NBL Champion Blasts "Slow, Lethargic" Phoenix

Two-time NBL champion Adam Gibson has blasted the South East Melbourne Phoenix’s poor performance against the Perth Wildcats, labelling them “slow” and “lethargic”.

Simon Mitchell’s team became the first to concede over 100 points in two consecutive games in NBL23, as Bryce Cotton ran riot at RAC Arena. 

“The Phoenix - their defence was not great,” Gibson said on NBL Today. 

“You can’t come in and give up 103 points. They looked slow, they looked lethargic, they were second to the ball. Their effort and energy areas weren’t there.

“That’s the most concerning thing for me.”

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Mitch Creek hit 32 points for the travelling team, but ultimately, the game was just about over by half-time. 

Gibson criticised the team’s defence, as they fell to a 5-5 record with close to a full-strength lineup at their disposal. Only Zhou Qi was missing from the Phoenix’s best team. 

“This off-season they went and recruited these guys to fix that problem (defence), so I’m not sure what’s happened,” he said. 

“Obviously the FIBA window break hasn’t helped them at all.

“It’s a long trip to Perth, but they are professional athletes.” 

Speaking after the game, Mitchell said his side’s inability to stop opposition scoring was “definitely concerning”. 

“Certainly disappointing … very curable,” he said. 

“It’s going to take a commitment from everyone to get on the same page from a defensive standpoint.

“I thought early on we were OK. I thought we executed reasonably well, and then we went on a bit of a turnover fest which really got Perth up and going. That was disappointing.

“Our energy needs to come from the defensive end which involves getting stops, and that feeds the offence.”

Saturday night looms as a season-defining game for the Phoenix, as they take on Melbourne United in the throwdown from 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.