Melbourne coach ‘realistic’ about horror NBL slide

Shayne Hope | January 8, 2026

Dean Vickerman concedes Melbourne United are a “fair way off” their best in the NBL title race after a horror run continued with the shock defeat to lowly Cairns.

Marcus Lee came back to haunt his former team with critical plays at both ends in the dying stages as the Taipans pulled off a 93-92 upset in Bendigo on Wednesday night.

It was United’s seventh loss from their past nine games since returning from November’s FIBA international break.

“We’re a level below (our best), there’s no doubt about that,” three-time NBL championship coach Vickerman said.

“Through this stretch we’ve lost two overtime games and a game by one point.

“They’re the ones and the margins that you’ve got to be better in.

“We should’ve been better, but a few of those other games we weren’t competitive.

“We’re realistic about it – we’re a fair way off – but there’s nine games to go and we have a chance to turn it around.”

Melbourne sit third on the ladder and take on the fourth-placed Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday in a crunch game for both title hopefuls.

After that, five of United’s final eight regular-season games are at home.

“We’ve got time to make this happen,” Vickerman said.

“We go to Sydney and play a really good team, and my message to my boys is ‘this is a playoff’.

“It’s a championship-contending team and we really measure ourselves to see how far below or are we good enough to contend with these teams right now.

“I hope our group can respond and stay together and put on a really good performance on Sunday.”

Melbourne remain hopeful star guard Shea Ili will return before the playoffs to boost their title chances.

The two-time defensive player of the year has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since a win over Illawarra on December 18.