Mitch’s input greater than stats show
STATISTICS of six points, five rebounds and two assists in just over 34 minutes on the court certainly do not jump off the page for most basketball followers.
Those were former Snake Mitch McCarron’s numbers in his first game back in the Far North against his old side and while they are modest at best, they hardly reflect the comboguard’s influence on his new club’s victory. The Australian Boomer could not get it going offensively, shooting 2-9, but he did not drop his head.
He took the key defensive assignment of Melo Trimble at times as well as jumping for unlikely rebounds, which he became known for while in orange, to keep the ball alive or tip it to a teammate.
“We keep mixing it up for Mitch on different defensive assignments and he has done a great job on elite shooters so far in the league in the guys he has matched up on,” United boss Dean Vickerman said.
“There were rebounds he contested against Cairns that do not show up on the stat sheet – he flies in for those, gets a tip and keeps those ones alive.
“He has been playing at a really good pace as well. I love what Mitch is bringing.
“There was probably a few nerves as well coming back here for the first time against his old team.”
Melbourne moved to second on the ladder and are home for tonight’s huge Cup Day Eve blockbuster against Andrew Bogut’s Sydney Kings at Melbourne Arena.