Looking forward to Melbourne United’s finals run

Melbourne United raring to go

Melbourne United are counting down the days until the 27th of February, when they will play against the Perth Wildcats in the first game of the NBL Playoffs. This is an incredibly exciting matchup that will see some of the league’s best players compete for a spot in the Championship Series. 

United have won their last 4 games against the Wildcats and will go into the series with confidence. The team has played some of their best basketball against the Wildcats this season with players like Chris Goulding, Jack White, Ian Clark and Shea Ili putting on some big performances. 

90 the number for United

Defence has proven to be a key to United’s success, with the team going 12-1 when keeping their opposition under 90 points this season. While it will take a team effort to contain the Wildcats, the anticipated matchup between the defensive player of the year, Shea Ili, and the MVP, Bryce Cotton will be a crucial aspect of this three-game series. 

By the time the United next hit the court, it will have been 19 days since they last played a game. During this break, the team focused on improving and coming together as a group, before turning their attention to their opposition. This involved an intense intrasquad scrimmage with an aim of simulating match conditions. 

The break also allows the players more time to reflect and realise the advantages that they have as a team. This is an incredibly familiar group, with almost every player having played for United in previous seasons. Every player on this team has shown how they can embrace their role and impact winning.

The chemistry within the team goes well beyond this season, with players like Chris Goulding, Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova having played together for a long time. Their leadership and experience always stands out in the finals and is often the foundation for the team’s success. 

Last season's loss on the mind

After being only a shot away from winning the championship last season, the team will go into this season’s finals with a sense of determination that will be hard to match. The group will look to use their collective motivation to their advantage during their finals run when they play against other talented teams, like the Wildcats.

The maturity United have demonstrated is outstanding, with every player contributing to the team’s selfless way of play. They will want to show how their growth and resilience have prepared them for this moment. 

While the team continues to work hard, the stage is set for an incredibly exciting Playoff series against the Wildcats. With confidence stemming from their recent success and deep sense of camaraderie, expect United to try and make the most of their finals run.