Melbourne Tiger Chris Goulding maintains his focus - Sydney Morning Herald

On the charge: Chris Goulding drives to the basket against the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images

Chris Goulding is averaging 26.5 points a game, scoring at volumes no Melbourne Tiger has matched since the NBL moved to 40-minute matches.

So it's only natural people in basketball circles are already predicting Goulding will figure in most valuable player calculations at the end of the season and attract an NBA or European deal for next season.

But the 25-year-old isn't hearing any of that right now, or doesn't plan to entertain any talk of it this season. Instead, he is determined to end the Tigers' two-game losing streak on Sunday and then get his side back into the NBL finals.

''I try to stay focused with what we've got going on at the moment and not be thinking about anything else,'' Goulding said when asked about his playing future.

''I just want to keep playing well and try to play even better - it sounds cliched but I'm focused on our next match - that is all you can afford to do in a league as close as the NBL.''

The Tigers have Goulding under contract for next season although it's understood to include an NBA or European buyout clause that would net the club compensation should its star guard move on.

Goulding was also given encouragement from Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis recently when he visited Tigers training, with the coach telling Goulding if he keeps improving his game he could force his way back into the national squad.

The Tigers face a pivotal match when they host Sydney Kings at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Sunday.

The Tigers dropped their clash with Townsville last Sunday, and then were overrun by the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night.

In the space of a week they have gone from a two-game winning streak to a two-game losing streak and with the Kings beating them in round one, a loss would see the Tigers lose the season series.

That means if the two sides are tied for a finals place, it would go to the Kings.

Both sides have recently added imports, with the Kings adding former NBA forward Sam Young and cutting point guard Jesse Sanders, while the Tigers parted ways with guard Ayinde Ubaka and replaced him with Mustapha Farrakhan.

The Kings were thrashed 98-55 by Perth Wildcats in Young's first match last Sunday night.

''Sydney is in a similar position to us coming into this match and you know they will come out with all guns blazing,'' Goulding said.

The addition of former Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies forward Young has created some headlines for Sydney considering the Pacers thought highly enough of Young to have him guard Miami superstar Lebron James during last year's NBA play-offs.

But Young only scored 14 points against Perth on debut while the Kings sorely lacked a chief ball-handler without Sanders.

Goulding isn't overawed about facing Young but is happy to see another NBA-calibre player in the league.

''I don't think we need any extra motivation for this game - two bad losses are all you need,'' Goulding said.

Likely starters: Melbourne - Nate Tomlinson, Chris Goulding, Lucas Walker, Mark Worthington, Scott Morrison. Sydney - Charles Carmouche, Ben Madgen, Sam Young, Tom Garlepp, A.J. Ogilvy.

Poll: Will the Perth Wildcats win the NBL trophy in 2013-14?

Yes - nothing can stop them now

52%

No - they will again fade out in the finals

48%

Total votes: 21.

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