NBL Round 5 (Regular Season): Sydney hands first defeat to Adelaide

It's still too early stage of the Regular Season in NBL, but even now we can clearly see the difference between stronger teams and outsiders. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Adelaide 36ers (3-1) recorded its first loss in Findon on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by seventh ranked Kings (2-2) 103-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Adelaide 36ers. Sydney dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Adelaide 36ers's 40 and made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Adelaide 42-30 including 33 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was naturalized South Sudanese forward Kouat Noi (201-1997, college: TCU) who scored 29 points and 6 rebounds. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) chipped in 22 points. New Zealand guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) produced 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sydney moved-up to sixth place. Adelaide at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with Perth. Sydney are looking forward to face higher ranked Tasmania JJ (#4) in Hobart in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Adelaide will play at home against SE Melbourne and is hoping to win this game.
Hawks can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Bullets (1-4) 116-89. The game was dominated by American players. Guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. Javale McGee contributed with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Swingman Casey Prather (198-1991, college: Florida) answered with 28 points and 9 rebounds for Brisbane. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hawks (1-3) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Brisbane's fourth loss in a row. They dropped to the ninth position with four games lost. Illawarra H. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Brisbane will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Undefeated leader United delivered the fifth consecutive victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 7th ranked Taipans (2-4) 95-60 in Melbourne. Jesse Edwards stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Andrew Andrews responded with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Undefeated United (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Melbourne Utd maintains first place with a perfect record of 5 victories in a row. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with four games lost. Melbourne Utd will meet Brisbane (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cairns will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 5 SE Melbourne defeated NZL Breakers in a road game 87-81.



Illawarra H. - Brisbane 116-89

Hawks can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Bullets (1-4) 116-89. Illawarra H. shot 60.6 percent from the field. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Brisbane's players. The game was dominated by American players. Guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. Center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) contributed with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Swingman Casey Prather (198-1991, college: Florida) answered with 28 points and 9 rebounds and swingman Lamar Patterson (196-1991, college: Pittsburgh) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Brisbane. Five Illawarra H. and four Brisbane players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hawks (1-3) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Brisbane's fourth loss in a row. They dropped to the ninth position with four games lost. Illawarra H. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Brisbane will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Illawarra H.: T.Harvey 22+7reb+10ast, M.Peatling 13+3reb+3ast, T.Blanchfield 13+3reb+3ast, J.McGee 13+12reb+3ast, W.Lo Buluk 12+3reb+1ast, B.Bayles 12+4ast
Brisbane: C.Prather 28+9reb+3ast, L.Patterson 17+5reb+5ast, J.Adams 13+4ast, T.Smith-Milner 11+2reb+2ast, D.Tristan 9+1reb, A.Ducas 6+2reb

Adelaide - Sydney 79-103

Adelaide 36ers (3-1) recorded its first loss in Findon on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by seventh ranked Kings (2-2) 103-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Adelaide 36ers. Sydney dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Adelaide 36ers's 40 and made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Adelaide 42-30 including 33 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was naturalized South Sudanese forward Kouat Noi (201-1997, college: TCU) who scored 29 points and 6 rebounds. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) chipped in 22 points. Four Kings players scored in double figures. New Zealand guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) produced 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and the former international guard Dejan Vasiljevic (190-1997, college: Miami, FL) added 14 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sydney moved-up to sixth place. Adelaide at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with Perth. Sydney are looking forward to face higher ranked Tasmania JJ (#4) in Hobart in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Adelaide will play at home against SE Melbourne and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Sydney: K.Noi 29+6reb+1ast, K.Davis 22+3reb+3ast, T.Soares 14+12reb, X.Cooks 12+8reb+5ast, J.Galloway 8+1reb+1ast, M.Dellavedova 6+5reb+7ast
Adelaide: F.Cameron 15+8reb+7ast, D.Vasiljevic 14+4reb+4ast, I.Humphries 13+1reb+1ast, M.Kenyon 9+3ast, Z.Cheatham 8+8reb+5ast, N.Rakocevic 7+2reb+1ast

NZL Breakers - SE Melbourne 81-87

There was no surprise in Auckland where 10th ranked Breakers (1-5) were defeated by seventh ranked Phoenix (2-1) 87-81 on Sunday. SE Melbourne forced 20 NZL Breakers turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The former international guard Owen Foxwell (188-2003) stepped up and scored 19 points and 7 assists for the winners and the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) chipped in 18 points and 7 assists. Five Phoenix players scored in double figures. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) responded with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 11 rebounds and American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) scored 9 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. SE Melbourne moved-up to fifth place. Loser Breakers stay at the bottom position with five games lost. SE Melbourne will meet league's second-placed Adelaide in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. NZL Breakers will play against Tasmania JJ (#4) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: O.Foxwell 19+4reb+7ast, N.Sobey 18+4reb+7ast, M.Lewis 13+2reb+1ast, J.Brown III 13+5reb+5ast, J.Hunter 10+7reb+1ast, A.Glover 8+2reb+2ast
NZL Breakers: S.Mennenga 29+11reb+1ast, R.Baker 14+4reb, P.Jackson-Cartwright 9+7reb+9ast, R.Te Rangi 5+2reb, I.Le'afa 5+3reb+3ast, C.Davison 5+5reb+2ast

Melbourne Utd - Cairns 95-60

Undefeated leader United delivered the fifth consecutive victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 7th ranked Taipans (2-4) 95-60 in Melbourne. Melbourne Utd dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Taipans' 32 and made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. Melbourne Utd forced 25 Cairns turnovers. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners and the former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) chipped in 16 points. American Andrew Andrews (188-1993, college: Washington) responded with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) scored 16 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. United (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Melbourne Utd maintains first place with a perfect record of 5 victories in a row. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with four games lost. Melbourne Utd will meet Brisbane (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cairns will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: J.Edwards 16+12reb, C.Goulding 16+1reb+1ast, T.Walker 12+2reb+2ast, K.Tom 9+3reb, F.Delany 8+5reb+4ast, F.Krslovic 8+3reb
Cairns: H.Alex 16+3reb, A.Andrews 10+5reb+6ast, J.McVeigh 8+6reb+4ast, K.Galloway 8+6reb+1ast, M.Lee 7+7reb+1ast, A.Kyle 6+2reb+1ast