Preview: Brisbane vs Melbourne - Round 17, NBL24

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Can Justin Schueller earn his first win over former boss Dean Vickerman to keep the good times rolling for the Bullets?

Friday, January 26 at 7:30pm AEDT | Nissan Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | Sky Sport in NZ - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Dean Vickerman praised Brisbane head coach and his former assistant Justin Schueller in his efforts to turn the Brisbane Bullets’ culture around.

United has earned two wins from two games against Brisbane this season, and are looking to sweep Schueller’s side.

Vickerman also said he’s hoping to see more “desperation” from his side, following last week’s heavy loss to Adelaide.

Shea Ili and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr will both return to United’s active roster for the clash.

Melbourne is yet to lose two games in a row in NBL24, but the ladder-leader has currently lost two of its last three. Should United suffer two losses and Perth win both its Round 17 games, the Wildcats would go top of the ladder.

Brisbane
102-84 win over Cairns
86-118 loss to Perth
110-103 win over Illawarra

Melbourne
86-107 loss to Tasmania
82-81 win over New Zealand
96-100 loss to Adelaide

Casey Prather
Casey Prather will welcome his former employers into his new home on Friday night, and his role looks to continue in its expansion under Justin Schueller.

Prather’s recruitment to Brisbane was the continuation of Schueller’s strategy in building the Bullets’ roster in the off-season. He had worked with Prather before, and knew exactly what he was going to get from him both on and off the floor.

It’s worth remembering that Prather was an All-NBL First Team nominee back in 2017 after a stellar season with the Wildcats, and while Father Time and a litany of serious injuries makes it unlikely he’ll reach those lofty heights again, the 32-year-old has plenty of runs on the board in the NBL. Quite simply, he’s an exceptional player.

He played 16 minutes in a combative clash against Cairns last week and is slowly building back to full fitness.

Is this the game he explodes to welcome himself back into the NBL?

“I loved what I saw, every day he’s just getting his basketball shape back. He was obviously ill this week but he gave us everything we needed ... to have a one-two punch in that position is definitely an advantage.” – Justin Schueller on Casey Prather following the win over Cairns.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back Casey Prather ?<br><br>Watch live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies / 10 Peach & 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/hgaz5xUxWh">pic.twitter.com/hgaz5xUxWh</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1743868661948162421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Matthew Dellavedova
Matthew Dellavedova has quietly climbed his way up the NBL’s assist charts through the second half of the season, and very little fanfare has been made of the former NBA star's move into the top spot in the competition in terms of assists per game.

While United has struggled in the absence of Shea Ili and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, the return of Ili to help anchor United’s backcourt alongside Dellavedova should pay dividends for Melbourne.

Vickerman has previously stated when Dellavedova plays alongside Ili, he’s looking for the former Cleveland Cavalier to take on more of a scoring role, and while he’s more than capable of doing so, the fact Melbourne can have two of the top floor generals in the NBL on the floor at the same time – and have it work – is a luxury.

Dellavedova is averaging nine assists per game across his last four contests, and while there’s little to no dramatic change in his numbers when Ili is or is not in the side, it still remains to be seen how he adjusts to having the New Zealand international back on the court with him.

“Shea’s had a good week of practice, Jo’s had a good week of practice, so I’m pretty sure they’re ticked off and ready to go, so we might have a full roster. We’ve all year brought people back a little slower than previously, so we’ll make our assessment with these two guys, do they play, do they not play, how many minutes. They’re going to be keys for us. Shea to add some pace and defence and those things he does for us.” – Dean Vickerman mid-week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matthew Dellavedova and Shea Ili led from the front in <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnited</a>'s win over Sydney ?<br><br>The guard duo terrorised the Kings’ backcourt last night, combining for 35 points and 12 assists ? <a href="https://t.co/WqQ17c0zJR">pic.twitter.com/WqQ17c0zJR</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1743071937583317491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tyrell Harrison, Aron Baynes and Rocco Zikarsky vs Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ariel Hukporti
Within the center rotation of Brisbane and Melbourne there are two Next Stars in Rocco Zikarsky and Ariel Hukporti, the most decorated former NBA player in the NBL in Aron Baynes, one of the top players in the competition and a former MVP candidate in Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, and an NBL24 Most Improved candidate in Tyrell Harrison.

That’s some serious pedigree that’s preparing for the crash and bash down low.

A notable marker in Brisbane’s big loss to Perth early in Round 16 was their desire to simplify their offence and put the ball into the post against the Wildcats, and following a game where that strategy got them back into the competition, they implemented it again to roll their local rivals, Cairns, in what was a physical clash.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyrell Harrison starting this game off with a BANG ?<br><br>Catch the action live and free on ESPN2 via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach & 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/fEPa40MWu9">pic.twitter.com/fEPa40MWu9</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1748939059697734003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Melbourne’s primary center pairing offers a totally different challenge though.

Lual-Acuil Jr and Hukporti have established themselves as two of the top rim protectors in NBL24, and such is JLA’s pride in his work, he is one of the most combative and physical centers in the competition when he gets wound up.

Hukporti may have entered foul trouble against Tasmania in Round 16, but he single-handedly took on Marcus Lee and Will Magnay down low, and the tide of the game truly turned when the German was off the floor.

Brisbane’s offence is being geared towards the utter dominance in both size and strength the Bullets have over basically every other team in the competition, but it’s no surprise they’ve suffered two losses to Lual-Acuil Jr, Hukporti and United.

Will the Bullets look to change their game, or will they fight down low once more in the hopes of a victory?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Delly and Hukporti are always in sync ??<br><br>Ariel Hukporti has been assisted by Dellavedova more than any other teammate in NBL24 ?<br><br>Catch the dynamic duo in action tonight at 8pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/d7WvxmQJW4">pic.twitter.com/d7WvxmQJW4</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1743467427675980097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Melbourne and Brisbane rank first (4.7) and second (3.9) in the NBL for blocks per game this season. Two of the competition’s top interior defences are set to go head-to-head.

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Aron Baynes.