Preview: SEM Phoenix v Tasmania

When: 6pm (AEST), Saturday 1 October
Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Broadcast: ESPN; Foxtel; Kayo; Sky Sports NZ
LIVE SCORES & STATS

Who won the last time?

Tasmania 84 (McVeigh 26, Adams 23, Magette 12) d South East Melbourne 80 (Creek 27, Munford 17, Le’afa 11) – Round 20, NBL22 at John Cain Arena

Jack McVeigh and Josh Adams combined for 49 points on 9/19 from the land of plenty as the JackJumpers charged from 15 down on the back-end of a double-header to put the Phoenix out of the playoff race. As was often the case last season, Mitch Creek stood tall for the men in green, dropping 27 points, but didn’t received nearly enough help.

What’s new?

Plenty of help has since arrived for the Phoenix, most notably import guards Gary Browne and Trey Kell to create looks when the offence is bogged down. While both are creative shot-makers, sometimes they’ll just have to roll the ball into import big man Alan Williams in the block, who at 120kg with a controlled post game is going to be a handful.

Tasmania believe their ability to create shots has been enhanced by the arrival of Milton Doyle, who brings greater size, poise and basketball IQ to the two-spot than his firebrand predecessor. The JJs could also be better defensively with Rashard Kelly on the other side of ball-screens, while his versatile offensive skill-set more than replaces MiKyle McIntosh.

What’s working?

Wild Kyle – Many on last season’s Phoenix roster would admit disappointment in their individual performance, but none would feel that more keenly than Kyle Adnam, who produced outstanding basketball early in the season – including a stunning 24-point, four-assist performance in a win over the Wildcats – before fading badly in concert with his team.

But he’s clearly spent the off-season working rather than moping, producing quality point guard play at the Blitz to be one of the players of the tournament. He averaged 19.7ppg thanks to his poise and decision making from ball-screen situations, so expect him to be aggressive with the rock in his hands, especially with Browne sidelined early.

JJ’s ball movement – They say sometimes less is more, and that was certainly the case for Tasmania’s ball movement last season. After moving the ball aimlessly in the opening part of the season, resulting in their imports being asked to repeatedly make one-on-one plays late in the shot clock, the JJs simplified their schemes and shortened their ball movement.

The result was more screen exchanges, more catches for their import duo, better spacing of their shooters and more predictable shots for their rebounders to chase. Tassie finished NBL22 third for assist percentage despite being last in field-goal conversion, and averaged 18 dimes at the Blitz. Proactive defence is needed to restrict the Ants’ team-based offence.

What needs stopping?

Bricks & Broeks – South East Melbourne’s injury curse needs to stop, with their import backcourt pairing and Aussie star Aussie Ryan Broekhoff all set to miss the season opener. The Phoenix were 11-6 when Broekhoff was injured in the Round 15 Throwdown, and 4-7 thereafter as they crashed out of the top four. His defence and rebounding are a key to this team

What the Phoenix also need from Broekhoff and Co is marksmanship. SEM shot just 32 per cent from outside in NBL22, after bettering 36 per cent in their first two seasons. They’ll be hoping Rowdy returns to the 39 per cent clip of his debut NBL season, and while Browne and Kell can also do damage from the arc, will anyone step up early in their absence, given the Phoenix shot a woeful 27 per cent from deep in their six pre-season games?

SEM’s penetration – The JackJumpers arrived last season on the mantra of defending the island, and they focused their forces on the coast, holding opponents to clear league lows of 7.4 made triples at 28 per cent. At times they were exposed inside with Will Magnay missing, and they will face a similar challenge early in NBL23 with their centre sidelined.

While the JJ’s 53-point shutdown of Sydney at the Blitz made headlines, in their four other pre-season games Scott Roth’s men gave up 55 per cent shooting from two-point range. Last season they gave up a league-worst 54 per cent, equal with NZ, and a league-high 20.7 free-throw attempts. In Launceston in September, South East Melbourne ran up 68 points from ‘ones and twos’ with Mitch Creek watching, so expect them to test Tassie’s interior early and often.

Who’s matching up?

Alan Williams v Rashard Kelly – Thankfully Tassie’s versatile import comes with a quality defensive reputation because his teammates will struggle to guard Williams. The Phoenix’s new bull can sniff a mismatch a mile off and demands the ball with vigour. Expect Kelly to test out his running in transition and his mobility defending pick-and-pop situations.

