NBL 2020: David Barlow backs Melbourne United to stay in hunt for playoffs

Veteran David Barlow has warned rivals not to write off Melbourne United’s playoff chances as the early title favourites attempt to snap a three-game losing streak.

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Write Melbourne United off at your peril.

That’s the message coming out of the besieged Melbourne camp as an NBL playoff berth slips away.

United was among the title favourites at the start of the season but they just haven’t been able to put it all together, three-straight horror double-digit losses leaving them a game-and-a-half out of the four with just five rounds left.

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David Barlow hasn’t given up on Melbourne United’s finals chances. Picture: Michael Klein

Veteran David Barlow says the losses hurt, but he’s focused on the positives.

Melbourne has an extra game to make up the gap on fourth-placed Brisbane — but it must start with the reigning champion Perth in Wednesday night’s Australian Open game.

“The season’s not over for us, we still have a chance to make it and things can turn around for us quickly,” Barlow said.

“I know that the coaching staff is going to have a brilliant plan for us against Perth, it’s our job as a playing group to stick to that plan as best we can.

David Barlow is confident Melbourne United can bounce back to winning form against Perth. Picture: AAP

“I’ll be up and about again, you take the losses, and you’re really upset about them, but then things turn around and life goes on.”

Barlow said if United can sneak into the playoffs, they have the weaponry to make plenty of noise against more fancied opposition.

“We haven’t been able to play the way we hope of ourselves or maybe others would expect for large parts of the season but, if we can figure it out, teams wouldn’t want to face us in a situation where we have completely understood how to win big games,” Barlow said.

THE MATCH

Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats

Wednesday, 7.30pm, Melbourne Arena

Originally published as NBL 2020: David Barlow backs Melbourne United to stay in hunt for playoffs