Melbourne's big X-factor

Jack White’s troubles from the foul line were a popular talking point during Melbourne’s Playoff Series against Perth, and with good reason, but no one can deny he delivered when it mattered most in Game 3.

White had 12 points in the third quarter alone, helping his team wrestle back control and ultimately lock down their place in the Championship Series.

It was a big step forward for the 27-year-old, as he aims to atone for missing United’s last championship success in NBL21 with an achilles injury.

While he’s already a proven star, NBL champion Damon Lowery believes an in-form White could make his mark in a big way.

“The biggest x-factor for Melbourne United is going to have to be Jack White,” Lowery said on NBL Now.

White shot just 4-of-13 from the free-throw line against the Wildcats, but made up for it with 9-of-15 from beyond the arc.

“In his own words, he got too much in his head, he’s an overthinker,” Lowery said.

“He’s been shooting the ball well from three the whole season and especially in that series.

“I know what I’m going to get from Delly (Matthew Dellavedova) and Ian Clark, I know what I’m going to get from (Chris) Goulding. I know Rob Loe and Marcus Lee will combine as a formidable two-headed monster.

“Jack White is the one for me ... 13 points a game is his average. That means you’ve got a couple of four-point, five-point games in there. I haven’t seen a lot of 25-point games in there, and the time I did see it you were on top of the world in Perth, when you dropped the big numbers.

“If Jack White can do that and especially against the frontcourt with so much depth that Illawarra has, he has absolutely got to show up.”

White has averaged NBL career-high numbers of 13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game this season, after returning from time in the NBA with Memphis and Denver, winning a championship with the latter.

Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker had United star Ian Clark as his x-factor in the series, coming off his game-winning, career-high 38-point haul against Perth in Game 3.

Live coverage of Game 1 gets underway from 7.30pm AEDT on Saturday night, live on ESPN, with tip-off from 8pm AEDT.