TWO MATCHES more than 2300km apart will provide NBL fans with plenty of basketball action tonight as Round 5 of the NBL rolls on at Spark Arena and Brisbane Entertainment Centre. We take a look at the second of those clashes which promise to provide plenty of fascinating matchups and early bragging rights for sides.

>> PREVIEW: New Zealand Breakers vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

Brisbane Bullets vs. Melbourne United

Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Friday, October 17 @ 7:30pm AEDT

Brisbane Bullets will be looking to find an answer that thus far, no one else in the NBL has been able to find, and that is to the question of ‘how to stop Melbourne United?’ The visiting side is top of the table with five wins from five games, and boasting the best offence in that span, averaging 101 points per game, and only conceding 80, compared to Brisbane who though they can score – 91 points per game – have struggled defensively – 93 points per game – which is where United can take full advantage.

The Bullets are coming off an inspirational road win over Perth Wildcats by 17 points, but again conceded 93 which is simply something the home side can ill-afford. United only conceded 60 points in a 35-point shellacking over Cairns on October 12, and have the three days extra rest to prepare for the contest. While Brisbane’s second win of the season snapped a four-game losing streak, the Bullets will have to go up another level here.

United rank first in a lot of categories, but are shooting at 36 per cent from outside the arc, ranking first in the league with more than 10 makes per game. Brisbane has the second least makes per game (6.6) and shoot at just 27 per cent from that range, so they rely on a lot of work around the key and inside the arc. Perhaps the biggest differential between the sides comes in the rebounding aspect where United rank first (48 per game) compared to the last placed Bullets (35.4).

It means a lot will rest on the shoulders of big man Tyrell Harrison who is averaging nine rebounds per match and putting up 15.2 points at the same time. He will likely be the one United looks to contain through equally damaging number five, Jesse Edwards. He has not only put up 9.2 rebounds per game to go with 15.6 points, but also denying the opposition regularly with 1.6 blocks per match.

Back court pair Casey Prather (23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists) and Jaylen Adams (14.4 points, 5.4 assists) have been terrific for the Bullets, but they will need to produce that and more against a staunch United defence. The mutual termination of star import Javon Freeman-Liberty after two eye-catching performances in September forced the Bullets to change plans.

United just has options all over the park with former Bullet Tanner Krebs in career-best form for Melbourne, averaging 10.6 points – double what he did for United in his last two seasons – and has supported the likes of Edwards and veteran Chris Goulding (16 points per game) exceptionally well. The depth in United’s back court is just ridiculous with Tyson Walker (14.6 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds) and ex-JackJumper Milton Doyle (14.6 points, 4.0 assist sand 3.0 rebounds) able to play contributing roles while being stars in their own right.

It is impossible to go past Melbourne in the clash, with United firing on all cylinders and depth for days. United by 15 points with an eye to return home against the Breakers on Sunday.