Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats Game review
Melbourne started their preseason with some very unimpressive play. Brisbane handled them easily, with solid ball movement and a consistent play style. This game against Perth was a big indicator about where they were going to stand on the leader board this season.
Perth have been playing well with Cotton back to his best, dropping 36 points in 31 minutes in the Wildcats 1st Preseason Blitz game. Can they continue that unbeaten streak.
1st Quarter:
Ariel Huckporti opened the game with an attempt at a monster jam which rimmed out. He had been missing a few shot so far in the preseason and that attempt looked like he wanted destroy the ring!
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (XRM) opened scoring for the game with a strong drive,
one on one against Luke Travers who is normally a very strong defender. Off
ball Travers is elite defensively, maybe on ball is a hole in his defensive
game.
Travers makes up for it though with a steal in the next play and opens scoring for Perth with a drive to the rim. Travers has a similar defensive play style to Mattise Thybulle in that he uses his basketball IQ and physical gifts to be an elite off the ball defender, he manages to help on nearly every other defensive play.
Huckporti skies for a big block then runs the lane for a big jam on offence. He certainly made up for the miss on the opening play!
Travers made a great cut and received the feed for a jam for Perth and it looks like Travers is playing point guard again!
XRM played exceptional defence on Bryce cotton and made him a complete non factor the whole half, let alone the first quarter with Cotton barely getting a touch of the ball.
Makuach Maluach made a strong drive one on one against Travers again, and Melbourne have a good lead 16-8 with 3 minutes left in the quarter.
Cory Webster is in and immediately made a classic Webster play with a crossover, step back and mid range J for Perth. But Isaac Humphries comes in for Hukporti and there is no loss in the center position as he brings down the offensive board and makes the bucket. A strong Humphries would be huge for this Melbourne team. He was playing MVP level basketball before his injury with the Adelaide 36ers alongside Josh Giddey.
Melbourne show off their improved ball movement and drop a 3 bomb at the buzzer to take a 10 point lead after the first 10 minutes 21-11.
2nd quarter
Perth make a better start in the second with a great cut by Luke Travers for the easy dunk.
Chris Goulding drops a bomb 3 for Melbourne though and extends the lead.
Ariel Hukporti is everywhere as he blocks a Bryce Cotton drive which leads to a David Barlow dunk in transition. Isn't Barlow retired?! Must be nice for Melbourne to have a on court assistant coach.
Rayjon Tucker gets in on the action with a 3 bomb and the Melbourne lead keeps getting bigger as United are rolling. 29-13 with 7:30 left in the 2nd quarter.
Perth get a bucket off a great cut from TeShawn Thomas off an excellent Travers pass as he is still playing point guard and carrying Perth in many ways. Travers seems to have a hand in every play that goes anywhere on both sides of the ball. But Melbourne shut him down with a big block and the Melbourne block count just keeps going!
Issac Humphries is pushing when he gets on the floor and makes a nice drive and layup off a XRM assist. He must be a big fantasy pick up for cheap. Very high upside. (Both players)
Melbourne cant do anything wrong. Playing excellent defence and moving the ball. Then XRM and Isaac Humphries team up for a block and steal to push the ball and complete a full court transition play with two passes and the ball not touching the ground, finishing with a Tucker and one layup!
Rajon Tucker is an exciting player who's enthusiasm for the game is infectious. When he makes a good play you'll know about it with his celebrations and his plays are awesome!
XRM continued to dominate dropping step back mid range J's over Bryce Cotton like its a pick up game.
Perth were struggling to get anything and everything was going Melbourne's way until Brady Manek drops a 3 at the buzzer.
Melbourne with a dominating lead 48-30 at the half.
3rd Quarter:
Rajon Tucker opens the quarter with a huge right hand dunk.
Tucker backs up the dunk with a steel off a the quick hands of Hukporti and leads the fast break to feed Hukporti for the Jam!
Todd Blanchfield got scoring started for Perth with a big 3.
Bryce Cotton backde it up with a 3, for his first points of the game with six minutes left in the third quarter. Melbourne absolutely shutting him down!
Some hard defense from Melbourne and Cotton and Travers are down after some hard hits, but in the back court Ariel Hukporti is down and not getting up off, a non contact play! He is carried off the floor by his teammates and he couldn't put any weight down on his foot!
The story of the game isn't Melbourne's excellent play but the Hukporti injury! Its later confirmed its a torn archiles and he is out for the entire season! Its a huge loss for Melbourne United and the entire league. Hukporti was ready for a break out season before possibly going to the the NBA and off his play from this game he was looking like a dominating big man in the NBL. I really hope he recovers well and can continue his career without lasting injury.
Cotton droped another 3 and it was looking like Perth might make a run, but Tucker got a steal on the next play and an easy transition lay up.
XRM then just catches fire, smoking cotton and dropping a bomb three as cotton looks on. While on the other end absolutely shutting Cotton down.
XRM then feeds Humphries for a couple of layups and makes more buckets before asking for a rest. He absolutely took over the game with Melbourne up 26.
Tucker dropped a 3 at the buzzer and Melbourne go into the final break dominating 73-47.
4th Quarter
Perth open the quarter with a Thomas 3 ball and back it up with a Cotton steal, and another Thomas 3 but its 73-51.
Melbourne forced a turnover and find Brad Newley for an easy layup and it stops Perth's run in its tracks.
The final quarter didn't need to be played as Melbourne continued their great play and run away with the win 90-63.
Final score Melbourne 90 Perth 63.
Its preseason but it was a statement win by Melbourne, who if they can play like that, will be very tough to beat.
Losing Hukporti can not be understated though. His defence and offence in this game was exceptional.
Game Leaders:
Melbourne United
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (XRM) - 22 points 2 assists
Rajon Tucker - 18 points 7 rebounds 3 assists
Isaac humphries - 12 points, 7 rebounds 3 assists
Perth Wildcats:
Tashawn Thomas - 10 Points
Bryce Cotton - 8 Points, 7 rebounds
Cory Webster - 10 points
Luke travers - 7 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds
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