DrinkWise Preview: Grand Final Game Two v Perth Wildcats

Melbourne United took a crucial step towards their goal of becoming 2021 NBL Champions by grabbing a win on the road in Game One of their Grand Final Series against the Perth Wildcats.

It was an intense and defensive-minded battle that came down to the final seconds, but United was able to get the job done and now owns a 1-0 lead in the best of five series.

With just one more game in Perth, it’s time to unite, Melbourne! Get behind your team.

THE DIFFERENCE IN GAME ONE

The first half was a battle between two defences that didn’t give an inch. United scored just 31 points through the first two quarters, but the difference in the game was the third term.

After half time, Melbourne came out firing and piled on 29 points in the third quarter alone. It was Chris Goulding who went to work as he so often has throughout his illustrious career.

Goulding was the spark that ignited United, scoring 12 points in the quarter and helping Melbourne turn a four-point half-time deficit into a seven-point lead at the final break.

The shoot-out between Goulding and Todd Blanchfield was absolutely world-class as both sharpshooters did all they could for their respective teams with five triples each. Eventually, Goulding’s 23 points led United  to a 73-70 win.

PLAYER TO WATCH

David Barlow is a winner. Plain and simple.

The veteran forward is playing in his eighth NBL Grand Final Series and is the all-time leader in Grand Final games played, now with 27.

He’s the ultimate team guy and during that all-important third quarter run on Friday night, Barlow was right in the thick of the action. He drained a pair of triples in the quarter at vital stages and finished the game with 7 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Impressively, he also had the best +/- of anyone on the court, finishing +12 in his 20 minutes of court time.

In those frantic final plays down the stretch, Barlow came to the fore once again, playing stifling defence alongside Landale who eventually blocked Jesse Wagstaff’s shot attempt in the paint.

Barlow delivers when his team needs him and whenever his number is called, he’s ready to get to work. Expect more of the same as this series continues.

THE OTHER GUYS

Todd Blanchfield was a man possessed on Friday night and nearly dragged his team over the line. Playing a game-high 35 minutes, Blanchfield tried mightily to lift his team to victory, hitting shot after shot and grabbing rebounds on the other end too.

Recording a game-high 27 points and 7 rebounds, while shooting 55% from deep, Blanchfield got off the chain and United will need to defend him even closer in Game Two.

Kevin White provided key minutes off the bench for the Wildcats in Game One and finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds. He hit critical shots and won’t be backing down as the series progresses.

John Mooney had a quiet scoring night on Friday, but was still impressive in other facets of the game. He finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, but did dish out 5 turnovers which helped United get out in transition.

With the Wildcats having one more game on home soil, expect the Perth crowd to be up and about on Sunday afternoon and no doubt their players will thrive off that energy.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats.

Tip off: 5:00pm (AEST), Sunday 20 June.

Where: RAC Arena, Perth.

Watch: ESPN, SBS VICELAND, and SBS On Demand.