We’re heading west again for Game 3 of the NBL Grand Finals and this series between Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United really does look like going the whole way.
United squared the ledger at home last Sunday and the series stands at 1-1 ahead of Friday’s meeting.
This has had everything so far – obviously a win each, but some legitimately great basketball, incredible skill and the kind of performances that could one day lead to a lot of support flooding back to the NBL.
I’ve said it week-in, week-out but it’s all about Casper Ware and Chris Goulding for United and the two have well and truly kicked up another gear in the Grand Finals. The former has been top-scoring for fun and while it was far more of a combined effort by the team on Sunday, he still managed to sink the most baskets for his side. Goulding meanwhile was huge from outside the D.
The Wildcats were far too good in Game 1 and strode away in the final quarter to register a comfortably ten-point win. They were unable to frank that form in Melbourne, however and ultimately lost by eighteen points.
The return loss was widely expected and that was mirrored in United’s Game 2 favouritism in betting, but the swing was quite large and suggested that regardless of the home court advantage, Melbourne really did enjoy big improvement.
Wildcats Fans:
The Wildcats’ Game performance suggests they should be starting this as favourites, but the $1.62 quote on offer does look a little slim. Taking them to cover a small line does represent far better value.
United Fans:
Given the line for this game currently sits at only two and a half points, backing United to win does look the more enticing option.
Suggested Bets
Wildcats at the Line (-2.5)
Over 164.5 Points
And then there were two. Following another whirlwind NBL regular season, we’ve already arrived at the Grand Final Series and we’re set for a thrilling contest between the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United.
The Wildcats flew the gates at the beginning of the season and strode out to a comfortable competition lead. While they did hit a dead patch in the middle of the campaign that resulted in several losses, including a couple to a particularly bad Cairns outfit, they regathered momentum leading into the finals and ultimately finished the regular season first overall.
They face a Melbourne United side that has probably been the league’s most-consistent outfit all season and who simply know what what to do at this point of the campaign, as the league’s reigning champions.
The action is underway in the nation’s west on Friday night, while game two will see focus shift back to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. You can find all our NBL Tips below.
If you had told me at the start of the season that the Grand Final series would be played out between Perth and Melbourne… I would have believed you. These are clearly the NBL’s two best teams and the 19 home and away rounds really were just a formality.
As the top seed, the Wildcats drew the easy semi-final straw in the form of the Brisbane Bullets and ultimately, their dominance proved far too much for the league’s newest (I guess) franchise. If I were Andrej Lemanis, I’d have waved the white flag after the Wildcats flogged my team by 30 points in Game 1, but that is probably a major reason why I have never been trusted with guiding a professional team. Ultimately, Perth comfortably won on Saturday too and they’ll enter this series full of confidence.
United have really impressed me these last couple of seasons. They should have knocked off an NBA team prior to last season, then they won last year’s NBL, then they took another big step towards defending their crown by doing in the Sydney Kings, with complete ease. Casper Ware and Chris Goulding in particular have been sinking rivals teams for fun all season and they were instrumental in each of United’s wins over The Kings.
Given they faced the tougher semi-final opponent and were better across both legs. I like United to go the whole way here. I think they can draw first blood in Perth, too.
Suggested Bets
United to Win ($2.35)
Goulding Personal Points Line (over)
Ware Person Points Line (over)