Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman says his side is confident but measured as they prepare to take on Adelaide 36ers in the NBL championship decider.
The best-of-five grand final series opens in Melbourne on Friday night and shapes as a classic battle between the league's top-ranked offensive and defensive teams.
Vickerman has steered United into the championship round in his first season at the helm thanks to a defence-first approach that has drawn the best out of a talent-filled roster.
With imports Casper Ware and Josh Boone, Boomers guard Chris Goulding and power forward Tai Wesley leading the way, United blitzed the second half of the season to finish on top the NBL ladder.
Having swept the New Zealand Breakers in the semi-finals, Vickerman has his charges ready for their biggest challenge of the season.
"We've got our guys at a point where they are confident but absolutely respectful of their opponent," Vickerman said on Thursday.
"We know what's coming at us and the relentlessness of their offence continuing to come at us."
United won all four encounters with Adelaide in the regular season but Vickerman knows his side must elevate their game if they are to extend that streak.
"Probably the best thing that we've been able to do is put the ball in the hole and just slow them down a little bit," he said.
"Their defence from when we played them last has certainly greatly improved and that challenge will be a little more significant than it has been in the past."
Adelaide coach Joey Wright has turned the 36ers into the league's most potent offensive team with leading scorer Daniel Johnson flanked by athletic wings Mitch Creek, Nathan Sobey and import Josh Childress.
"At this point, we are who we are," Wright said.
"We are going to get out and run, get up and down the court and play our style of basketball.
"At the end of the day, it's going to come down to our defence trying to slow them up and their defence trying to slow us up."
While Childress has enjoyed a successful playing career in the NBA and Europe, the American forward has yet to taste championship success and hopes he can add a title with the 36ers to his resume.
"I've been to a few finals before but haven't had a chance to win one and I'm really looking forward to that opportunity here," Childress said.
Australian Associated Press
