United cutting down the nets in front of a nauseated and silent Sixer crowd. A perfect ending to an historic season. One that won't be forgotten in a hurry.

I talked to Kenny the Jet Smith about this game and he had one thing to say... IT'S OVER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LET'S GO HOME. LET'S GO HOME.

With the series currently Melbourne 1 Adelaide 1 Vaughn Mayberry 1 this should be a cracking game! C'mon 6ers!

It's hard to get fouled when you just sit back and jack 3's. You got to take it inside to force the errors.

But I think you know that already

Not a problem!

I'm glad you appreciate my humour.

United should work on getting mismatches for Tai Wesley down low. It'll slow down the game and Wesley is efficient. Has had a quiet series but will take over at some point

Melbourne is the better team and deserve their lead in the series. They are vulnerable though to the higher energy, scrappy physical 36ers, and to their own carelessness with the ball.
The key to a 36ers fightback is their outside shooting i.e. Sobey, Deng and Drimioc.
Sobey has to play with freedom, attack the hoop, get to the line and take more 3's. He has become too careful and restrained. Trust your instincts.

Melbourne fans trying to rip on Adelaide because we lost the Grand Prix to them... You do realise the attendance has dropped every year since Melbourne has been the host, and has never been close to our final turnout (which was a record for decades). Carry on with your $10 lattes

The league looks terrible for that game 3 disgrace and they know it. It's turning into an ugly end to the season. Time to sack Vaughn Mayberry I'd say because he was obviously the root cause (the other guys seemed ok for mine). He is incompetent. We should all be celebrating the (possible) final 2 games of a quality, enjoyable season of NBL but instead everyone has a been left with negative memories of a compromised Grand final series. Whether you're upset because of percieved biased towards a certain team/ league owner, atrocious (series defining) officiating blunders or you just don't like the 36ers and Joey Wright for being vocal and upset about those issues. It seems that everyone is feeling very negatively. I'm sure with time the farce that was game 3 will be watered down but it's not a good look right now.

Unlike some, I don't need to repeat myself over and over and over again in the same thread or in 4 or 5 other threads. I only need to say this once.

I've put my grown man fan pants on and showing my 100% support for Sixers.

I believe they will play with incredible mental focus and rise above the adversity to smash United by 17+ and then we'll do the same again next Saturday.

In Adelaide we love salt, awful tasting water, blackouts, centrelink queues and annoying football club songs!. Why? because it makes us stronger and unites us. Don't like it, too bad, we'll keep ramming ourselves down your throats again and again and again because that's what we do!

Those familiar with the concept of opportunity cost would know that Sobey playing in the second half of Game 3 didn't automatically mean Adelaide would win.

For those not familiar with the term but happy to use simple logic, try this on for size... Majok Deng went nuts with 14 in the second half (He played arguably his best ever game of basketball, DJ's press conference can attest), Moore had an efficient 10 second-half points (missed just one shot in second half) and Shorter stepped up big with 10 in the second half. Do those guys get the same opportunities with Sobey on the floor?

Dare I say this for fear of being lynched? Sobey is -5.1 in net player rating this season, according to SpatialJam. Negative five point one. Moore is +7.0, Deng is +9.9. Both of these guys got more opportunity without Sobey. And look, a red-hot Sobey in the first half only got his side to being level with Melbourne by half-time. I don't think Sobey would've been as efficient in the second half as he was in the first, do you?

You just don't know though do you? What if all 3 we're ejected? Just going on hypothetical questions.

I'm not saying anything except that those claiming the refs took the game away from Adelaide with the Sobey ejection are kidding themselves

I choose my words carefully and don't appreciate when people imply things from what I've said

Not saying the took the game away. They took another starter out of the team (already missing their biggest gub) for the second half of a critical finals game of basketball.

I have no idea what a gub is

Gun

You said "only got them back to level at the half" afyer being 14 down I think. That doesn't count?

Could he have got them 14 up in the second?

Yeah we got there. If United were as complacent on Friday and Childress was fit, I reckon they'd lose.

