'Melbourne's in a different class': Expert questions 36ers' credentials

Sunday's blockbuster between Melbourne and Adelaide has been pegged as the game of the season. And rightfully so.

It will see the 8-0 Melbourne United host the second-placed 36ers, powered by five-time MVP Bryce Cotton.

While many believe there will be plenty of fireworks in this massive clash, one NBL champion believes the two sides are in a different 'weight class'.

"Technically, it's a heavyweight fight, but I feel like there's only one heavyweight in it," Damon Lowery said on NBL Now.

"The Adelaide 36ers will be competitive, because they have the brilliance of Bryce Cotton, but as a collective, I still feel like they are out of their weight class."

The biggest discrepancy between the two powerhouses, according to Lowery, is the supporting cast of the 36ers.

"Bryce is the greatest singer in the band that we have seen in quite a while," Lowery said.

"He writes all the songs. He makes all the hits. The problem is, Adelaide 36ers don't have another band member that can sing a duet with Bryce.

"Bryce has got to do too much heavy lifting and he needs another band member there, another playmaker, another guy can really get in the booth and make a hit with him."

While Cotton averages a career-best 30.7 points per game, Mike Wells' side only have Isaac Humphries (16.3), Flynn Cameron (12.8) and Dejan Vasiljevic (10.3) also averaging double-figures scoring.

On the other hand, United have five, Chris Goulding (20.3), Milton Doyle (14), Tyson Walker (13.4), Jesse Edwards (12.6) and Tanner Krebs (11.9), doing so, which saw NBL legend Ricky Grace label them the 'best team he'd seen in the NBL'.

While Lowery's colleague Derek Rucker said he 'can't wait for a great contest like this' on Sunday, he did call for the 36ers to make a statement and signal their intentions for the 2025-26 campaign.

"They've invested far too much, it's Championship Series or bust," the 1990 NBL MVP said.

"Now, if they get to the Championship Series and went down and lost, I would say that's a successful season.

"They'll be gutted, they'll be devastated, but from the outside it is significant improvement."

Sunday's Indigenous Round clash tips off at 2.30pm AEDT at John Cain Arena, live on ESPN and Channel 10.