DrinkWise Preview: Round 20, Game 1 v Brisbane Bullets

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United will play the first of its final two regular season home games on Saturday evening when they welcome the Brisbane Bullets back to John Cain Arena.

United will be looking for a season sweep of the Bullets, having beaten Brisbane in their previous two meetings.

A win is crucial for Melbourne as they fight to maintain top spot on the NBL22 ladder heading into the postseason.

For Brisbane, the chase for consistency continues, as the Bullets look to string together two wins in a row for the first time since late January.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Perhaps no player has been as impactful against the Bullets this season as Jack White.

The athletic forward is one of six United players averaging double figures against Brisbane across their two previous games.

White has however been a standout for the defending champions, with Melbourne outscoring the Bullets by 15 points per game with the high-flyer on the floor.

Add to this his proclivity to step up in crunch-time (18 fourth quarter points leads the team), look for White to have another great game on Saturday.

KEY MATCHUP

As both sides look to get going from the perimeter, all eyes will quickly shift to a matchup featuring over 700 games on NBL experience.

Chris Goulding and Jason Cadee are two of the league’s best shooters and will once again match up at JCA.

CG43 has struggled somewhat in the matchup this season, only averaging a modest nine points per game, while Cadee is coming off a 17-point performance in their last meeting.

Goulding has come out aggressively in United’s last three games, recording a pair of 20-point performances in his last two games, and will look to start hot once again against the Bullets.

THE OTHER GUYS

Just who will be suiting up for Brisbane when they travel to Melbourne remains a mystery.

Robert Franks missed the Bullets’ last game against Adelaide, while Tyrell Harrison hasn’t appeared in a game since early March due to an elbow injury.

Looking at who must step up for the visitors, Anthony Drimic will be looking to show what sort of impact he could have made the last time the two teams met, a game he missed due to the birth of his child.

Lamar Patterson remains a threat to score inside with his unorthodox game, while bench duo Tom Digbue and Deng Deng are coming off a strong showing (29 combined points).

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets

Tip off: 5.30pm (AEST), Saturday 16 April, 2022

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: Australia - 10 Peach and Kayo Freebies. International - NBL YouTube