I keep coming back to the first 15 minutes of the game where United were in total command. They simply got complacent and let Adelaide, with a bit of shotmaking, back into the game though. I reckon they would've kept going hard if Adelaide had the full contingent

Yeah but Sobey was playing when they were down big as well as the comeback. The net result of a first half with Sobey being available was an even score

Adelaide have been notoriously slow starters for 2 years now but have won more overall games in that 2 year period too.

Stick to basketball comments

Manu, I agree you can't guarantee Adelaide would have won with Sobey not ejected but the sad thing is that we have to now speculate what might have happened if he had stayed out there. We have to speculate due to a dreadful decision to eject him even though two other players on the opposite team who were charged with exactly the same offence were not ejected - one of those being part of the same video review that resulted in the ejection of Sobey.

Based on the charges made, it shows it was either an incorrect decision to eject Sobey, or Prather and Wesley should have been ejected as well. Mayberry clearly saw Wesley’s headbutt from the video footage and they had to have seen Prather’s head butt on the video review that resulted in the ejection of Sobey. So there was a clear inconsistency in the calling of this game by the refs with regards to this.

The major thing is that ejecting a player is possibly the biggest call the refs can make as it essentially alters the course of the rest of the game when a player can no longer take part. It has a far bigger impact than an incorrect foul call or the like. In a Grand Final Game 3 with a series tied at 1-1, you want to make damn sure when you eject someone that it’s the right call and is consistent with regards to both teams. Unfortunately the refs failed on this part and now it means we have to speculate what might have haopened if Sobey has stayed out there which puts a cloud over the result of the game and likely the series.

The further dissapointment is that by releasing the charges they have, the NBL has essentially admitted the refs were incorrect in ejecting Sobey - but have not been transparent about this and come out and said a mistake was made - this is something that would be a step in the right direction in my opinion. This whole situation has had a negative impact on the league and the grand final in what should be a positive time for the NBL. I think most Melbourne fans and true basketball fans would have preferred for Sobey not to have been ejected and us not having to speculate what might have happened.

For the record, I don’t think there is a Melbourne or LK conspiracy and am very grateful what LK has done for the sport of basketball in australia. What’s done is done and Adelaide fans like myself do need to move on and support our team today in what should be a great game with an amazing atmosphere. Still very much looking forward to this afternoon.

Hoping the season ends today feels Luke the finals have dragged on.
Good luck to both teams.

For good reason. Hope you're team gets screwed next year.

" "the NBL has essentially admitted the refs were incorrect in ejecting Sobey "

That's a stretch. Sobey shouldn't have got a fine on top of the ejection, or Prather should have been as well, but nothing in the report says they shouldn’t have ejected Sobey." - anon 342

I did say in earlier in my post that consistency for both teams would have resulted in Sobey, Prather and Wesley all being ejected or none of them being ejected. However the precedent had already been set by Mayberry earlier in the game by not ejecting Wesley for his headbutt on Sobey and therefore neither Prather nor Sobey should have been ejected either. Just because they didn’t say in the report they shouldn’t have ejected Sobey, it doesn’t make sense for 3 players to all receive the same charge but only one of those players be ejected in game - that is not consistent and therefore incorrect.

Hogwash I agree it feels like the finals have dragged on, would have liked there to have been a game mid week (eg.wednesday) this past week as the gap from Sunday to Friday between game 2 and 3 was too long for my liking. However I guess the NBL must have felt a midweek game would not get the wanted crowd.

Fair enough anon 349. Just to check I'm essentially understanding what you’re saying is that the Sobey ejection was correct but the non ejection of Prather and Wesley was incorrect? (Which I would agree with)

Or that Sobey shouldn’t have been fined as a make up for the fact he had already served part of the punishment as an ejection? - I think this may have made things complicated as it is hard to equated a reduced fine to a player missing out on the second half of such an important game but it would be more consistent then the current situation.

We're going to win today and then we're going to go to Melbourne and win and then everybody will say what a great series it was.

Lol what the hell was that opening video...And nice thongs Goulding

Joey is a total flog. What a dick

To not even acknowledge your home crowd and their support... Pathetic and disgraceful.
If there was any discussion about the biggest flog coach Joey just took the crown!

