The No.1 seed looked impressive against top-level competition, but came out of the contest with a major concern.
Plus changes up and down the order as the season picks up momentum.
Check out the NBL Power Rankings entering Round 4!
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1. MELBOURNE UNITED | RECORD: 3-0 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 2ND | DEFENSIVE RANK: 3RD | PREVIOUS RANK: 1
Despite not playing any NBL games since the last Power Rankings , United find themselves on top after joining the Adelaide 36ers as being the only two teams yet to lose a game.
United looked very impressive in their friendly exhibition match against the New Orleans Pelicans, showcasing to the world that the NBL can keep up with the world’s best.
Unfortunately, reigning defensive player of the year Shea Ili sustained a hamstring injury, which will see him miss up to five weeks.
In positive news, United have confirmed that Chris Goulding will return to the team for their matchup against the Cairns Taipans. A huge addition to the roster as they attempt to retain their number one spot in the power rankings.
2. ADELAIDE 36ers | RECORD 2-0 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 1ST | DEFENSIVE RANK: 4TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 4
Adelaide, led by Bryce Cotton, are slowly displaying to the rest of the league that they are an offensive powerhouse.
Coming off a 31-point win against the Cairns Taipans, Adelaide – who are 2-0 – enter round four with their first real challenge of the season.
Playing two games this round, they take on the Tasmania JackJumpers and Sydney Kings. Both teams are incredibly talented and if the 36ers can find themselves finishing the round 2-0, that is the type of form that wins championships.
Bryce Cotton is defying critics by showcasing why he is the 5x MVP. He is currently averaging: 33.5 PPG | 3.0 RPG | 6.5 APG | 61.0% FG
If he can copy/paste this form for the upcoming round, Adelaide might be overtaking United for that number one spot.
36ers down Taipans | 01:10
3. TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS | RECORD 3-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 5TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 5TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 3
Winless at home but 3-0 away? The Tasmania JackJumpers might be the best road team in the league…
With just the one game in round three, the JackJumpers defeated the Brisbane Bullets 84-82 in a somewhat controversial fashion depending on who you ask. However, a win is a win, and they now are now sitting firmly in third spot for this week’s rankings.
The club have been fortunate in being able to replace import David Johnson (calf) with T.J Starks, a scoring guard from America.
Despite just landing in Australia a day prior, Starks suited up and played for the JackJumpers during their win against Brisbane, scoring 18 points in 18 minutes of gametime. A huge addition for the team to maintain their form.
Tasmania will play one more away game this round before eventually returning home. But first, they need to get past Bryce Cotton and the Adelaide 36ers.
4. PERTH WILDCATS | RECORD 2-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 6TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 2ND | PREVIOUS RANK: 5
The Perth Wildcats are slowly building momentum coming off their season-opener loss to Tasmania.
They come into round four on a two-game win streak, taking down the Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks, who, despite their 0-2 start, are not an easy team to beat.
Ironically, there are positives to be taken from how poor star import Mason Jones has started his NBL career. Despite his early struggles, the team are finding ways to win games to help carry the load until his form kicks-in, and it will.
The Wildcats take on the struggling Cairns Taipans in their one game this round. A great opportunity for them to build on their winning record.
Wildcats hand NBL champs another defeat! | 00:55
5. CAIRNS TAIPANS | RECORD 2-2 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 10TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 9TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 3
A rough week for the Taipans, who found themselves on cloud nine after their big win against the Sydney Kings.
Sitting third in last weeks power rankings, the decline comes from the poor offensive and defensive display they showcased in their 31 point loss to Adelaide. Which makes it 2/4 games they have lost by 30+.
It isn’t easy to win games in the NBL, especially without your star player in Sam Waardenburg, who remains out with a foot injury. Jack McVeigh cannot carry this team all season.
New import Andrew Andrews has actually impressed me so far, which is something he’ll need to continue to do if Cairns want to win their brutal stretch of games coming up.
The Taipans take on Perth and Melbourne for round four, not an ideal run of games, but they’re good enough offensively to nab an upset win here.
6. SYDNEY KINGS | RECORD 1-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 7TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 1ST | PREVIOUS RANK: 6
The Kings got their first win of the season, defeating New Zealand 97-75, and will use that momentum going into a big stretch of games.
Kendric Davis continues to lead the team offensively, which sounds good but I think a changeup is needed where he facilitates more to feed Xavier Cooks, who is coming off back-to-back eight point outings.
If the Kings want to flex their muscle to the rest of the league, handing United their first loss of the season is a great way to start. The titans face off against one another tonight’s in the NBL Ignite matches.
They follow United with a matchup that will probably be the most hyped alongside Cotton’s return to Perth. Kendric Davis returns to Adelaide, a club he had a lot of negative things to say about during his time there.
The team, and more importantly Kendric, need to stay focused and get wins on the board. Big games require big wins.
Davis stars as Kings crush Breakers | 01:07
7. SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX | RECORD 1-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 3RD | DEFENSIVE RANK: 6TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 7
Just like United, the Phoenix have not played in over two weeks due to the NBA coming to town.
We need more of a sample size to accurately measure where this team will end up. A huge win against the Taipans, a team that is falling down the ranks, and a huge loss against United, who are the number one team currently.
They come into this round with still a spare roster spot for an import, who they’ll be patient in choosing, and take on a team who are struggling in the New Zealand Breakers.
A great opportunity to add another win and go above .500 for the season.
8. ILLAWARRA HAWKS | RECORD 0-2 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 8TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 8TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 9
Despite being winless and coming off a loss to the Perth Wildcats, the Hawks go up one rank for me this round due to other teams currently in free fall.
Illawarra will take on a struggling Breakers side in what will be the battle of the winless team, with both sides eager to get that first win on the board.
JaVale McGee yet again is showcasing his NBA experience and literally carrying the Hawks offensively alongside NBL Champion Tyler Harvey. Both will be crucial to the Hawks’ success early until the chemistry can start gelling.
There is a strong chance they can end this round going 2-0 which will take them to .500.
9. BRISBANE BULLETS | RECORD 1-3 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 4TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 7TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 8
Brisbane, who is led by rookie coach Stu Lash, have had it incredibly rough to start their season. But through all that, they have showed competitive spirit.
Now 1-3 for the season, it doesn’t look like it will improve anytime soon as the team announced they will be without their best defender in Sam McDaniel, who is out for (ankle) for eight weeks.
Coming off a controversial loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers, where a late charge call essentially cost them the game, the Bullets now look towards round four where they take on the Illawarra Hawks.
It is yet to be determined if star import Javon Freeman-Liberty will suit up after injuring his ankle in their loss to the Cairns Taipans. He is a crucial part to their success.
Worrying time for Lash and his team, but the fight is there and that’s all we can ask for.
10. NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS | RECORD 0-4 | OFFENSIVE RANK : 9TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 10TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 10
There isn’t much to say about the Breakers. A team that starter their NBL25 season 7-3, leading the league, are now a shell of their former self.
Chemistry, fitness and confidence. Three crucial elements to a teams success that they do not currently have. A struggling import duo in Izaiah Brockington and Rob Baker II, alongside Parker Jackson-Cartwright who is playing through injured ribs in an attempt to carry this team across the line.
The stress is taking its toll on coach Petteri Koponen as he looks for answers to try and secure the teams first win of the season.
A tough round four awaits them, too. A hungry Illawarra Hawks who are also chasing their first win followed by a defensive powerhouse in the Phoenix.
The players need to start linking together and playing a brand of basketball that we saw last year. Otherwise, this team is in for a long, rough year.