NBL Round 7 (Regular Season): No surprise as #1 Melbourne Utd defeat NZL Breakers

After 7 rounds played we can already see who rules in the NBL and who belongs to weaker ones. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

NBL top team - United (7-0) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they beat ninth ranked Breakers (2-6) in Melbourne 104-88. Melbourne Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points, 9 assists and 4 steals. The former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) helped adding 23 points. At the losing side American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) responded with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated United have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Melbourne Utd maintains first place with 7-0 record. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the ninth position with six games lost. Melbourne Utd are looking forward to face Cairns (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. NZL Breakers will play against Brisbane and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Cairns was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Adelaide 36ers (5-1) played at the court of 7th ranked Taipans (2-5). Adelaide 36ers managed to secure a 5-point victory 91-86. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) who led the winners and scored 53 points (!!!) and 5 assists (made all of his sixteen free throws !!!). Flynn Cameron accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds. American forward Admiral Schofield (197-1997, college: Tennessee) came up with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for Cairns in the defeat. Adelaide maintains second place with 5-1 record having just three points less than leader Melbourne Utd. Cairns lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with five games lost. They share it with Brisbane. Adelaide will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cairns will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and hope to get back on the winning track.
The game in Sydney supposed to be also quite interesting. 4th placed Wildcats (3-3) played at the court of sixth ranked Kings (3-3). Kings smashed Wildcats 94-72 on Sunday. Kendric Davis fired 25 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Jo Lual-Acuil produced 17 points and 7 rebounds for lost side. 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 fifth place, which they share with Perth. Sydney will meet higher ranked SE Melbourne (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Perth will play against Cairns and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 7 bottom-ranked Illawarra H. was destroyed by SE Melbourne on the opponent's court 116-76.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by Matthew Dellavedova of Sydney.



Cairns - Adelaide 86-91

The game in Cairns was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Adelaide 36ers (5-1) played at the court of 7th ranked Taipans (2-5). Adelaide 36ers managed to secure a 5-point victory 91-86. Adelaide made 21-of-24 charity shots (87.5 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) who led the winners and scored 53 points (!!!) and 5 assists (made all of his sixteen free throws !!!). New Zealand guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. American forward Admiral Schofield (197-1997, college: Tennessee) came up with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import Andrew Andrews (188-1993, college: Washington) added 23 points and 7 assists respectively for Cairns in the defeat. Four Cairns players scored in double figures. Adelaide maintains second place with 5-1 record having just three points less than leader Melbourne Utd. Cairns lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with five games lost. They share it with Brisbane. Adelaide will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cairns will play at home against the league's leader Melbourne Utd (#1) and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: B.Cotton 53+2reb+5ast, F.Cameron 14+8reb+1ast, I.Humphries 8+3reb+3ast, N.Rakocevic 6+3reb+2ast, D.Vasiljevic 3+6reb+1ast, Z.Cheatham 3+8reb+1ast
Cairns: A.Andrews 23+2reb+7ast, A.Schofield 18+9reb+5ast, R.Smith 17+2ast, M.Lee 14+6reb+1ast, K.Galloway 7+9reb, H.Alex 7+6reb

SE Melbourne - Illawarra H. 116-76

Very expected game in Melbourne where 10th ranked Hawks (1-4) were crushed by fifth ranked Phoenix (3-2) 116-76 on Saturday. SE Melbourne made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 24 Illawarra H. turnovers. SE Melbourne looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Illawarra H.'s players. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) fired 21 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. The former international guard Angus Glover (192-1998) chipped in 26 points. American center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks and the other American import guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) added 14 points respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. SE Melbourne moved-up to fourth place. Loser Hawks stay at the bottom position with four games lost. SE Melbourne will meet at home Sydney (#5) in the next round. Illawarra H. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: A.Glover 26+2reb, N.Sobey 21+5reb+3ast, H.Maldonado 13+5reb+9ast, J.Brown III 11+3reb, A.Akech 9+2reb+2ast, J.Hunter 8+9reb+2ast
Illawarra H.: J.McGee 22+11reb+1ast, T.Harvey 14+3ast, H.Froling 11+1reb+1ast, D.Grida 8+2reb+1ast, M.Kobe 5+3reb, J.Bolden 5+8reb

Melbourne Utd - NZL Breakers 104-88

NBL top team - United (7-0) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they beat ninth ranked Breakers (2-6) in Melbourne 104-88. Melbourne Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points, 9 assists and 4 steals. The former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) helped adding 23 points. Four United players scored in double figures. At the losing side American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) responded with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists and the other American import guard Izaiah Brockington (193-1999, college: Iowa St.) scored 25 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. United have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Melbourne Utd maintains first place with 7-0 record. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the ninth position with six games lost. Melbourne Utd are looking forward to face Cairns (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. NZL Breakers will play against Brisbane and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: C.Goulding 23+2reb+3ast, T.Krebs 17+3reb+1ast, T.Walker 16+4reb+9ast, K.Bowen 13+2reb, M.Doyle 12+3reb+4ast, F.Delany 8+5reb+4ast
NZL Breakers: I.Brockington 25+2reb+1ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 20+9reb+9ast, S.Mennenga 16+4reb+1ast, K.Lopez 8+9reb+1ast, R.Loe 6+1reb+1ast, C.Davison 5+1reb+2ast

Sydney - Perth 94-72

The game in Sydney supposed to be also quite interesting. 4th placed Wildcats (3-3) played at the court of sixth ranked Kings (3-3). Kings smashed Wildcats 94-72 on Sunday. Sydney dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Wildcats's 22. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) fired 25 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) chipped in 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Kings players scored in double figures. Naturalized South Sudanese center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) produced 17 points and 7 rebounds and American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) added 14 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. 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 fifth place, which they share with Perth. Sydney will meet higher ranked SE Melbourne (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Perth will play against Cairns and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sydney: K.Davis 25+6reb+1ast, X.Cooks 16+8reb+4ast, M.Dellavedova 15+6reb+4ast, T.Soares 11+8reb+2ast, J.Galloway 9+3reb+1ast, K.Noi 6+3reb+1ast
Perth: J.Lual-Acuil 17+7reb+3ast, J.Rillie 16+2reb+3ast, K.Doolittle 14+10reb+2ast, B.Henshall 7+7reb, E.Pepper 6+3reb, D.Russo-Nance 3+3reb+2ast