But even though he refuses to acknowledge you and your contribution I am sure Adelaide fans will stand up for him.

Sobey just has to keep taking it at Goulding. Goulding can't defend a chair let alone Sobey.

Goulding showing no heart on the defensive end in what could be a championship winning game.

Q: Blah blah something Sobey
A : Joey " we will do the best we can "
Q; You look good in your suit
A : Joey " we will do the best we can "

...and Joey takes him out! Arggh

No they aren't (not at this point anyway).

Melb are missing shots and ADL are playing with much higher intensity. Pretty easy explanation.

There is nothing stopping Melbourne diving at people's hips and drawing fouls.

Also, DJ grabbed Andersen's jersey in that rebounding contest right in front of the ref and Andersen got called for it. Weird

Its hard not to think of the conspiracy theories right now- 3 bogus fouls on United just stalled the comeback and sent DA to the bench

Pick and roll containment is woeful by United

Wait the Moller one?? Haha no way. He didn't hit him straight at all. That is the easiest block call ever.

Have to be square which Moller wasnt because he didnt shuffle his feet to the spot Shorter was going to.

That was Travel from Goulding

Moller was standing there for about 4 seconds

Or is it a block because the contact wasn't 100% front on?

LV you need to be squarer than that. That was pretty much a shoulder charge. I dont mean you have to be exactly 100% front on but at least hit in the chest.

They made the perfect call on the Casper one earlier..perfect charge.

Talking about the FT difference without mentioning where both teams are getting their shots is ignorance.

Capitalizing every 3rd word doesn't make your point any less rubbish.

Refs have been egregious but United are playing like children. Adelaide deserves to win today, if the first 15 minutes are any indication

Yes it is very concerning; but what do you expect. They've wanted teams to hold home court to set up Game 5.

Its obvious that both Casper and Goulding are deliberately avoiding fouling

(Of course, the refs still managed to manufacture one on Casper)

It's not really enjoyable watching a game where some of the best players are forcing themselves to make a concerted effort not to try at one end

Guys, look at the playing style of Melbourne vs Adelaide!!!!!!

melbourne, drive, pull up and fade for a shot.... One on one on the block for Wesley or Boone.... run goulding off floppy play for threes... this style does not lead to intiating much contact.

Adelaide, ddrive, drive, drive, drive, drive....

Right on cue they just manufactured another one on Casper!

How many of his 7 fouls in Adelaide have actually been fouls?

Run the tape if you doubt me

This is what happens when one team attacks the basket and creates contact every possession, and the other doesn't. Amazing stuff.

Come on guys, look how tired and lazy MU are being right now..... The two times they did just drive, they charge into Drmic one was a no call and one was a charge. Lazy, lazy play...

Prather stinking it up. Goulding looking not unaggressive on offense. They need to earn their coin now.

I can see whats happening already .
MU are not fouling , stay out of trouble and suspension , lose the game , play the 5th at home , take the gloves off at home

How in the world can United turn up like this in a Grand Final Game 4?

I don't know about the rest of you, but if an anonymous poster here thinks 17 of the FTs as "wrong", it must be the case.

Just put your head down and continue to the rack. Draw the damn contact, because refs surely would whistle that contact

Melbourne haven't shown up simple as that.
The foul count is lopsided ( the lol/blowout troll will no doubt appear soon) but Melbourne don't deserve to win.

Tohi Smith Milner- sub him off immediately! You're not allowed to contest a shot. I thought we established the team rules in Game 2?

Adelaide can rub salt into Melbourne wounds by putting Teys and Larkins on in third quarter.

Melbourne look tired and aren't working hard enough as a team and are 1/14 from 3pt land....

Adelaide are pressuring the ball like crazy, switching more selectively on the high pick and roll and rotations are hard and sharp.

Well deserved lead even if a few soft calls have gone the 36ers way...

All right, yeah Adelaide is my favourite for the title now.

