Melbourne United's imports starred on Melbourne Cup eve with Josh Oduro delighted with how the team is coming together while coach Jacob Chance doesn’t want superstar Cole Anthony to change a thing with what he's doing.
United made it three straight wins on Monday night with the 94-74 victory at John Cain Arena against the New Zealand Breakers, and once again, their imports starred combining for 38 points, 21 rebounds and six assists.
As impressive as they were, those numbers were down on the 43.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists they've been averaging, but the pair were instrumental in the third straight win even though they had decidedly different evenings.
Anthony took just two minutes to pick up a technical foul and did have five turnovers to half-time, but he also had 13 points in the first quarter and ended up with 21 on 8/14 shooting with 4/6 from deep.
While his antics are attracting plenty of attention, his coach doesn't feel he needs to change anything.
"Nothing needs to change and credit to Chris who was the crew chief tonight and I was really disappointed with the two (technicals) he got earlier in the season for just an audible swear word which to me doesn't make a lot of sense," Chance said.
"Tonight was a warranted technical, he gave him a warning and he went back and got what he deserved, but the disappointment for me is I thought Cole did a great job moving on and we're working with the league on that.
"He reset but my feeling was that the crew didn't move on and the second quarter he didn't get rewarded. You can't tell me all those were not fouls and he shoots no foul shots in the first half, which he's the No.1 player at the rim this year, so it doesn't add up for me.
"But he's continuing to learn and credit to him and to Scott Butler who I have conversations with weekly, win or lose, about trying to help educate these guys on the differences.
"Cole's lent into that and he's made improvements so I'm disappointed for him tonight, but he knows, and he's walking that line and yet pleasingly, he keeps himself out of foul trouble and closes the game for us and is effective."
Anthony might have arrived this season with all the headlines given his 367-game NBA pedigree, but it might very well be Oduro who has now become Melbourne's best, and most imposing, force.
In the three straight wins against Sydney, Cairns and New Zealand, Oduro is producing 23.3 points and 10.0 rebounds, and not only is he being a monster on the boards, but is a handful to try and stop when he gets the ball in the block.
The fact he was disappointed to not get to 20 rebounds on Monday says it all about how he cares about the team things, but his 17 points and 19 boards with three assists and two blocks shows his impact on the game.
And in the big picture, he likes the way United are starting to click now that they are at full strength and having won five of their past seven.
"Man, I wanted to get 20, but they put that big strong dude (Anzac Rissetto) in there and it was getting tough, but I think it was good and I want to do what I can for my teammates out there to impact the game and impact winning so I was glad I was able to do tonight," Oduro said.
"I think we're really starting to come together now. We had a lot of new guys, new places, new play style and we're learning how to play together.
"Then people have been injured so we haven't really been able to get that feng shui together, but I think we're starting to enter into our stride.
"I think we are starting to play with a little bit more urgency, not just settling back on offence or on defence."
The 26-year-old came to the NBL this season to play outside the United States for the first time after his college career with George Mason University and then Providence College before time in the G League with the Birmingham Squadron.
There was always going to be a period of adjustment for him to the league, the style of play, the officiating and his new team, but clearly his performances are speaking for themselves and he's enjoying everything about being part of things at United.
"I think I'm finding my way pretty well and I give a lot of credit to my coaching staff and my teammates," Oduro said.
"You come in here and it's a new environment, and we have a crowd like we had tonight, it's hard not to play well.
"Shout out to the fans for being out here and supporting us, and I want to continue with that, and I think we're going to be a really good team with them behind us."