“Life’s tough,
So what?
I’m alive.
I’ve been down,
Seen hard times,
But I’ve survived.
‘Cause I’m bound for glory,
Oh, we’re bound for glory!
A heartfelt victory,
Is a warrior’s destiny.
Bound for glory,
Oh we’re bound for glory!”
The wise words of Angry Anderson’s anthem “Bound for Glory” ring true for Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats as the two best teams across the 2021 NBL season fight it out for the championship.
It’s been a season to remember for Melbourne United, who finished three games clear off the Wildcats on the NBL ladder, whereas the Wildcats yet again made another playoffs series – continuing on their streak beginning in biblical times, and yet again making it to the business end of the season.
Fingers crossed there is no interruption this season.
We will get our five games.
There will be no default premiership this time.
Who will come out on top?
Read on in our NBL Grand Final Series preview.
For the good of the game, Melbourne United has sacrificed the all-important home-court advantage which means it’s even more of a challenge for Dean Vickerman and his men.
No matter what your situation is, beating the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena remains one of the biggest challenges in Australian sport.
However, Melbourne United has gotten pretty good at being on the road of recent, having played eight games in 24 days in four different states, winning six of them.
The environment in Perth will be hostile at best, and the Wildcats along with their fanatical supporters will make life tough for Melbourne United.
However, playing the first two games in Perth might be a blessing in disguise – which could mean the last three (all going well) will be played in Melbourne.
While playing at RAC Arena always is a challenge, Melbourne United has won twice in Perth already this season, defeating the Wildcats by eight points in Round 18 and a solid 14 point win on the road in Round 21.
Every pundit knows that just about anything and everything can happen in a Playoffs match, and you should never ever write off the Perth Wildcats.
The Wildcats boast a talented roster, the NBL coach of the year in Trevor Gleeson and plenty of players who have played in Grand Finals before, not to mention the rabid home crowd for the first two games.
All signs point to a complete five-game Grand Final series.
Melbourne United has been the best team all season and was born for this moment.
May it be epic, edge-of-your-seat stuff, but we’re backing United 3-2 in what will hopefully be one of the all-time great NBL Grand Final Series.