It's a busy period for the NBL with games almost every night of the week in the lead-up to Christmas. However few will have more spirit than Thursday night's clash between Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix. These cross-town rivals have everything to play for as United are on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether this season.
Greg Davis has the ball as he brings us his thoughts and NBL tips for United vs Phoenix this Thursday.
Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix Betting Tips
John Cain Arena, Thursday 7.30pm AEDT
Less than 72 hours after wanting to throw-up, Melbourne United fans face the prospect of another Throwdown disaster against cross-town rival South-East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night.
This is the fourth and final Melbourne derby of the 2022-23 NBL season regular season and the way that United is fumbling and bumbling along, there will not be a fifth meeting in the play-offs.
Melbourne appeared to be well on their way to their eighth-straight win over Perth in Perth and their 10th success in their last 11 trips to RAC Arena on Monday night when they led the Wildcats by eight points with 45 seconds on the clock and by five with just eight seconds left.
United were back, baby!
But two late three-pointers from the home side delivered a heart-breaking/soul-destroying/gut wrenching/ (choose your own dramatic physical reaction) 11th loss for United this campaign who are in perilous danger of missing the play-offs for the first time in a long time.
Losses like that take some time to get over and time is not on Melbourne’s side.
The one-time powerhouse is so devoid of confidence and spark this season and the last thing they need right now after such a demoralising defeat at the hands of one arch-rival is to be taking on another genuine arch-rival who are absolutely flying.
The Phoenix have been rising (we’ll show ourselves out) up the NBL ladder with an ominous record at home, a talented and deep squad and priceless momentum. They are building something out in the “Heartland’.
South East Melbourne will be gunning for their fourth-straight win after swishing their way through Round 10 with two 100 point-plus outings over Illawarra and Adelaide.
They have won the last two Throwdowns and while they will be the away team on Thursday, it is still the same arena where they have amassed eight “home” victories overall this season and seven in a row.
United have the roster to beat anybody on any given day but those days have been few and far between this season.
They should be desperate to make amends for the diabolic finish in the west but they are playing a lime green machine that really doesn’t like them and would love nothing better than to put another nail in the coffin of their play-off hopes.
Mitch Creek and the Phoenix to do them easy here.
