"I thought the coach should have played him more." South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King, on Yannis Morin's 9 points and 4 rebounds. Citing a deep roster and a pace hard to sustain for 40 minutes, he added: "that's my job to figure out which guys need to be out there."
Shea Ili sat the second half under his management plan. "He didn't get injured, which is pleasing," said Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance. A couple of others are on plans; two days off "will be big" for them. Asked if one half was always the plan: "I won't disclose that."
Josh Oduro played 30 minutes for Melbourne United, and for about 10 second-half possessions the offence ran through him. "That was the play call wherever we needed it," said coach Jacob Chance. He added: "He kicked my ass in the G League, so I'm glad that he's here with me now."
Austin Shelley got the start of the third quarter for Melbourne United with Shea Ili sitting out the second half under his management plan. "I throw him in the fire there at the start of the 3rd quarter, but he has no fear," coach Jacob Chance said.
Sam Waardenburg is "back to the best version of him right now," Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance said on 10 October. A preseason injury slowed Waardenburg's start to the season, but Chance feels that is now behind him.