I don't think Melbourne has the balls to play aggressively against this team

Melb are driving and getting no calls, Adel get calls on the same contact .

Adel are also allowed to handcheck on the perimeter more too. That makes it harder to drive. Mel can't hand check or get up = easier to drive to the hoop.

But don't let that get in the way of the narrative that all Mel does is shoot 3s.

Call the Adel hands and body on the perimeter and they have to back off too.

Melbourne shooting 1/15 from 3pt land and 14/33 from 2pt land... 29 to 19 rebs...

Who has turned up to play?

Williams must have signed next year's commentary contract - he is actually talking more sense today, but perhaps its the absence of "show me your money" Heal and "Mr Magic" that is raising the collective IQ and avoiding the childish "frat boy" crap.

United clearly aren't switcher on today.

Adelaide have been the far better team.

Yes, despite the refs, Adelaide is attacking the hoop with far more passion

Melbourne isn't rebounding as bad as the 29-19 looks.

People look at the gross rebounding figure and make assumptions based on that. Look at the o-boards number

Train
Today
14:39 25 Mar 18

Reply #680390
re: NBL GF Game 4: 36ers v United, March 25

Joey is a total flog. What a dick "

hard to disagree there, there's a lot of that in his behaviour......doesn't mean he's not doing a very good coaching job with his mob this year, and in this series.

It's not just that Adelaide are attacking more than Melbourne (which they definitely are), it's how they attack the basket. Adelaide go straight into contact looking for fouls, where as Melbourne finesse around the hoop and avoid contact. It's as simple as that.

Bubbles to hit 20+ points in the second and turn this game around. He's a world class player.

AngusH "Adelaide go straight into contact looking for fouls, where as Melbourne finesse around the hoop and avoid contact. It's as simple as that."

they are actually targeting the shoulder of the defender, its basically the opposite of Boy Gorj's philosophy, or the same but applied to the offensive playing strategy as opposed to the defensive playing strategy

This league could be so good yet these refs are so incompetent. Spoiling this series....

NBL sort your officiating issues out.

I don't understand this moving screen interpretation. Watch Johnson literally every single time he sets a screen. He goes outside of his cylinder. Shoulder goes in, bum goes out. It's bullshit how refs don't pick him up for that

There you go Melbourne, playing a bit harder this quarter starting on the defensive end....

United finally showing something

I predict 3 soft fouls called on United in the first 2 minutes of the last

It's good to see future NBA superstar and Hoops favourite Craig Moller contributing something here. Shame about the first three games, but one out of four isn't that bad, I guess...

I stand corrected

Keep it going United

Impressed with the effort and play of Prather and Moller

On this thread please read "I am neutral" along the lines of "I am not racist but"

Impressive post iso by Moller when his team has big-time momentum. Great stuff Craig you f*********

Prather going LeBron mode.

Get him back in RIGHT NOW

What is happening? Has LK crossed state lines into SA?

How is that a foul on Boone?

United just need to get the ball to Barlow outside the 3 point line. He is unconscious out there! Either that or dead. It is hard to tell the difference with him.

Boone called for foul. Contact incidental and accidental. Bad call.

Sobeys head flop is ridiculous

Great last quarter

Momentum back in United's favour in this series resume regardless of result here

Boone. Technically correct.

Just really bad timing.

Brain fade by Barlow there stopped what might have been an amazing comeback.

Well United have the blueprint for Game 5 anyway.

Dont play like f**** children

The challenge- turn Hisense into an even more intimidating environment than Adelaide was today

Miss the days when this forum used to have real insight into plays and game analysis. Rather than just the "Person X" is a flog.

Boone's last 2 fouls.

Foul 4 should have been a no call. He was unbalanced, and used DJ (?) to steady himself. Adelaide retained possession and continued to bring the ball up the court. I thought Boone’s body language communicated "ooops... sorry mate". No disadvantage to Adelaide = no foul call. I think leaning on someone to avoid tripping over is instinctive and shouldn’t be penalised unless you disadvantage your opponent (in this case a turnover would be a disadvantage). Even then I’d err on the side of sportsmanship, call ref’s time out and award Adelaide a side ball. Eddie Crouch used to do this instead of possession changeover or foul call.

