Melbourne Ready for Do or Die Game

It all comes down to the final day of season for Melbourne United’s Finals fate and the team is ready for whatever wild situations await them on Sunday.

The equation is simple for United – defeat the Adelaide 36ers, and see the Sydney Kings beat the Perth Wildcats – and they’re in. If those results flip, it will be the Wildcats who take Melbourne’s spot in the Finals.

If United manage to smash the 36ers by around 40 points, they will lock in their spot regardless of the Wildcats’ result.

In this unrivalled league, it is no surprise the last two games will determine who will head into the Finals and who will sink.

United have excelled in the back end of the season, and coach Dean Vickerman is preparing his team to embrace a fast pace and high tempo game against Adelaide.

“Right now, we’re preparing to play super aggressive, fast and aggressive,” Vickerman said.

“There’s a super aggressive mindset that’s required to get the number of possessions and just shoot the basketball willingly and supporting it with rebounding.

“The only result that gets us in right now is to win by 40.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good morning <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> fans!<br><br>What a day! <br><br>I will admit, was not a huge fan of the top 6 making the finals in a 10 team league, but BOY oh BOY woweeee (<a href="https://twitter.com/BTBrianTaylor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BTBrianTaylor</a> voice) it has created some excitement on the final day of the season.<br><br>Well done <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> ! I was wrong.</p>&mdash; Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewbogut/status/1621998445622861827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Before their game today, United are sitting at sixth on the ladder with a 14-13 record. The Wildcats also share the same record but sit at seventh on the ladder due to being behind by 0.4%.

With import changes and big names out due to injuries, United have had a rocky journey to be in this position. But with the inclusion of import big Marcus Lee, and Rayjon Tucker stepping up, Melbourne have managed to crawl back up the ladder.

“Coming from a 5-10 position and getting back to a situation where it may be in our hands to go and secure a Play-In spot, we’re pleased about where we’ve got to,” Vickerman said.

“If we go in with this mindset that we’re going to play super aggressive, confident, back each other to shoot open shots and support it, and know what our defensive rules are to be aggressive, I think everyone’s on the same page.

“You can’t be one foot in the door.”

Tip-off between Melbourne and Adelaide today is 2:00pm AEDT.