Follow the leader: How CG United Melbourne

Chris Goulding’s shooting heroics have become a regular theme across the NBL25 season, and in fact, basically his whole career, but his Melbourne United teammates have revealed it’s not just an incredible player, he’s also a strong leader.

Goulding impacted with 15 points against Illawarra in Game 1 of the Championship Series, albeit going 2-of-7 from three, but it was his ability to lift his teammates that proved the difference.  

“We weren’t good enough in that first-half and Chris told us,” Tanner Krebs told Code Sports.

“There is a lot of experience in our group, but it has really been CG (Goulding) driving us with his talk and accountability.”

Down by 10 at half-time, United fought back in the third. With a quarter to play, their experience came to the fore.

Dellavedova, Ili, Clark … they’ve had so much success in the past, while Marcus Lee had a huge presence with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Goulding himself had his own stretch of brilliance on an otherwise quieter night, with 11 fourth quarter points putting the result beyond doubt.  

An eight-point win in enemy territory was the perfect start for United.

“The big thing going into half was ‘trust the process’ and that’s something Chris has been saying all playoffs and I think everybody’s kind of fallen in line and trusted that as our guide,” Lee added.

Goulding and Melbourne will look to go two up in the series when they return to John Cain Arena on Wednesday night, with Game 2 live on ESPN from 7.30pm AEDT.