Match of the round for NBL Round 3 sees the Melbourne United look to bounce back from a disappointing loss with the toughest road trip in the game against the Perth Wildcats who sit atop the NBL ladder.
Will the Wildcats continue to purr or will United rebound in style?
Greg Davis returns to the floor to bring us his preview and NBL betting tips for this Friday night’s blockbuster match.
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United Preview & Betting Tips
RAC Arena, Perth, Friday, October 14th 9:30pm (AEDT)
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones don’t strike you as massive hoops fans.
But one of their more revered tunes could well be the soundtrack for NBL powerhouse Melbourne United this Friday night when they take on the rejuvenated and reloaded Perth Wildcats who are hellbent on redemption in the 2022-23 season.
Playing Perth in Perth less than a week after an historically poor first half in the thumping loss to Sydney last Monday may not be what Melbourne wants, but they are getting what they need.
The Kings humiliated United at John Cain Arena, leading 57-23 at halftime after Melbourne scored just six points in the second term.
The final margin of 20 points flattered United who had just two players reach double figures in the points column.
At one stage in the second quarter rout, the Kings went on a 26-0 run to end the match as a contest before the teams went back into the sheds for halftime oranges.
Melbourne cannot be that bad again. Surely.
A club that deems anything less than a championship as a failure, will not tolerate it, especially given the talent on the cashed-up club’s roster.
And nothing should stoke the competitive fires within the United camp than a road trip to WA to face an arch-rival.
There is no tougher assignment in the NBL, but the enormity of the challenge could very well bring the best out of United.
But it’s Perth in Perth. RAC Arena has been a fortress for the Wildcats except for last year when they lost as many as they won at home to miss the finals for the first time in 35 years.
The head coach, CEO and others left the club in the off-season and the Wildcats have hit the ground running with a 3-0 record to sit atop the standings after two rounds.
Perth got off to sluggish starts against Brisbane and Illawarra but stormed home to clinch the W but they were too good from the get-go against the previously unbeaten Cairns in Cairns to claim a 105-76 victory.
Three-time MVP Bryce Cotton has been in outstanding form for the Wildcats to suggest a fourth gong is in the offing and a return to the play-offs for Perth is a formality.
Perth really does not like Melbourne United who are not that fond of the Wildcats given they have met in the play-offs on multiple occasions.
United will bounce back from the Sydney shellacking but not enough to beat Perth who would love nothing more than piling on the pain on Melbourne in front of the rabid Red Army.
The Wildcats are going better right now with a more even spread of contributors and they are at home. That all points to the silky-smooth Cotton and Perth to get the job done – not to mention the stat that Perth has won its last nine home games after an away win.
Alternative Bet: Total points Under 168.5 - $1.90 at Neds
Perth -7.5
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
