Basketball On The Internet.

MATTHEW Dellavedova had us all roaring when he was pushing Cleveland Cavaliers through two NBA Championship series, lobbing balls for Australia for Aron Baynes or Andrew Bogut to dunk at Olympics and when he joined the NBL. But right now he is hurting United in the Championship Series.

That doubtless will be an unpopular view, especially with Melbourne fans who will point to his 21-point, 8-assist performance in Sunday's dramatic Game 3 home loss to Tasmania and the golden hand of Jack McVeigh.

No-one - ever - could fault Delly for effort, commitment, desire to win. But he's just taken over far too much, to the detriment of others who need the ball while he's still over-dribbling it.

His desperation to make it back into Boomers' favour and Paris Olympic considerations is so obvious as to be profound but now impacting negatively on United.

Yes, he hit a big three and a drive toward the end of Game 3 for United's 91-90 lead. But in trying to be all things to all people, it was Dellavedova who threw the errant inbounds pass that led to Melbourne's Game 3 demise.

Flashback to Game 2 and it was Delly giving up a late unsportsmanlike foul, then at the game's death, trailing 77-80, it was Delly who blatantly travelled to surrender possession.

Fact is, he is a loose cannon at times and playing as though he believes he is The Man.

Sorry mate, but - love him or hate him, admire his unconscious shooting or admonish his unconscionable flopping - Chris Goulding is The Man on this team.

When Dellavedova takes 18 shots and Goulding 14 - as occurred in Game 3 - someone has it all wrong.

When Jo Lual-Acuil only has three shots, and goes 3-of-3, someone has it all wrong.

Considering how much the ball is in Dellavedova's hands, how at every possible on-court (and off-court) huddle he has so much of such importance to say, you start to wonder is anyone still listening?

Despite having a 3-point shot that is a biomechanical nightmare, there is no question Dellavedova has earnt respect. Even coach Dean Vickerman appears to defer to him at times.

But there have been times United has needed the good decision-making and precise passing Shea Ili provides, not the manic mannerisms of a man so hyped up he is wildly twirling his finger and wanting a coach's review less than 30 seconds into Game 3.

Come on man, get a grip.

It's not all about you and as long as it seems to be, Tasmania has the gates open to drive through and claim the club's historic first championship.

Rarely has there been a more glaring difference in demeanour than Dellavedova and McVeigh on Sunday.

The ball out of court in Melbourne's frontcourt, Dellavedova waved off Ian Clark from taking the inbounds pass. Truly, there was no way Melbourne could lose this, barring the "Miracle on the Sabbath."

So Delly's decision is to throw it toward Goulding, double-teamed on the sideline and with a pass so bad Milton Doyle had to leap over the baseline to save it to McVeigh.

McVeigh caught it and turned to head toward the JackJumpers' basket. Six dribbles later, his eye never losing sight of its target, on instinct and the muscle memory that comes from thousands of hours of practice, he let fly with a shot that never looked like missing.

Some clowns have called it a 'Hail Mary' but it was anything but. It was calculated and deliberate.

If you wanted to see a genuine 'Hail Mary', it was the wild shot Dellavedova was forced to heave as the siren was sounding on a victory that puts Tasmania within one win of joining the long-defunct Launceston Casino City in 1981 as an NBL champion. 

What an extraordinary achievement that would be. This is only the JackJumpers' third NBL season.

They reached the Grand Final Series in Year One but struck by injury, lost in straight sets to Sydney Kings.

Only once before had a club reached the Grand Final in its inaugural season, Geelong Great Shape Cats in 1982. But that group already was a seasoned SEABL champion before winning NBL promotion.

The JJs did not exist, genuinely starting from scratch. Season Two, back to the Final Four and the semi finals.

Season Three? One win from the championship.

It is a mind-boggling record but the job is not done yet, Game 4 tomorrow in Hobart sold out and Melbourne still very much in this.

They lost the unlosable on Sunday. Only matching Tasmania's teamwork will get it done for United to force a Game 5 decider back in Melbourne.

Marcus Lee, injured in Game 3, today was ruled out of the series with a knee injury.