DrinkWise Preview: NBL23 - Round 6, Game 1 v Cairns Taipans

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United are looking to keep up their recent hot form when they head on the road to face the Cairns Taipans.

United will aim to remain undefeated on the road this season, having beaten Perth and Illawarra away from home in a pair of tight contests.

Having dropped their last game against Cairns, Melbourne will hope to return to the form against the snakes, having not lost at the Cairns Convention Centre since 2019.

For the home side, the primary focus will be breaking a two-game skid and maintain their spot in the top-four. 

PLAYER TO WATCH

After making a successful return from concussion in United’s blow-out win over Perth, Shea Ili will hope to keep his personal perfect record in NBL23 intact.

Despite playing just 12 minutes on Monday night, Ili impacted the ball all over the court, finishing the game with nine points, four assists and three rebounds.

After struggling to contain Cairn’s ball-handlers when the two sides first matched up in Round 4, Ili’s injection back into the team is sure to play a huge role in Melbourne picking up a third consecutive W.

KEY MATCHUP

After a dominant performance in their last meeting, United will have to do everything they can to slow down Keanu Pinder.

After giving up 26-points to the Cairns big-man in Round 4, it will be up to United’s pair of elite rim-protectors, David Okwera and Isaac Humphries to limit Pinder.

Okwera is coming off a career-best three-block outing against the Wildcats, while Humphries recently became the youngest player in the NBL’s 40-minute era to record 100 blocks.

Which front-line can gain the upper-hand will go a long way in deciding who takes home the much-needed win.

THE OTHER GUYS

While Pinder has gotten the lion's-share of the attention this season for the snakes, DJ Hogg has been putting on a show over his last two games.

Hogg is averaging 26 points per night over his last two outings, cashing in on 11 of his 22 looks from beyond the arc.

Surrounding the import forward is Cairns’ stable of shooters, including Shannon Scott, Sam Waardenburg, Bul Kuol and Majok Deng, meaning Melbourne will have to be wary of letting the Taipans get hot from downtown.

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GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans

Tip off: 7.30pm (AEDT), Friday 4 November, 2022

Where: Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns

Watch: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel