NBL: Melbourne United out to regain top spot

IT has been a tough month, but former NBA big man Hakim Warrick is adamant Melbourne United is still the best team in the NBL.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 26: Hakim Warrick of Melbourne United drives to the basket past Brian Conklin of the Crocodiles during the round eight NBL match between the Townsville Crocodiles and Melbourne United on November 26, 2015 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

IT has been a tough month, but former NBA big man Hakim Warrick is adamant Melbourne United is still the best team in the NBL.

Now, he says, it is time to show it.

After a perfect 9-0 start to the season, Melbourne is 11-5 and has lost top spot to Perth.

It will meet bottom-placed Sydney Kings at Hisense Arena on Wednesday night in what looms as a crucial game.

“I believe in these guys and I still think we’re the best team in the league,” Warrick said.

“We’re just really looking forward to the challenge of continuing to show that.

“There’s a lot of the season still and we can’t wait to get out there, because it is getting down to crunch time and that’s when the real teams step up.

“And I know we will.”

Melbourne will be coming off its biggest defeat of the season, a 119-89 loss to the Wildcats in Perth. United was torched by import Jermaine Beal with 10 triples on his way to 40 points.

“That can happen and everyone has felt that — when you feel like you can do no wrong and the basket just seems a little bit bigger than normal,” Warrick said of Beal.

“But, defensively as a team, we should have done a much better job helping each other and making sure he didn’t get the looks that he got and been more aggressive on defence.”

United forward Todd Blanchfield suffered a heavy fall in Perth, but he will be fit to tackle Sydney tomorrow night.

Warrick said the squad was determined to make amends for its poor game in Perth.

“It was tough just the way we lost,” Warrick said. “I think we didn’t really put up a fight until the end and that’s the thing that is hard to swallow.

“But the beautiful thing about this game is that the games keep coming and we get another chance to go out there and compete.”

Warrick said he had completely shaken off a groin injury that saw him miss a string of matches last month.

“I feel really good and feel like I’m getting my legs back underneath me,” he said.

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Originally published as NBL: Melbourne United out to regain top spot