2009 Australian NBL playoff finals

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AUS - Goorjian says: Dragons best defensive team ever



MELBOURNE (NBL) - An incredible defensive performance in game 3 has seen the South Dragons move within one win of claiming their first ever NBL Championship, after defeating the Melbourne Tigers 84-67 at Hisense Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the best of five series.



The Tigers must win game four, at their home court - the Cage - to force a game five decider at Hisense, but they may have to do so without captain and star centre Chris Anstey.



Anstey and New Zealand international Mika Vukona were ejected after a physical confrontation that involved all 10 players on the court at the end of the third quarter. Anstey has been cited by the NBL Tribunal for striking Dragons reserve point guard Rhys Carter.



The melee started when Anstey tangled repeatedly with Carter in the open court. After Carter bumped Anstey, the 115kg centre retaliated and floored the 88kg Carter with a shoulder bump.



Immediately following the scuffle, Carter nailed a free throw and a buzzer beating three pointer to give the Dragons a 70-51 three quarter time lead and effectively end the contest.



The real damage had been done much earlier though, as Australian Olympian Joe Ingles (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), import Tremmell Darden (12 points, 4 rebounds) and centre Matt Burston (9 points, 11 rebounds) dominated in the open court to give the Dragons a 28-16 lead at the first break.



Darden and Ingles in particular provided the 8200 strong Dragons crowd with plenty of highlights and exposed the fatigued transition defence of the Tigers.



Melbourne drew within two early in the second quarter on a Luke Kendall jumpshot in transition, but the Dragons answered immediately behind the play of Vukona and emerging point guard, and former Australian junior representative Adam Gibson, taking a 46-33 half time lead.



The third quarter was all South, and import Donta Smith (18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists), who had played the role of distributor until that point, put on a show for the fans with his aerial brilliance to ensure there would be no comeback from the Tigers. Olympian Mark Worthington was again rock solid for the Dragons with 10 points and 10 rebounds.



Only Anstey (15 points, 5 rebounds) and Nigerian international Ebi Ere (16 points, 5 turnovers) reached double figures for Melbourne, but both were hounded by the South defence and shot at a poor rate.



The Tigers overall shot at just 33% from the field, 23% from the three point line, and 61% from the foul line. Their 67 points was the second lowest score by any team in an NBL Grand Final.



Game four is on Wednesday night, but of further concern to Melbourne is the treatment required by Anstey to his previously injured knee. His inability to contest shots in the paint opened up the game for the athletic trio of Ingles, Smith and Darden.



Despite the offensive razzle dazzle, Dragons coach Brian Goorjian was most effusive in his praise of the Dragons defensive efforts. "I've been involved in a lot of grand finals and I've never had a team play this level of defence for the extended period that we have.



"They've moved to a level defensively that I haven't got a team to play before," he added. "It's not like you're playing chopped liver, this is the best team in the competition, the defending champion that you're playing."

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