DrinkWise Preview: NBL22 - Round 7, Game 1 v NZ Breakers

After a week on the sidelines, the defending champs are set to return to the court on Friday for their first of two games across Round 7.

Facing New Zealand, United will look to repeat their form from less than a month ago, where Melbourne took away the win over the Breakers by 23 points at John Cain Arena.

In what will be classified as an away game for United, the contest will be played at MyState Bank Arena in Tasmania, a venue that United are yet to lose at.

For the Breakers, they will be hoping to continue their own momentum coming off their first win of the season, a five-point victory over the Bullets in Brisbane.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Across United’s four-game winning streak, defence and rim protection has featured prominently, and perhaps no center rotation has been better defensively than Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Ariel Hukporti.

The duo are combining for over 20 points and 12 rebounds per game, while sending away close to four shots each outing.

Matthew Dellavedova recently praised the work of JLA and The Big A coming off the side’s fourth consecutive victory.

“They’re huge pieces to this team on both ends.

“Our defence has been great so far… A lot of it starts with having Jo and Ariel behind us as guards.

“It allows us to be aggressive on defence and know that if our man gets into the lane, we have those big boys behind us to protect the rim.”

Look for United’s twin towers to cause issues on both ends for NZ and their own star big man, Yannick Wetzell.

KEY MATCHUP

In a battle of two of the best young athletes in the NBL, Jack White and Finn Delany are set to clash at the forward position.

The pair spent time on each other in the two side’s first meeting, however expect to see more of this on Friday with Jack White playing without any minutes restrictions.

An explosive scorer, Delany will look to make his mark at the rim with his leaping ability, and outside the arc with his silky jumper.

For White, locking down the Breakers Captain will be a huge focus.

Since coming back from injury, White has played a massive role in Melbourne’s league-best defence, having helped United keep opponents under 75 points in all three of his games.

THE OTHER GUYS

Boasting a roster full of dangerous scorers, NZ had the ability to get out to fast starts and make opponents play from behind early.

Yannick Wetzell is coming off one of his best games of the season (27 points, eight rebounds, four assists), and is always dangerous inside the paint.

French sharpshooter Hugo Besson has the ability to stretch the floor well, and has a trio of hyper-talented guards feeding him open looks.

William McDowll-White, Payton Siva and Jeremiah Martin have all shown the ability to be effective creating open looks for their teammates, as well as taking it themselves and putting the ball in the hoop.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers
Tip off: 7:30pm (AEDT), Friday 14 January, 2022
Where: MyState Bank Arena, Glenorchy
Watch: ESPN, Foxtel, and Kayo