Throwdown XXIII: A rivalry intensifies

The NBL21 semi-final series is often cited as the making of the Throwdown rivalry between Melbourne and South East Melbourne. Sure, there was a willingness to win to be established as the best side in the city prior to that series, but that’s when everything became real. 

Given the Phoenix’s more recent introduction into the NBL they’ve had to contend with the title of little brother, noisy neighbour – the upstarts that have a point to prove within the sport-mad city’s landscape.

Melbourne, however, has history it can call on. The United brand has only been around for a decade or so, but one look into the rafters at the red and yellow banners adorned with Gaze, Copeland, Bradtke, Giddey, Gordon and Simmons indicate a history that can’t be bought or manufactured – it can only be made.

And you can’t forget those titles ranging from 1993-2021.

Luke Travers puts up a free thrown in front of some of Melbourne's championship banners.

The Phoenix are well on their way to creating their own history. There are players on the current roster who will likely be among the first to have their numbers retired, and they look to be building the foundations of a side that should – on paper – be in the title hunt for the next couple of seasons at least.

That’s why it all started in 2021. The consensus was whoever won that series would win the title. The Phoenix gave themselves every chance too. They led by 17 points during the second quarter, but absolutely capitulated in the second half to be left to rue what might have been in a ten-point loss.

Since that series this is a matchup that has been dominated by Melbourne. There have been 11 games played since, and United have won eight of those clashes.

Their average winning margin in that time is 11.5 points, while their trio of defeats came to the tunes of eight, 15 and six.

The two matchups between the sides this season have been dominated by Melbourne – but in different ways, to be fair – and United will enter Thursday’s Throwdown looking for the first regular season sweep between the two sides.

The season-opener between United and the Phoenix had all the hallmarks of the first game of a new campaign.

The crowd was loud, the players were up for it, but there was a level of rust that can only be chipped away through competitive games. The Phoenix’s offence just couldn’t get rolling and United cruised to a 15-point win.

Then came Round 7. Melbourne, without star trio Luke Travers, Matthew Dellavedova and Ian Clark entered the clash with the rare title of underdogs, so much so that Derek Rucker even labelled the Phoenix as sure things.

United still found a way to get the job done though. They beat the Phoenix defence into submission through the one-two punch of Chris Goulding and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. The star pair combined for well over half the side’s points, while unheralded first year pros Kyle Bowen and Flynn Cameron stepped up in the absence of their more notorious injured teammates.

This time the shoe is on the other foot. Melbourne are fully fit and will enter a game with a full roster for just the third time this season, while the Phoenix will be undermanned, underdone and underdogs.

Reuben Te Rangi has returned to the lineup after missing Round 10 due to paternity leave, but former United forward and 2018 NBL champion Craig Moller will miss the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.

Then there’s new signing Abdel Nader. He’s set to touch down in Melbourne on the day of the game and will play no part in the clash.

Nader has been added to the roster in place of Will Cummings, who South East Melbourne parted ways with despite his solid on-court performances. From everything said by the Phoenix since Cummings’ departure it’s obvious to see he was a well-liked member of the roster, but his inability to “buy in” to the club’s off-court commitments could prove to be a line in the sand moment for years to come.

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And so here were are. Throwdown XXIII, the third of the season. With Melbourne top of the ladder and South East Melbourne currently in hot pursuit in third, this clash has both short and long-term permutations.

Melbourne could drop out of top spot if they lose and Tasmania wins both its games, while the Phoenix could jump to second should they win and the JackJumpers lose both their matches.

United has established a small amount of breathing room in the battle in the top half of the table, but one slip of either side could see them plummet down the standings.

The Phoenix are one of three teams with eight wins for the season so far. Tasmania has nine, Brisbane has seven, and Cairns has six.

A couple of bad weeks for South East Melbourne could see them drop out of the top six, and a dip in form could see Melbourne pulled back into the middle of the post-season logjam.

With all the storylines, bragging rights, matchups and finals permutations circling ahead of this hotly anticipated clash, is this the most important regular season Throwdown in the history of the rivalry?