Melbourne United coach Dean Demopoulos has a multitude of headaches beyond Thursday's lopsided 100-73 NBL loss against the Adelaide 36ers at Titanium Security Arena.
Minus injured quartet Chris Goulding (ankle), Todd Blanchfield (delayed concussion), David Andersen (knee) and American Ramone Moore (calf), undermanned United showed promise early, leading 24-17 at quarter-time, but were outscored 83-49 for the rest of the contest, including a 35-14 fourth-quarter annihilation.
Compounding Melbourne's woes, Casper Ware - who had 12 points from 26 per cent shooting to concede the marquee point guard battle against fast-finishing Jerome Randle (19 points, eight assists) - sat out the last five minutes with his left ankle in a bucket of ice.
Moore's calf complaint has been confirmed as season-ending and it is understood Melbourne have ushered in a last-minute import replacement, signed and registered just ahead of the deadline, which was tip-off in Adelaide.
The replacement won't be ready to suit up this Saturday night against the Cairns Taipans at The Cage.
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Demopoulos was coy and curt when answering questions about the other four's prospects of being available.
"(Goulding was) not well enough to come here," said Demopoulos, whose team slipped out of the top four.
"It will be a game-time decision (whether he plays against Cairns). It's his ankle.
"That (Blanchfield) will be game-time also."
And the prognosis on Ware?
"Precautionary? Yeah, it was precautionary," Demopoulos said.
"He tweaked it, I think, and I didn't want him to hurt it any more."
