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DARRYL McDonald has the United coaching job and it is his to lose, every game he takes as "interim" part of his audition for the gig fulltime.

Melbourne United CEO Vince Crivelli said Chris Anstey's resignation on Sunday night, which Anstey confirmed Monday morning after taking the club's direction to "sleep on it", had caught the newly-rebranded franchise unprepared.

"Chris was our man and our basketball man so we had no other plan in place," Crivelli said.

Elevating McDonald, who previously also was "interim" when Al Westover was sacked in 2011, was the obvious option and while the usual suspects - Brian Goorjian, Brendan Joyce, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Bill Tomlinson - all have come into consideration, D-Mac has first dibs.

If he does well, the club will look no further, reassessing at season's end.

Goorjian will be out of contract in China then but if D-Mac has fulfilled the potential many of us believe he has, the status quo may stay unchanged.

Put it this way. If D-Mac does great with his second turn at bat, then maybe ONLY Goorj could be considered a better option. And for D-Mac, Brisbane would be looking for a coach! Not to mention Tasmania.

NEW Breakers' centre Ekene Ibekwe has collected 14 out of a possible 15 fouls in two Blitz games and one regular season fixture.

Mika Vukona is appalled.

MARK "Wortho" Worthington and Nate "The Irate" Tomlinson are United's co-captains this season.

“It's very humbling and I am honoured that people around the club have the faith in me to lead us in a new direction,” Tomlinson said, momentarily packing away the angry pills.

“Along with ‘Wortho’, I will do everything in my power to lead on and off the court and I understand the importance of such a position."

Melbourne’s new leaders will try to keep the team on task on the road to Cairns before returning home to play NZ Breakers on Sunday.

“The week hasn't been ideal,” Worthington said. “But as professionals we must move on and we are fortunate enough to face the team who humbled us on our own court.” 

NBL "Brought It"

YES, the NBL Player of the Week award is back after a year of "Bring It" plays of the week last year as selected by various celebrity contributors.

New ideas always are worth considering but personally I am glad to see the return of a weekly acknowedgement of the player who shone most in the round, even if the NBL is doing it this year by fan vote.

Does that have the potential for vote stuffing? You bet. But we couldn't agree more with the fan vote for Round One of Scottie Wilbekin (pictured below by AllStar Photos, lighting up the 36ers in his debut) who, if you visited here on Monday, you know already was our Round One winner.

NBL Rankings

This Wk - Prev

8 (6) CROCODILES - Off to a 0-2 start and losing at home wasn't ideal. Sydney presents a big ask.

7 (2) UNITED - That was a shock, wasn't it? But the chance for a quick turnaround exists this round.

6 (7) HAWKS - Maybe harshly treated but already ahead of predictions. Perth (A), Cairns (H) = ouch.

5 (4) KINGS - Did enough to get past Hawks but need to be more convincing against Townsville.

4 (3) 36ERS - Lost ugly, won ugly and must put in a good one against NZ to stay in favor.

3 (1) WILDCATS - Yeah, few saw that coming but we all know what's coming for Wollongong.

2 (8) TAIPANS - Great preparation = great early results and no reason for that to change this week.

1 (5) BREAKERS - Better than anticipated and at home in front of the returning flock, will not be sheepish.

Online

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-coach-joey-wright-is-hoping-the-other-36ers-turn-up-to-face-new-zealand/story-fnii09ki-1227091603357 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/interim-melbourne-united-coach-darryl-mcdonald-eyes-fulltime-position/story-fnii09gt-1227090618619

This Week's Tips

ADELAIDE was beaten by the Breakers at the Blitz, put in a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance in the first round and has a tough night ahead at Vector Arena. The 36ers are about speed-toppling-size but New Zealand has size-AND-speed, and a certain import named Cedric Jackson who reminded everyone last week in Perth exactly why he has "MVP" on his resume. Unlike last year, there won't be a steal and layup to win for the Sixers this time, the Breakers too big.

YOU know Townsville will be fired up after starting with 0-2 but beating the Kings in Sydney will take some doing. Sydney needed the run against the Hawks and has more players capable of contributing, Josh Childress and Tom Garlepp carrying it to victory. The Crocs lacked the zip, energy and purpose of their performances in grabbing the Loggins-Bruton Cup and need far more from Steve Markovic and the frontcourt, Brian Conklin exempted. Sydney to win.

DO NOT expect this replay of Sunday's clash between the Taipans and United to even resemble Cairns' 28-point rout. The turmoil of changing coaches and elevation of Darryl MacDonald into the coaching role means Melbourne will put a different foot forward. I'd even suggest an upset might be on the cards if it wasn't for the fact Cairns is way ahead of the league in preparation and its ability to slip into zone was United's Achilles heel. Closer than expected but Taipans at home.

EVEN minus Greg Hire (calf), the Wildcats would have to be revved to avoid the ignominy of losing two straight home games to start their title defence. Two games in 24 hours last round took the edge off the Hawks in Sydney and this match up should not resemble their Blitz meeting which Perth won 79-60. They didn't have Daniels, Wollongong didn't have Nevill so both change appreciably since then. The Wildcats' size will cause issues, especially if Hawks' Superman Gary Ervin remembers Perth is the home of kryptonite.

NZ BREAKERS hitting Melbourne might be the round's toughest call, especially this far out and without knowing the results of Friday's games by both protagonists. But that's why my boss here at B.O.T.I. pays me the big bucks - to stick my neck out so I'm going to suggest if United has turned it around in Cairns, they will take it right up to the Breakers. Match-ups such as Kickert-Ebekwe, Dennis-Jackson, Wortho-Vukona, plus Daryl Corletto against his former club truly whet the appetite. If Jordan McRae gets it going, United will take it the distance. But just now, I still lean to New Zealand.

WOLLONGONG and Cairns have the odd habit of winning in each others' gyms. Neither could beat the other at home last season but so much changed in the off-season, there's no reason to believe that should stay a constant. Why I think it might, in this fixture at least, is the Hawks are hauling it back home from Perth - yes, the draw has done them no favors. Scottie Wilbekin-Gary Ervin should be fun and Jahii Carson's ability to turn a game in a few minutes also a factor. But Cairns, at this point, appears further advanced.

WHY did the chicken cross the road?

To correct the still dead-wrong NBL ladder at the league website.