Originally published as NBL: Melbourne United hope to prove they’re over mid-season slump with win over Sydney Kings