United roll the dice with Wesley injury
MELBOURNE United will roll the dice and play an underdone Tai Wesley in the NBL grand final decider.
Wesley, 31, took part only in a light shoot-around yesterday as United builds towards the sold out on Saturday showdown against Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena.
The veteran suffered a reoccurrence of a shoulder (AC joint) injury late in last Sunday’s nine-point loss to the Sixers.
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman confirmed Wesley would play, barring any setbacks.
“We expect him to not be 100 per cent but certainly he’s going to be at a point where I think he can play the way we need him to play,” Vickerman said.
“It’s something that’s happened before and it’s reoccurred a little bit, but he got through it last time.”
While not as productive offensively in the playoffs, Wesley has delivered at the defensive end.
The versatile big man has just as many blocks (13) as he does rebounds (14) in the grand final series, while averaging 9.5 points.
He registered 25 blocks in 28 games during the homeand-away season.
“I thought he was really close to having a great game the other night,” Vickerman said.
“He just left a couple of his post moves a little bit short, had a couple of follow up ones that rimmed out, he had a three that rimmed out.”
The grand final could double as Wesley’s swan song for Melbourne with the in-demand power forward one of nine United free agents.
He will again be considered a “local” player next season, due to his Guam heritage, which allows NBL clubs to sign him and three imports.
United is bracing for a hectic free agency period, with Craig Moller and Kyle Adnam the only players contracted beyond this season.