Mitch Creek v Jack McVeigh – These former teammates had quite the shootout late last season, McVeigh with a match-winning 26 points on 4/9 from deep, while Creek’s 27 points almost got the Phoenix home. Mitch has been rested in pre-season, while McVeigh claimed the Blitz MVP averaging 19 points at 73 per cent from long range. Bring this battle on!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack McVeigh is having himself a day.<br><br>A career-high 26 points and counting for the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> Easter Energizer Bunny ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> live on 10 Peach <a href="https://t.co/rWdbjQaVX8">pic.twitter.com/rWdbjQaVX8</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1515551288955600898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Who’s saying what?

The South East Melbourne Phoenix weren’t happy with their NBL22 season, that’s no secret.

“We sucked last year to put it in black and white,” Mitch Creek told SEN in his typical, down-the-line style.

Of course, everyone knows how delighted the Tasmania JackJumpers were with their remarkable debut season.

So small was the margin for error, however, that had the Phoenix defeated Tassie in their Round 20 clash at Melbourne Park – a game they led by 15 points in the first half and by two midway through the final term – they would have finished the season above the JackJumpers.

It wasn’t to be though, the season-ending injury to Ryan Broekhoff a major blow, along with some untimely absences from Zhou Qi, Cam Gliddon, Xavier Munford and Kyle Adnam.

Gliddon and Munford have moved on, but in a major boost the super-popular Qi returns alongside new imports Alan Williams, Gary Browne and Trey Kell to give SE Melbourne one of the most talented line-ups in the Hungry Jack’s NBL.

But things aren’t rosy in the Heartland right now, with Broekhoff, Browne and Kell injured and Qi not yet in the country. There is some relief in the form of Bendigo Braves import Malcolm Bernard as a replacement, but the Phoenix will have to find sync on the run.

“Finals is the first thing we need to check off, but along the way we have a long list of things we need to accomplish and getting everyone healthy is number one,” Creek said.

With four starter-level absentees, much weight will fall on the Phoenix skipper as it did last season, and with many-a-marksman missing from their line-up this round, driving lanes could be hard to find.

Don’t expect that to deter Creek, however, who is salivating at the NBL’s new interpretation of block-charge in the semi-circle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> MADNESS<br><br>A Mitch Creek poster dunk has sparked madness in the NBL. ? <a href="https://t.co/6izAJu00lz">pic.twitter.com/6izAJu00lz</a></p>&mdash; Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/heraldsunsport/status/1469873462718054404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



In line with the NBA and Euroleague, ground-bound defensive players will now be whistled for a block if contact is made in the no-charge area on an a player elevating to the basket.

“It’s perfect for me. Getting my head on the rim is a forte of mine that works out pretty well. Now there’s less help-side it’s going to be easier for me to score and put pressure on the paint,” Creek said.

“We’re not going to drive every single time, but there’s going to be an emphasis of putting our head on the rim and making a call for the referee. Whether it’s the right decision or not, we feel like it’s going to be an advantage for us at South East.”

With Will Magnay still rehabbing his troublesome knee, it is a potential point of weakness for the JackJumpers, especially considering Creek averaged 20.3ppg at 53 per cent inside against the Tasmanians last season.

That puts extra pressure on new import Rashard Kelly, who has shown in the US and Europe he can swat a shot or two despite his relative lack of size at 201cm.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Massive block on one end, second chance bucket on the other. <br>Rashard Kelly doing a bit of everything for <a href="https://twitter.com/GoShockers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoShockers</a>. <a href="https://t.co/M9QrNA4llC">pic.twitter.com/M9QrNA4llC</a></p>&mdash; CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/947165260615598080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Scott Roth loves the multi-dimensional game of his new big man, along with his ability to play for long stretches at a high intensity, fitting the JackJumpers’ style perfectly.

“He's going to be able to play multiple positions,” Roth said.

“We play with a lot of energy and he has a big motor, he's going to have a big impact with us. But we don't talk about starting, we talk about the values and the culture this team has been built on and he fits right in with that.”

Another new face who fits that bill with aplomb is former Hawk Isaac White, who adds another option to the JackJumpers’ inconsistent perimeter game with Clint Steindl sidelined, but also brings the required defensive toughness after two years under Brian Goorjian.

“We’re really pleased with how Isaac has fitted into the group, our systems and the Tasmanian way of life,” Roth said.

“We believe he will be a real asset for us off the bench. We always knew his offensive game was excellent, but his defensive tenacity is really developing well also.”

External expectations are low for the Phoenix early in the year given their long list of outs, but for Tasmania the fairytale is over and they will be one of the hunted from day one.

Coach Roth knows his team could improve in season two and come up short on last season’s magical run, and so he’s again focusing on the little things – most notably intensity and selflessness – that drove their maiden campaign.

“We put no expectations or cap on anything. For us it's about going through the process and doing the work,” he said.

“The reality is, everyone in this league has improved.”

LIVE SCORES & STATS