A win’s a win: United escape, Anstey unconvinced

It wasn’t polished and it wasn’t dominant, but Melbourne United did what they had to do in Cairns on Thursday night, grinding out a crucial win to keep their top four hopes alive.

At this stage of the season, style points mean nothing. Winning means everything.

With Dean Vickerman sidelined by appendicitis, assistant Rhys Carter took the reins and delivered his first victory as head coach.

It was a moment to savour, but NBL great Chris Anstey believes United will need to lift another gear if they’re serious about making noise when it matters most.

“It wasn’t convincing,” Anstey said on NBL Now.

“I thought Rhys Carter did a great job with the hand he was given with the injuries and the rotations in the game.”

United fans were dealt an all too familiar and worrying sight in the second quarter when Shea Ili limped off the court with a suspected hamstring concern.

“They lose Shea Ili again and that’s a really big one,” Anstey said.

“My guess is that they miss him for the season and that would really damage their championship hopes.”

After opening the season 9-0, United have struggled to recapture that rhythm consistently, a trend underlined by the fact they trailed for most of this contest.

“I’ve always thought they were a championship contender and I’ve been waiting and waiting for them to flip the switch … for them to get back to somewhere near how they started the season, but we haven’t seen it yet,” Anstey added.

“The longer it goes without them demonstrating the ability to play to their top level, the more doubtful you become and I think they are a step behind the top three teams.”

As for why this United side has been struggling, Anstey believes part of the answer lies at the defensive end.

“The one thing when I kept watching the game and you talk about why teams sit at the top and why teams fall towards the bottom, is failed discipline,” he continued.

“Watching a game like that for me, just reiterated that the team that is disciplined is going to win this thing.

“They’re not going to give away free points … they’re not going to be in the penalty with six minutes to go in quarters and that’s something United struggled with last night.”

With Carter at the helm for the first time in his coaching career, the fourth quarter rotations became a talking point, as Milton Doyle and Tyson Walker delivered in the clutch.

“Did Chris (Goulding) play a minute in the fourth quarter? I don’t think he did,” Anstey highlighted.

“That was a surprise part when you look up and see Tom Wilson in the game with five minutes to go and Chris Goulding biding his time on the bench.

“I wonder if Chris has a niggle … I find it difficult to believe that a first-time coach wouldn’t find a couple of minutes for a healthy Chris Goulding down the stretch.”