Sleeping giant may have awoken; where stumbling No.1 seed can improve — NBL Power Rankings
The NBL ladder is heating up. Melbourne United appear dominant, but challengers such as the Phoenix and 36ers are showing they belong in the title conversation. Injuries and inconsistency continue to shake up the middle and lower parts of the table, while this round's matchups could redefine which teams are genuine contenders.
Melbourne United | Record: 9-1 | Offensive Rank: 1st | Defensive Rank: 1st | Previous Rank: 1st
Melbourne United nearly made franchise history by starting the season with a perfect 10-0 record. Their streak was snapped by the Sydney Kings, who narrowly defeated them 95–92 at John Cain Arena. Despite this loss, there is no cause for concern — starting the season with ten straight wins is impressive. Additionally, Melbourne has yet to see the return of Shea Ili, whose comeback is expected to further strengthen the team’s roster and help sustain their position as the NBL's top defensive unit.
Attention now turns to tonight’s game: a rematch of the NBL25 Finals against the Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
“Winning ten straight games to start a season is a remarkable feat, and if your first loss comes more than a third of the way through the campaign - things are going pretty well.”
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Author's summary: The NBL season intensifies as Melbourne United remains strong despite a first loss, while other teams shake up the rankings amid injuries and inconsistent form.