Game Preview: Phoenix Look to Repeat Heartland Heroics against Wildcats

Opponent: Perth Wildcats

When: Thursday Feb 11, 7:30pm AEDT

Where: State Basketball Centre

Broadcast: ESPN, SBS On Demand, Twitch, NBL TV

Tickets: Ticketek

Live Updates: @SEMelbPhoenix on Twitter

Hot off their most complete performance of NBL21, South East Melbourne Phoenix host the Perth Wildcats at the State Basketball Centre confident of putting on a show in front of their home crowd.

After a 2-3 record over a month-long road trip to start the season, a win would improve the Phoenix’s home record to 2-0 and take them over the .500 mark for the first time this year.

Thursday night’s game is the first of two matchups between the teams in Round 5, with the Wildcats returning for a rematch on Sunday.

(Phoenix fans create a special atmosphere at the State Basketball Centre)

SQUAD

Adam Gibson (calf) has been named on the team sheet and will play if he passes a gameday fitness test.

Dane Pineau (back) remains out.

KYLE ADNAM:

“They (the crowd on Sunday) were super loud from the tip. We spoke pre-game about how much the people of Melbourne and particularly the South-East had been through with covid lockdowns etc., so we wanted to put on a show and they put on a show as well in terms of how loud they were. It was amazing and everyone’s itching to get back here Thursday night.

“The crowd is a huge part of the game and can influence momentum in certain ways but at the same time we’re playing a championship-level team. Every night they come in and you know they’re going to put up a really good fight.

“We’re ready to roll and our home fans are too, I think it’s going to be a great game.”

SIMON MITCHELL:

“We’ve shown that we can score pretty freely even though we haven’t been at an A-plus level at the offensive end, but I also feel like we’ve started to show we can defend as well.

“If you’re reactionary, you get sliced to bits against Perth. We have to make sure we’re on top of our game and on top of our adjustments and we don’t break down.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ben Moore was the standout performer in Sunday’s win over the Hawks with a huge double-double off the bench (15 points, 15 rebounds, one steal, three blocks) and will have a big job on his hands up against Wildcats big John Mooney.

Cam Gliddon’s third quarter explosion in the same game should fill the guard with confidence and give Perth some thinking to do.

And of course, Keifer Sykes and Bryce Cotton is a mouth-watering prospect every time they grace the same hardwood.

OPPOSITION REPORT

Perth’s season was thrown into chaos after a COVID-19 scare in Western Australia, seeing the Wildcats relocate to Melbourne until the conclusion of the NBL Cup.

But it didn’t stop them taking it up to Melbourne United in Bendigo on Sunday night, leading at the main break before narrowly losing to the title favourites.

The 1-2 Wildcats have played the least number of games in the NBL this season. Whether that makes them fresh or rusty will be revealed on Thursday night.

Reigning MVP Bryce Cotton leads the league in points per game (27.7) while John Mooney ranks first in rebounds (11.3).

HISTORY VS. OPPOSITION

Head-to-Head Record:

Phoenix 1 Wildcats 4

NBL21:

Perth def Phoenix 88-76

Phoenix def Perth 90-89

NBL20:

Perth def Phoenix 110-79

Perth def Phoenix 108-98

Perth def Phoenix 97-71

Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (10/02/2021)