DrinkWise Preview: Round 16 Game 1 v NZ Breakers

Having taken care of business against the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night, Melbourne United’s winning streak extended to nine.

In what promises to be a mid-week showdown, Melbourne will be looking to make it a perfect ten wins in a row when they take on New Zealand at John Cain Arena.

With the Breakers boasting an array of players who can impact games very quickly, United will have their hands full.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Mitch McCarron scored a season-high 21 points in the win over Adelaide on Saturday night and it’s fair to say his play this season has been nothing short of spectacular.

You always know what you’re going to get with McCarron and his energy, leadership and will to win is second to none. As well as scoring 21 points against the 36ers, he also dished out 5 assists and grabbed 5 steals. It was a complete performance from the point guard who has been working hard all season long.

His manic pressure is too much for many opposition players to handle and with McCarron averaging a team-high 32 minutes of action each game, opposing guards can’t catch a break from his relentless defence.

KEY MATCH UP

The battle between the big men coming off the bench will be a key match up in this game. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Rob Loe are vital contributors to their respective squads.

Since returning to the team in mid-April, Loe has been a huge factor for the Breakers. He provides a strong scoring and rebounding presence off the bench and averaged 8.7 points and 6 rebounds per outing over his first three games back in action.

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Lual-Acuil Jr. has been a key piece for United all season and has really risen to the occasion recently with Jack White out due to injury, averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game over his last four matches. He’s the ultimate scoring big man off the bench, who comes in and plays his role well.

When he’s on the floor with the second unit, Lual-Acuil Jr. is often the focal point of United’s offence and he’s been repaying Coach Dean Vickerman’s faith with consistent scoring.

With both teams having great scorers across multiple positions, these two big guys are luxuries that can push an opposition’s defence to the brink.

THE OTHER GUYS

New Zealand has been battling hard all season long and despite injuries and being away from home for months, they’ve continued to show up and have a real crack each game.

The Breakers grabbed two impressive wins in Round 14; a 20-point thumping of the Bullets and a hard-fought win over the Wildcats in Perth. Those two results prove that they are capable of anything on any given night.

With Tai Webster out due to injury, much of the offensive load now sits with brother Corey Webster – a player that thrives in big moments and has been a star of the league for years. Averaging 15.6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game, Webster does it all for New Zealand.

Finn Delany has been on a mission this season and United fans saw that firsthand in Round 13 when Delany exploded for 33 points on just under 70% shooting from the field at John Cain Arena. Keeping this guy in check will be key for Melbourne.

Colton Iverson has been a beast this season and has put up some ridiculous stat-lines along the way; 26 points and 22 rebounds against South East Melbourne and 11 points and 17 rebounds against Perth highlight exactly that.

Levi Randolph was a mid-season addition for New Zealand and he’s fitted in well. Randolph’s had outings of 20 and 23 points recently and as he continues to find his feet in the NBL, he will only get better.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers.
Tip off: 7:30pm (AEST), Wednesday 28 April.
Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne.
Watch: ESPN and SBS On Demand.
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