Back to basics: United focusing on the essentials ahead of Adelaide clash

Following back-to-back losses, the focus is clear at Melbourne United heading into Friday night’s game against the Adelaide 36ers; get back to what has made us so successful so far this season.

After an intense practice session, our captain, Chris Goulding, touched on how the team has prepared for Friday night’s top of the table matchup.

“It (practice) was good. We got back a bit closer to how we want to play, which has been a focus in these last few days,” Goulding said.

“I think everyone felt the kind of basketball we were playing earlier in the year was much more enjoyable, much more sustainable. So we have a real desire and intent to try and get back to that. 

“I think our last couple of games, we haven't played anywhere close to being a team at the top of the ladder. So, to be completely honest, our focus has been on ourselves in setting a standard of what we want to live by and what we want to see when we look back and watch the game.”

Head Coach Dean Vickerman echoed these sentiments, adding how the potential addition of Shea Ili, who is targeting a return on Friday, helped lift the team. 

“Right now we need to be better… I think once everybody agreed on the areas of improvement, I think it's easy to move forward,” Vickerman explained.

“We just kind of stripped it back and got back to the things that we thought had made us good at the start of the year, and that was our communication, our intensity and our defensive rebounding and the way that we shared the basketball. 

“I thought we got back to improving in some of those areas today.

“It was great having Shea back into practice. When you have an example of someone; how hard he plays and how intense he plays, that automatically starts to lift the standard of everybody else. 

“Great to have him back in practice, I thought there was just a commitment to the value of every possession and not taking any off.”

Goulding added his take on how crucial Ili is to our lineup.

“He's one of our leaders… He sets the tone for us. He goes out there and plays the right way and we need that Friday night against Adelaide.”

Fans can tune into the massive contest on Friday evening from 7:30pm on ESPN.

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