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MELBOURNE last night made a statement against NBL-leading Cairns, taming the Taipans 91-76 at Margaret Court.

While a disappointing crowd of only 3,393 made it out for the historic first night of NBL at the new venue, more should follow considering United's 52-31 second half.

Co-captain Nate Tomlinson and Mark Worthington both returned to United's lineup, Tommo back from the birth of his child in the USA and Wortho still nursing an infected elbow but suiting up regardless.

Wortho contributed 20 points at 60 per cent, plus 10 boards and four assists, Jordy McRae led all scorers with 21 and Steve Dennis paired 15 points at 67 per cent, with eight assists.

Cam Gliddon led Cairns with 19 points, Scottie Wilbekin and Cam Tragardh with 15 apiece and Torrey Craig with a team-high eight rebounds and nine points.

The win would have been particularly gratifying for United after Cairns rocked Melbourne's season with a first-round road win which led to original 2014-15 head coach Chris Anstey resigning.

The Taipans then made it 2-0 over Melbourne in Darryl McDonald's debut as Anstey's replacement.

 

JUST in case you were in any doubt every fibre in Penny Taylor's body is that of a champion, here's something you may not have known.

Penny was so sick with gastro last Friday, the Rangers expected to have to face Townsville without her.

But Penny knew her absence would be a massive disappointment (and not just to her Dandenong teammates and fans but also a national television audience) so somehow dragged herself out to play and delivered 21 points, including three killer threes in the final 11-0 run to victory.

How she even played 24 hours later against Melbourne is a miracle. Her 26 points came on muscle memory. And the fact she is an out-and-out superstar.

 

WNBL PotW

IN complete agreement again this week with the WNBL's selection of Abby Bishop as its Player of the Week.

Finally the WNBL has recognised what amazing numbers Abs has been putting up for Canberra.

If the MVP voting was counted right now, there'd be Bish in first place, then daylight second.

Yet it has taken this long for her to win the league accolade. But this is not a time to be churlish.

The WNBL and its big momma BA have got it right. Congratulations.

But mostly to Abby for turning in such a sterling season so far.

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev

8 (8) HAWKS - Languishing and played so poorly even Zac Delaney shrank with embarrassment.

7 (4) CROCODILES - Yes, we know Mickell Gladness was missing but come on now. Next it's Perth... 

6 (6) UNITED - Dropped to Perth, beat Cairns ... United is on the rise and gathering momentum.

5 (7) KINGS - Positive round and can build on that now with Perth flying in.

4 (5) BREAKERS - Two solid road wins and next host a Hawks team shaking the doldrums.

3 (2) 36ERS - Have the building brock in place now for a run at the title.

2 (1) TAIPANS - Now dropped two in a row and not enjoying November quite as much as October.

1 (3) WILDCATS - Back to taking care of business and have a 22-point loss in Townsville to amend.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev

8 (3) LIGHTNING - 33 was the lowest score in club history and have much ground to make up.

7 (6) RANGERS - Showed flash to beat Townsville but came straight back to pack 24 hours later.

6 (7) BOOMERS - Building a little momentum but this round's double will be testing.

5 (8) WAVES - Beating Bendigo was huge and now here's a chance to square up with Canberra.

4 (5) CAPITALS - Will find West Coast a tougher proposition in Perth. Match of the round?

3 (4) FLAMES - Still quietly getting the job done but will have to settle for a split.

2 (2) SPIRIT - Hosting rejuvenated Dandenong but too strong and deep for Rangers.

1 (1) FIRE - First road hiccup and will take no prisoners with Melbourne in Townsville.

 

This Week's Tips

WOLLONGONG simply has to show a big pair of onions to make up for last round's shallots against the Kings but with New Zealand on the move and coming off twin north Queensland wins, the salad days won't be revisited. Expect a better showing but the Breakers size and homecourt will be key.

WHEN Townsville whipped Perth by 22, only the most faithful Crocs fans were not surprised. The win was one thing, the margin quite another. No doubt the Wildcats quickly found the schedule and scoured it to circle in the date of the rematch. It is this round. In Perth, it will be a revenge game result.

COMING off a solid win over Cairns, Melbourne hits Adelaide for the club's 500th home game in the city of churches. This game has a lot of promise, with both sides showing good signs in recent outings, without always getting the W. I'm just leaning slightly toward the home team, especially if Adam Gibson maintains his "Player of November" form. (PS - It's "black out" night at Adelaide Arena with the 36ers in black (as shown below by Brendan Teys and Brock Motum) and fans also asked to wear black tops.

PERTH closes its weekend against the Kings in Sydney and this would have been big anyway but is even moreso now Josh Childress has shown exactly what an NBA player in the NBL is supposed to look like. The Childress-Jesse Wagstaff incident adds bite to an already appealing main course, but so does Childress' PotW status. Why not Sydney for an upset?

MELBOURNE is at Sydney and will be feeling good about itself after taking out West Coast and Dandenong to re-establish some kind of WNBL bona fides. Sydney has been travelling fairly well too and this clash will be a fair indicator of which of them has the better chance at the post-season. Right now, it might just be the Flames but a Boomers road win would not surprise.

CANBERRA had its way with West Coast last round but the Waves were coming off the high of beating Bendigo and had no answer for Abby Bishop. With a week to work out a strategy and at home, I like West Coast for this, provided they aren't singing (to the tune of Sound of Music's "Maria") "How do we solve a problem like The Bishop?"

CONFLICTING WNBL reports suggest Adelaide's 33 points last week was lower than the all-time mark of futility of 34. But guides also have a 30-point game by Dandenong in 1994 so suffice to know the 33 was Adelaide's lowest score, ever. With Laura Hodges (calf) questionable and Emma Langford (sister's wedding) and Kerryn Harrington (broken nose #2) already out, the Lightning must dig deep. And they will.

WHILE Dandenong rising to beat Townsville was not last round's biggest surprise, be under no illusions the Fire won't be fired up to enact vengeance on Melbourne this week, much as Bendigo blistered Lightning after losing at West Coast. The Batgirl and Cayla will be up to their super heroine antics and Commissioner Lucas will make sure last week's result is consigned to the vault.

BENDIGO will storm into Dandenong and get a tougher game than it might expect. Kelsey Griffin against Penny Taylor will alone be worth admission and Cappie Pondexter will cause the Spirit fits. But the rest of the team need to find their roles, and quickly, because Bendigo's players know theirs. That's why they will win. 

 

Online

Colleague Steve Barrett has a new gig going called NBA Passport, this week featuring Kevin Brooks at: http://on.nba.com/10VK7yS

News Corp stories: http://bit.ly/1v1X5Jr

http://bit.ly/1xt8S25

http://bit.ly/11hApI0

 

WHY did the chicken cross the road?

To smuggle Dean Vickerman's Cairns game-plan to Darryl McDonald.