Casper Ware is leading the way on the scoreboard but the depth of Melbourne United's talented roster is the reason why the defending champions are looking tough to beat again.
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Sunday's 102-94 win over the Brisbane Bullets was Melbourne's sixth in their past seven starts, overcoming a busy early schedule and a knee injury to captain Chris Goulding to sit second on the ladder after six rounds.
Ware led all scorers with 23 points while five of his teammates finished in double figures with United's team defence standing tall to restrict the Bullets to 19 points in the final quarter.
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman spoke highly of his team's ability to adjust from game to game with travel, injury and fatigue resulting in numerous line-up changes so far this season.
"I think we've actually got the group to a point right now where it doesn't matter (who starts)," Vickerman said. "They all want to be in there in key moments, they all want to feature at the end of the game."
After a slow start to the season, star import Ware is averaging 23 points over his last eight starts, including a combined 81-point total during United's current three-match winning sequence.
But the efforts of veteran David Barlow, new import DJ Kennedy, Boomers guard Mitch McCarron and centre Josh Boone have been crucial to United's early success.
And this is all with Goulding still working his way back to full fitness after a bone bruise in his knee grounded the skipper in round three.
Goulding nailed a clutch three-pointer to seal Friday's 108-101 victory over the New Zealand Breakers in Invercargill and was in the thick of the action late against the Bullets to finish with 16 points.
Goulding is still adjusting to the unfamiliar role of coming off the bench as he builds back up to peak condition but knows the results speak for themselves.
"At the moment we're winning and everyone is having a lot of fun playing together so if that's what needs to be done, that's what needs to be done," Goulding said.
"It's a great luxury to have right now," Vickerman said about bringing his sharpshooter back slowly, using the experience of managing Goulding's return from appendicitis last season.
"I thought last year I made a mistake in just throwing him straight back in," he said.
"I really wanted to make a change this year and just ease him back in and I think it's been good for (him and) the group as well."
Australian Associated Press
