Starting 5: The key talking points from Round 6

Round 6 saw some numerous nail-biters, mixed in with a couple of game-winners, in arguably one of the best weekends of hoops this season.

Pete Hooley looks at some key talking points from the round just gone.

1 – Sydney's collapse‍

The Sydney Kings were in the box seat to get a much-needed win on Sunday, leading by as many as 16 points over Tasmania, until it all went south. The JackJumpers continued to chip away and gave themselves a chance to steal it on the road and that’s exactly what they did, with Xavier Cooks turning it over and Nick Marshall hitting the game-winner. The Kings hit just four field goals in the last quarter and went 1-4 from the free-throw line.

2 – Phoenix rising

Josh King has his team flying under the radar, but outside of Melbourne United the Phoenix might just be one of the top contenders to challenge for a title. They are doing it on the back of their elite defensive pressure, while Nathan Sobey is doing it all on the offensive end to lead from the front. Their next test is a matchup against a hungry Perth team that could be a pivotal game in both their seasons.

3 – I'll take five of those, please

It was set up as the game of the season and it didn’t disappoint, with Tyson Walker playing the hero as his clutch three was enough for United to continue their historic run. The heavyweight clash showed enough to have fans asking for a championship series between these two teams, with Bryce Cotton and Chris Goulding both teasing their brilliant best throughout.

4 – Benjamin Bullet‍

He might be 34 years old, but Casey Prather is playing the best basketball of his career right now for the Bullets. The Bullets superstar is second in the league for scoring at 24 points per game, pulling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists. If it wasn’t for his outstanding form, the Bullets might be in some big trouble. As he continues to put up his big numbers, he’s getting close to being a ‘lock’ for an All-NBL First Team selection.

5 – Hawks' turning point

The defending champions went into Perth looking for a response and that’s exactly what Justin Tatum got, as JaVale McGee was the hero with two clutch plays to help secure the win. On the offensive end the Hawks showed flashes of brilliance, led by the two-man game of McGee and Tyler Harvey, as they now look to build on this win and try to turn their season around.