Unwell Prather still set to play
MELBOURNE United has brushed off concerns about the fitness of shooting guard Casey Prather, who sat out yesterday’s main training session with an undisclosed illness.
Prather was quarantined yesterday as United prepared for tomorrow’s NBL grand final decider against Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena.
Versatile big man Craig Moller stepped in for Prather in match simulation, but teammate Casper Ware is confident Prather will be ready.
“He’s a little sick right now but I’m sure he’s going to get through it and he’s going to be ready,” Ware said.
Chief shot-blocker Tai Wesley (shoulder) contested most of practice except the session-ending scrimmage and seems set to play.
United went over set plays on repeat yesterday, preparing for the Nathan Sobey and Shannon Shorter-led Sixers. In Game 4, Sobey helped the Sixers to an insurmountable 24point halftime lead, blanketing Ware in the process.
Ware said the physicality at training had to carry over into the game.
“We felt like the last game they were more physical than us,” he said. “That’s what we did today, be more physical with each other.”
Prather is chasing a hat-trick of NBL championships after back-to-back titles with Perth Wildcats. “It would mean the world to me,” he said. “Especially it being Melbourne United’s first championship and being a part of that with the group of guys that we have, it would be absolutely amazing.”
Prather said his teammates must not allow their emotions to take over. He was among the players sanctioned after Game 3 when the NBL laid 14 charges after a bench-clearing halftime melee.
“The team just had my back,” Prather said. “That’s what great teams do, they have each other’s back.
“It was just a high-emotion game and the emotion got the best of us.”