Foul 5 was correct and should have been called. Adelaide were disadvantaged by not being able to inbound the ball when Boone touched it.

$12k profit if United Win, $4k loss of it goes the other way.

Didn't hedge, I was that convinced. Turned out to be a bad play. Won't hedge now as the value isn't there. Ride or die I guess. United should win

Moore getting that offensive board as two United guys boxed out other Adelaide guys was the killer.

Melbourne get the defensive board there and the game is 50/50 imo.

Man that last quarter was a blur. I thought Moore grabbed an o-board in the last 3-4mins? Play-by-play says different

Adelaide was $5 to win the championship before this game, I should have put that $3k on to kill all doubt.

They won't even be $2.50 to win Game 5 I reckon

Yep Manu, a blur.

Think I misattributed a Barlow tech to Boone above.

I still think his tangle for a foul after Adelaide's defensive rebound was a harsh call. Accidental and incidental. Didn’t alter the play so no foul.

One thing that's really annoyed me is how Adelaide has taken Boone out of the Series

1 game left. What's the odds of a well officiated game?

Wouldn't be completely surprised to see a United blowout in Game 5 tbh.

I reckon the refs will let a lot of contact go, which is what Adelaide lives on. They get United's team into foul trouble so they run out of men and confidence. If like to see the whistle put away like it is in every other league in any other year in the history of basketball

I thought Felix wasn't allowed to attend yet he was in the crowd in full United gear and around the team once the buzzer rang and I think even at half time

He's allowed to attend, just can’t be on bench.

After the game ends, that’s the end of the conditions too.

Anyone know where to get tickets for game 5?

Disappointing Wright continued his media ban at the post game press conference today. He's made his point. Either should have answered questions or sent KB.

Treating the media with contempt is playing a dangerous game when you're in a minor sport.

Good to see J Chill at the game rockin the suit.

Maybe an interview with him, or special comments even, would add to the presentation for game 5.

Snooch i think he is too far into it now to just stop. While i get it and support it to an extent it does come over petulant.

Good to see J Chill at the game rockin the suit.

Man, he looks good doesn't he. Cooler than a cat in a fridge

Very good game.

Refereeing was good. The refs were calling everything early, probably to deter the entanglements that led to the problems in game 2. That seemed to work.

By the way, expecting even foul counts in every game is as rational as expecting even scores in every game. Take the blinkers off and enjoy the basketball, folks. It's a lot more fun that way. Unless you get your jollies from being a self-invested seller of sour grapes, of course.

Hope game 5 lives up to the series so far. I've enjoyed these games a lot.

My sense, though, is that Adelaide were running out of legs in that second half. I think the loss of Childress and the shorter bench is taking its toll. If Melbourne get ahead early in game 5, Adelaide will struggle to catch them.

As I said in another thread, Deng is the only bench threat for Adelaide.

You may be right about Adelaide running out of legs. But I doubt that'll be the case for Game 5, it's six days away

Great win by the sixers and amazing atmosphere at the game. Its games like that you live for as a fan of your team. That 3 by DJ was just huge, and the next 3 by Goulding a few seconds later was a ridiculously impressive shot, silly play by barlow though to give away the tech and hamper any real chance of a Melbourne miracle comeback.

It is going to be tough for the sixers to win game 5 but still possible. However with the excellent second half played by united today, I feel that they have more momentum going in to game 5. Pretty proud as a sixers fan of what the team has achieved this year regardless of the game 5 result.

I agree that Joey needs to snap out of what he is doing with the media at the moment, I thought it was ok for one game but needs to give something now - a large part of the game is about the fans and communicating with them via the media is important. As a Sixers fan though, you do have to like the results Joey has gotten since he arrived in town. Over 5 seasons, he has got us to two Finals series, two semi's and only missed the playoffs once when his star player got injured late in the season. It was also great he got on the mic at the stadium after the game today and thanked the fans. I understand the dislike for Joey if he is not coaching your team (I didn't like him when he coached brisbane) but there is no denying he has done a great job for this club.

