Mitchell Revels in Throwdown Win

It was the response Simon Mitchell was after. A fortnight after labelling his team as "trash" in a Throwdown loss to Melbourne United, the South East Melbourne Phoenix turned things around in a big way. 

After struggling on the defensive end in recent games – they became the first side in NBL23 to give up 100 points in two consecutive games ahead of the clash - the Phoenix turned the screws on United, to restrict them to just 69 points – including limiting their opposition to just six of 21 three-pointers over the course of the game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Throwdown XVIII was a <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> domination, beating United in front of a sold-out crowd ?<br><br>Gary Browne was the Foot Locker Player of the Game ? <a href="https://t.co/FsoXjn3Icu">pic.twitter.com/FsoXjn3Icu</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1593885263239221248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It was good to get a win on Saturday night,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell told RSN. “It’s always good to beat the crosstown rivals, especially in front of a packed house. It was a welcome return after a little bit of a disappointing performance from us on Thursday [against Perth].

“It’s always difficult coming back from Perth to play within 36 hours and get back on the floor. We just about ran out of legs but we’d built up a good lead to that point so we were able to hold on.

“I have a smile on my face.”

The way Saturday’s Throwdown evolved over the course of the contest was the polar opposite of last time the two sides clashed.

The Phoenix got off to a hot start – largely thanks to the guard play of Gary Browne. After easing out to solid lead in the second quarter and building upon it in the third, they never really looked like losing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">???????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ? <a href="https://twitter.com/Gbrowne14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gbrowne14</a> <br><br>?? Tickets v Hawks ?? <a href="https://t.co/YYDaCLptfh">https://t.co/YYDaCLptfh</a> <a href="https://t.co/7161I3a72Q">pic.twitter.com/7161I3a72Q</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1594489441401286656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“He just creates easy buckets for everybody,” Mitchell said of Browne.

“It just takes a lot of pressure off of everyone on the team from an offensive perspective … if you can go out there and get easy buckets in transition, and get some easy stuff off him just breaking the dribble in the half-court, it puts less pressure on your offence to execute to perfection.”

Having returned from Covid protocols and injury respectively against Perth on Thursday, Kyle Adnam and Ryan Broekhoff played in their first Throwdowns of the season. 

Broekhoff put together a well-rounded game with nine points and four rebounds, while Adnam added his trademark spark from the bench.

Mitchell says the addition of key players was the biggest difference between the two results.

“We didn’t change really anything from the first meeting with Melbourne, we just executed a lot better. I think there may have been one action of Melbourne’s that we defended differently but everything else was the same as last time,” he said.

“We had the same matchups as we had organised for last time and having those guys (Adnam and Broekhoff) on the floor made a difference. We were far better from an execution standpoint.

“When we’ve got our starting lineup out there, we’re four and one on the season. They’re all healthy at the moment so hopefully we can keep that momentum.”

The Phoenix threw their support behind United centre Isaac Humphries, who became the first openly gay player in the history of the NBL following his announcement last week.

South East Melbourne took to the floor in black shirts with large, rainbow coloured team logos displayed on the chest of each player, while the likes of Alan Williams and Ryan Broekhoff showed their support to Humphries on social media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incredible strength and courage to share your story! I’m standing with as an ally bro! So many people, athletes and non athletes will find strength in your journey mate! ???? <a href="https://t.co/JgQY4peyTZ">https://t.co/JgQY4peyTZ</a></p>&mdash; BigSauce (@alantwilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/alantwilliams/status/1592689490329759747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I had a multitude of thoughts,” Mitchell said about watching Humphries’ announcement.

“One, I was a little bit sad in hearing some of the things he had to go to and some of the really dark times he experienced, and we’re still in that day and age where people still feel like that and don’t feel they can be themselves.

“From that perspective there was a little bit of sadness, but also tremendous pride in him being able to share who he is with the world and I just hope for all the happiness for him, that it’s a huge relief for him and it can inspire people.”