AUS - Tenacious Tigers Trample Kings

MELBOURNE (NBL) - It wasn't pretty, in fact, it was outright trench warfare, but the Melbourne Tigers have squared the Hummer NBL Grand Final series at one apiece with a stirring 104-93 victory over the Sydney Kings in Melbourne.

While the Tigers had struggled all year to score down the stretch against quality opposition, tonight it was their defence that decided the contest, keeping the Kings to just 14 points in the final term.

At the other end, former Sydney King Dave Barlow took it upon himself to carry the Tigers home, scoring a game-high 24 points on 9/11 shooting. The 205cm swingman started for the Australian Boomers at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, but was off the pace and only played limited minutes.

Since then, despite having to overcome a serious knee injury, Barlow has worked on all aspects of his game, and tormented the Kings defence with deep threes, pull-ups, post ups, and a number of dunks in transition. Most impressive was his willingness to take the ball to the hole in the tense final quarter.

While the Tigers started quickest, it was Sydney who took control in the second quarter, and behind the early play of Australian internationals Glen Saville (12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Luke Kendall (9 points, 5 turnovers) took a double figure lead.

Melbourne hung tough thanks to super aggressive import Sean Lampley, who dominated down low. After a forgettable 4 point performance in game one, the former Miami player talked the talk in the press before game two, and he walked the walk on his home floor, tallying 21 points and 7 rebounds. Most important was his ability to consistently split the double team in the low post and either score or find the open man.

Canadian international Dave Thomas also produced a sparkling performance, getting his hands on dozens of deflections to go with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

League MVP Chris Anstey again struggled, scoring only one field goal in the second half. While Anstey was ever-reliable at the free throw line down the stretch (8/8 free throws, 21 points, 9 rebounds), Tigers coach Al Westover must find better ways to get his star big man involved.

The Kings defensive structure has smothered Anstey in the low block in the first two games, and the Tigers need to utilise Anstey's ability to shoot from the perimeter and put the ball on the floor against Sydney's lumbering 7-footer, Ian Crosswhite. Using cross screens to give Anstey space from the wide-bodied Crosswhite must also be in Westover's thinking.

There were few bright spots for the Kings, who wilted under the pressure of the ferocious Tigers and their rapid Melbourne crowd, with only import point guard Dontaye Draper (17 points, 5 assists, 6 turnovers) putting heat on the Tiger defence in the second half.

35-point game one hero Mark Worthington (13 points, 4/9 fg) could not reproduce his feats, as the Tigers made sure another King beat them - something Worthington's teammates were unable to do.

Game three is in Sydney on Sunday, and the referees will no doubt play a big part in the game. The series opener saw the Kings the most aggressive defensively, and they reaped the rewards from the whistle blowers. In front of their home crowd the Tigers stepped their defence up a level, and probably received the better of the officiating.

What has been questioned by many NBL observers is the clear departure from the refereeing interpretations that were implemented throughout the regular season, particularly those governing hand checking and arm bars.

Nevertheless, the first two games have been riveting, and most fans will be hoping this intensity and speed can continue for a full five game series. Melbourne's game two offence was far more efficient, but to win a vital game on the road they will need to find an x-factor that has not appeared just yet.

Paul Kennedy
FIBA Correspondent in Australia