Even as the "away team" I see Melbourne winning.

Landale was cleared yesterday.

I'm surprised Baba would even be playing - he seemed to hit his head pretty hard on the court in the last game

Yet another import for United?

CJ Asuncion B was born in Aus and lived here as a kid so is not an import.

Good info, thanks.

What are the issues with Landale and McDaniel?

Oh illness. Hmmm.

Have a feeling Illawarra will get this one

United D has been quality over past few minutes

Game just simmering, waiting for someone to get it really going

Landale does look a bit lacklustre, maybe I'm imagining that though after hearing of the "illness". McDaniel lively though.

When players are back, Vickerman will be happy to have got so many minutes into Peatling,McD and Short

Impressed with how United has grinded out this half, tough D and working hard at both ends

What's Kip from Napoleon Dynamite doing coaching in the NBL?

Cmon landale. This whole no losses thing is really coming back to make you look silly

Landale undefeated meme is getting a good workout.

The 'Sack Goorjian from Boomers' thread hasn't aged well either.

Bairstow underrated.

There is no salary cap.

Pre season, looking at this roster I said Hopson was indispensable for this group given his ability to get to the basket, score one-on-one and create.

Tonight really demonstrated that. CG went cold, and there was a lack of creating and offensive flair.

Landale is another indispensable guy. Him and Hopson just bring stuff that's hard to replace in this group.

[Sounds like you're making excuses for a stacked team playing poorly.]

Sure as hell not stacked at the moment

If United had entered the season with this roster, no one would've tipped them for top 4.

Scotty Hopson, a player that is scoring at 35%, 22% from 3pt, has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.5 is apparently indispensible.

His absence despite having Landale, CG, MM, caused that loss.

Illawarra are just lucky right?

In context if you add Hopson, White and Baba to this lineup you would expect they'd get the job done, however Illawarra were too good.

I’ve been critical of Vickerman’s subbing, on one hand it has meant Peatling and McDaniel have grown, however having a non-scoring second unit on the floor for big chunks of the game is just not good coaching. Why not rotate the starters so there’s always 2 on the court at one time. I just don’t get it with his strategy.

[Scotty Hopson, a player that is scoring at 35%, 22% from 3pt, has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.5 is apparently indispensible.]

Did you watch his last 3 games? Averaged about 15pts and 4 assists coming off the bench.

Keeps that up and he'll get 6th man of the year.

Indispensable due to his skill set within this group, yes. His poor form was part of the reason why I wasn't bullish despite United's solid early W/L record. United needs him in form (as per his past few games), or someone who can bring stuff he brings if they're too win the title. Tonight showed us why.

Yeah JMS I don't understand why Ili's playing 15-20 minutes since his return. Only 15 tonight.

With all these injuries he should be playing 25-30. Him, McCarron and CG can play together.

I think Ili is still on restricted minutes post ankle injury

This is bringing back bad memories of last season - when Melb were living and dying by the 3 ball and not getting to the basket.

only 9 free throws tonight - and only 2 of these in the last half

stop jacking up the 3 ball and get to the basket please!!!!!

Funny how Illawarra is bringing a couple of guys with NBA experience off the bench, while United is playing a bunch of NBL1 guys

Yet United is stacked.

To confirm Jack L99's, have a look stats for CG21.5's stats.