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MELBOURNE READY<br />
FOR THE FIGHT<br />
Melbourne United know what needs<br />
to be done.<br />
It has been a season of growth and<br />
development for United – a newfound<br />
belief in one another, the system and<br />
playing the game the right way. The team<br />
has building to this moment all season.<br />
Because of this growth, with clubs first <strong>Final</strong>s<br />
game in two years about to tip-off and what<br />
could be United’s first ever <strong>Final</strong>s game win,<br />
there is a sense of calm heading into <strong>Game</strong><br />
One against New Zealand.<br />
This isn’t because of cockiness, it’s because of<br />
the body of work the group has done this season<br />
and the belief that their defence will stand up<br />
when push comes to shove – as it has done<br />
all season long.<br />
Achieving something the club has never done<br />
before is exactly what newly crowned 2018 NBL<br />
Coach of the Year, Dean Vickerman and is team<br />
is focused on.<br />
“We understand that it’s the next step for us. We<br />
haven’t won a Playoff game yet, so that’s the total<br />
focus of this group – how we can get a win and<br />
how we can build our strategy over the week.”<br />
Vickerman said.<br />
Asked about the struggles Melbourne have<br />
endured against New Zealand in recent years,<br />
Vickerman brushed aside any concerns about<br />
the Breakers having the edge over his team.<br />
“We don’t really worry about what has happened<br />
in the past. Right now, we are trying to stay in the<br />
present – what this group has done this year<br />
and what this group is capable of doing,”<br />
Vickerman continued.<br />
“We know that they’ve been a quality <strong>Final</strong>s team<br />
over the years and there’s a lot of experience<br />
there… We expect nothing but an unbelievably<br />
competitive game with them.”<br />
Superstar Casey Prather – whose Perth team<br />
defeated New Zealand in the Grand <strong>Final</strong> series<br />
in 2016 – talked about what it is that makes<br />
New Zealand such a threatening prospect.<br />
“Their experience alone is very dangerous,” Prather<br />
continued. “Anytime you have a team that has put<br />
themselves in a position over and over again, they<br />
kind of have a bit of an advantage.” Prather said.<br />
“Also, they’re really physical, they’re a great team<br />
and organisation where the coaching staff and<br />
the players, they all buy-in to the system.<br />
When you mix those things together, that’s<br />
pretty dangerous.”<br />
Stifling the likes of Edgar Sosa, Mika Vukona DJ<br />
Newbill, Tom Abercrombie and Kirk Penney is<br />
going to demand a team effort and a defensive<br />
intensity that is second to none.<br />
“It’s going to be the defence – it’s been the defence<br />
all year.” United big man Josh Boone said.<br />
“Our defence is what has gotten us to this point...<br />
Ultimately, our defence is what is going to<br />
hopefully win this Championship.”<br />
2 <strong>Game</strong> Day Program
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