Table of Plenty Coaches' Round Table: Round 5

Welcome to the Table of Plenty Coach’s Round Table! This weekly article will provide you with some behind-the-scenes insight from our team of coaches regarding our performance from the previous round, thanks to Table of Plenty, the Official Snack Partner of Melbourne United.
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Offence - Lead Assistant Coach and Head of Player Development & Basketball Innovation, Keegan Crawford

“Illawarra was the tale of two halves from an offensive execution standpoint.

“The second half showed a much better team effort focusing on our solutions against teams that pack the paint and try to take away our impact in transition.

“But in this league, our best effort is required for 40 minutes. We’ve yet to put in a full four quarter effort but are trending in that direction.”

Despite coming away with a loss, United’s offence in their comeback effort in the fourth quarter was elite, as they scored 24 points to the Hawks’ 12 in the period.

Cole Anthony scored 11 of his 24 points for the game in the last quarter, continuing to show that in crunch time there are few better options in the league than the import. 
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Defence - Melbourne United Basketball Academy Head Coach, Nathan Crosswell

“I thought our effort defensively was elite through three quarters. We stopped Illawarra doing what they are best at for long stretches. It was just that second period that let us down from an intent and effort point of view.

“We got timely stops through most of the third and the fourth quarter but there were a couple of plays where we got exposed late in the game that ended up being the difference in the result.”

Although the Hawks had a rough start to the season, their offence has been as proficient as anyone. Prior to the matchup they led the league in fast-break points and points in the paint. United on Sunday held the Hawks to a season low in the former, and below their season average in the latter. 

Melbourne also held the Hawks to 91 points in the contest, their second lowest game total for the year. 
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Head Coach Jacob Chance’s Final Word

“I love our responses. I just think we're struggling to put four quarters together of the best version of us right now. It's our third game we've had a shot at the buzzer to win. It hasn't gone our way but I think three and four is probably a fair reflection of where we're at.

“They have 17 points off turnovers in the first half, only four in the second, 8 second chance points in the first half, only zero in the second. It’s just effort areas, urgency areas that we need to be more consistent. 

“Still, to hold them to 91 points is an achievable outcome. But unfortunately, the game was lost in that second quarter.”
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United will next take the court as the away side in Perth against the Wildcats at 9:30pm this Friday the 23rd of October. 

Watch it live on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+.

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