'On another level': Rivals prepare for fierce Throwdown

The Throwdowns between South East Melbourne and Melbourne are arguably the biggest rivalry in the Hungry Jack's NBL.

Although the record stands at 22-10 to United, the fixtures over the past few seasons have been some of the tightest in the whole League.

One who has experienced the intensity of a Throwdown firsthand is guard Kyle Adnam, who has played 119 and 58 games for the Phoenix and United, respectively.

"Those Throwdowns are insane," Adnam said on NBL Now, presented by CODE Sports.

"I actually think about six years ago [during one of] our Phoenix Throwdowns, we were looking at the Catapult numbers on them.

"Everyone was always talking about how these are higher-intensity games, and we looked at the Catapult numbers on them, which is our GPS tracking [system], and your load intensity for the game, and it actually was about 10-15 per cent higher for the Throwdowns.

"There's actual data there that these games are on another level."

While both sides head into the Round 2 fixture off the back of losses, Adnam doesn't think that will impact the standard of the fixture.

"I really like the way that South East [Melbourne] has been playing to start the year," he added.

"They're probably the team right now that's figured out their identity from day one, [which they've] carried on from last season really well.

"However, I do think United's firepower is going to be pretty hard to stop; we saw glimpses of it [last week].

"Hopefully Cole Anthony will be unleashed for the full amount of minutes this time."

Read more >> 'City's premier club': United playing Throwdown mind games

One who agrees with Adnam is 2001 NBL champion Damon Lowery.

"Cole Anthony is pure class, and he knows it," Lowery said on NBL Overtime.

"Nobody on the Adelaide 36ers could guard this man [last game]; you have to literally hope he misses.

"He turned Isaac White around so bad, Isaac White didn't even know he was on the floor.

"Cole Anthony is special, man; we are so blessed and lucky to have him in the League, and he's only going to get better."

Anthony will play his first Throwdown from 7.30pm on Thursday, live on ESPN.