OKC Thunder: The day Melbourne United comes to town
On the 9th of October, Melbourne United comes to Oklahoma City to take on the OKC Thunder.
In what can only be described as a coup of the Australian NBL, three teams will travel from Australia to take on some NBA teams this preseason. The Thunder have agreed to play Melbourne United, joining the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns as NBA hosts.
Oh the torn loyalties for me. I was lucky enough to grow up watching the Melbourne Tigers, the team which preceded the new look Melbourne United outfit. I am also a loyal and passionate OKC Thunder fan.
When two worlds collide…
Now, fortunately, I do not have to describe to any OKC Thunder fan what they are going to get from a Russell Westbrook-led team. You know when Westbrook steps on court, you are going to get his heart, his soul and anything else he can give. What you may not know is what the Melbourne United team brings to the table.
Key matchup #1
Melbourne has two national team representatives in its squad. The first I am going to focus on is Chris Goulding.
Goulding has had some experience with an NBA team. In 2013 Goulding was invited to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Summer League Games. In 2014 he did the same with the Dallas Mavericks. Goulding is always a leading scorer for United and plays back-up in the national team to Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.
He has a good level of talent which has never fully transferred itself into higher honors. The obvious match-up for the 6-foot-4 shooting machine would be Andre Roberson. All offense taking on all defense – I am looking forward to watching how Goulding takes on one of the NBA’s best one-on-one defenders.
Key matchup #2
The other national team representative on the United squad is the wily veteran David Andersen. Andersen has been successful all around Europe as a floor spacing big man. His shot was off last season, but he is too good to be down for long. Against most other leagues, Anderson is a difficult matchup.
Andersen is a stretch five, standing 6-foot-10 and playing center for almost all of his career. At 37 he is on the tail end of his career but still is a quality player. The new acquisition of Patrick Patterson will be a great match-up for Andersen.
Key matchup #3
Josh Boone is the third match-up to be watched in this game. Boone was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2006 and played 256 games with the Brooklyn Nets. Standing 6-foot-8 he is undersized for a center but the big man led the NBL in rebounds per game last season.
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Boone is a good player who struggles with the free throw. This would end his career in the NBA but it has not impacted his NBL career so far. Steven Adams will be more than a match for the North American native.
Key matchup #4
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The matchup every United fan is looking forward to is Casper Ware against the OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook. Ware was second in the NBL last season in scoring; he was always a threat to the opposition. Ware was good enough to play in the NBA, but it was only nine games with the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers.
Unfortunately for Ware, his 5-foot-10 frame would keep him from making a career in the toughest league in the world. This will not stop him trying to make a name for himself in this exhibition game.
The last time these two leagues met, the Perth Wildcats took on the Houston Rockets who had Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler. It did not end well for the Australian team, losing 116-72.
Lets hope this game is a little closer. For someone who is a fan of both clubs, I cannot wait.