Game Preview: Phoenix Open Season in Adelaide

Opponent: Adelaide 36ers

When: Sunday Jan 17 - 3:00pm AEDT

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

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

Live Updates: @SEMelbPhoenix on Twitter

South East Melbourne Phoenix finally get the chance to tip off their NBL21 campaign on Sunday against the 36ers in Adelaide.

It’ll be the Phoenix’s first NBL contest since February last year, while the 36ers are coming off a loss to Melbourne United on Friday night and looking to bounce back.

It’s the first of two road games for the Phoenix in Adelaide, with a rematch on Wednesday night following Sunday’s season opener.

“We’ve been looking forward to playing games for a long time now and obviously part of what we need to achieve this year is to expect the unexpected and deal with it the best we can,” Phoenix Head Coach Simon Mitchell said.

“It’s our first game so we want to make sure we establish our brand and make sure we’re on point defensively. For us, straight off the bat, round one, game one, we want to show everyone who we are and what we’re about.”

(Kyle Adnam's play off the bench will be important for the Phoenix)

Expectations have heightened on the Phoenix since a successful off-season recruitment period and Mitchell welcomes the added pressure heading into their second season as a club.

“I feel like the group we have together right now, the confidence we’ve built within this group, the trust we’ve built amongst each other…if others have high expectations, they won’t meet the expectations we have of ourselves,” he said.

“We’re a very confident group and I feel like we’re going to do good things this year.”

New co-captain Kyle Adnam is itching to go following the near-12-month off-season with a new-look squad around him.

The 27-year-old says Adelaide’s line-up pose a challenge, but the team’s focus will be on their own game.

“They’ve got really solid guards; Josh Giddey’s got a bright future and Donald Sloan has played some really high-level basketball in the NBA for a long time,” he said.

“We’ve really started to build in pre-season and I think while they’ve got some great players the focus is on us and how we’re going to do things.”

SQUAD

Outside of the injured Dane Pineau, the Phoenix are expected to take a full squad into their first game of the season.

Pineau’s injury replacement, Mike Karena, is likely to be available to play if called upon.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Import duo Keifer Sykes and Ben Moore will make their NBL debuts and bring a level of athleticism and intensity that should excite Phoenix fans watching back home in the Heartland.

Sykes is expected to start at point guard while Moore will form a deadly three-pronged frontcourt rotation with Mitch Creek and Yanni Wetzell, who is also making his NBL debut.

Recruits Cam Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi will be pulling on the Phoenix jersey in a proper game for the first time and will also look to impress.

Mitch Creek will have extra motivation to perform in front of his old home crowd in Adelaide and is sure to rise to the occasion.

OPPOSITION REPORT

Adelaide boasts one of the most exciting backcourts in the league, with former NBA guard Donald Sloan linking up with Next Star and potential NBA Draft first round prospect Josh Giddey.

Their frontcourt will also pose a serious threat, with big men Daniel Johnson and Isaac Humphries forming a strong frontline duo, especially on the offensive end of the court.

Johnson was a force on Friday night against United, scoring 27 points from all areas of the floor.

Sunday Dech, Keanu Pinder, and import Tony Crocker will also be X-factors for the 36ers.

HISTORY VS. OPPOSITION

The Phoenix got the better of the 36ers in their first matchup last season before Adelaide hit back in the next two, including a two-point thriller in Mitch Creek’s return to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

NBL20:
Phoenix 101 def 36ers 91
36ers 103 def Phoenix 91
36ers 113 def Phoenix 111

Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (16/01/2021)