A few sphincters seemed to tighten up late in the game but glad we held on for a good win. Very ordinary second half from us so plenty of ammo for Joey to use to kick us up the backside and come out all guns blazing on saturday night.

Well the Adelaide odds are nice but no time to hedge when you live on the edge

Well said Uncle Phil. Definitely worth coming all the way from Perth to watch that game and I even got a high five from the greatest Sixer of them all Mahersy after the win! The Sixers intensity was awesome especially at the start of the game. Knock Sobey all you want but the guy is ultra impressive. His hustle on D especially on Casper was ridiculously good. He came out like a man possessed. The best way to respond to a BS ejection.

DJ's got to stop grabbing jerseys. Or continue, I mean he's getting away with it

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/g4-lets-go-back-to-melbourne/

"From Melbourne's timeout Goulding knocked down a quick three but David Barlow handled the ball before the 36ers could grab it and copped a technical foul, United already having been warned for a previous such indiscretion."

Boti is losing it. Barlow hit/slapped the ball while it was still in Creeks hands , while Creek was behind the baseline trying to pass it in. I never left creek's hands, but its an automatic "T"

He's getting (Gotten)? to be an embarrassment.

Unlikely to have Tai Wesley fit on Saturday. Shoulder immobiliser post game today.

Can Goulding be that crap again? Will anyone aside from Casey Prather actually look any good? Is this series rigged to go to 5 games? Or are the refs just really crap?

Very unlikely Wesley missses game 5. He is a grown man with numerous mouths to feed!

In all seriousness though, when Wesley was walking back to the locker room after the game, he had a smile on his face and someone asked him if he would be ok. He seemed to indicate he thought he was alright and with almost a weeks break you would be expecting him to play.

Is the shoulder going to keep him out of the game or the elbow to Drimic's head going to be his season end.

re: NBL GF Game 4: 36ers v United, March 25

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/g4-lets-go-back-to-melbourne/

"From Melbourne's timeout Goulding knocked down a quick three but David Barlow handled the ball before the 36ers could grab it and copped a technical foul, United already having been warned for a previous such indiscretion."

Boti is losing it. Barlow hit/slapped the ball while it was still in Creeks hands , while Creek was behind the baseline trying to pass it in. I never left creek's hands, but its an automatic "T"

He's getting (Gotten)? to be an embarrassment."


Hes now edited himself.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/around-game-4-of-the-nbl-cship/

"United captain Chris Goulding kept the drama going by sticking a three at the other end but in a major brain fade, teammate David Barlow touched the ball while it was in the hands of 36ers swingman Mitch Creek, about to pass it in.

Automatic tech foul."

- Looks like those fact checkers and sub-editors at NewsCorp really are missed.

he's edited the original mistake out, without acknowledging the correction. It now reads

"From Melbourne's timeout Goulding knocked down a quick three but David Barlow touched the ball out of court as Mitch Creek prepared to inbound it and copped a technical foul for his monumental brain fade."

I would not not bother me so much , except he still is hypocritical enough to put the boot into an incorrect photo labeling in another media outlet.

It would not be so blatantly hypocritical If he could be a professional journalist ( as he so regularly has claimed to be) and note his own correction, like actual reputable news outlets do ( eg NJ times), instead he just hides his mistakes like a guilty kindergarten kid. Yes i know its his own vanity blob , and hes retired, but its just so disappointing, as i am/was a fan of his basketball writing for over 40 years.

He is getting very old though.

:)Clearly I would prefer to view it as "wealthy in experience " lol

its just such a tiny little slip up, I'd like to think his age would let him know just to correct it, acknowledge it, then move on. Not hide and then in the same day/article/post put the boot in to someone else for making a similar tiny mistake.

I'm just glad I wasn't the only one pissed off at the 76ers reference during amateur hour.

There were a lot of stuffed up calls from Matt Russell in that game. I usually manage to just tune that stuff out, but he consistently got player names and calls wrong.

Then he started whining like a school kid after he got on Twitter and read the 'stop being biased' tirade.