Melbourne United have a serious dilemma ahead of Thursday's NBL clash with the Adelaide 36ers.
How do you stop Jerome Randle in full flight?
The star import was at his brilliant best in the 36ers' 87-79 win over United in Melbourne on Sunday, scoring 30 points and dishing off five assists in an enthralling duel with Melbourne playmaker Cedric Jackson.
For the 36ers, it was a welcome return to the aggression Randle showed last season as the NBL's leading scorer.
The 175cm point guard attempted just 10 shots in the 36ers' season-opening loss to Illawarra but more than doubled that number against Melbourne, his explosive speed and supreme ball-handling allowing him to drive to the basket time and again.
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"We definitely had some conversations about him being aggressive," coach Joey Wright said.
"Even if those shots aren't going in, we feel like we can clean up the boards if we're in position with our offence when those shots are taken.
"I think he has to see that for us, he's got to be that kind of guy. That's what we brought him in to be, that's what we want him to be. We don't care if he shoots ... three or four bad shots a game. We can counter that."
Asked what Melbourne could do to stop Randle when the two sides meet again in Adelaide on Thursday, coach Dean Demopoulos wasn't giving much away.
"There are a few things I'm not going to tell you about," he deadpanned.
"He is a great player."
With Melbourne recording a field goal percentage of just 37 per cent, part of the solution may lie in sinking more shots to prevent the 36ers from getting away on the fast break.
"In theory, it should (help). I think it would balance it out a little bit better if the ball goes in once in a while," Demopoulos said.
"But listen, you play this game to get your shots. As long as my guys are shooting from where they're trained to shoot from ... we've done our job as a group."
Melbourne will also be banking on better production from star shooting guard Chris Goulding, who managed just 10 points on 3-15 shooting.
"We're going to roll with him, for sure," Demopoulos said.
"He's going to get shots and I want him to take the next one."
