Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Head North in Search of a Win Against the Taipans

South East Melbourne Phoenix are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and are in desperate need of a win to keep their finals chances alive.

The Taipans broke their five-game losing streak last round with a win against the Bullets in the Sunshine Stoush.

(The last time the two sides met was in round 8 in Traralgon.)

Check out the latest on each team.

Key Details

CAIRNS TAIPANS 5 – 13 (9th) v SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 11 – 9 (5th)

Where: Cairns Convention Centre

When: Friday March 25, 7:30pm AEDT

Watch on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

The Teams

Phoenix

Phoenix will be without tall man Zhou Qi for Round 17 who is out with a minor knee complaint. Zhou will be replaced by Tristan Forsyth.

Again they will be going into the game without sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff who remains out due to the shoulder injury sustained against United. Lachlan Barker is the nominated replacement player for Broekhoff.

Taipans

The Taipans will again be without big centre Stephen Zimmerman due to swelling in his knee.

Players to Watch

Mitch Creek v Scott Machado

Creek has been quiet in the last couple of games. Usually, one to make a difference, his scoring has been a little down on his season average. He'll be looking for a big game against the Taipans.

Taipans guard Machado is another one who has struggled with form in his last few games but is coming off a double-double against the Bullets. He ended the night with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

(Mitch Creek will be hoping to lift his game on Friday night.)

Last 5

Phoenix: WLLLL
Taipans: LLLLW

The Stats

Phoenix
Points: M Creek, 21.1ppg (#3 in NBL)
Rebounds: Q Zhou, 7.11rpg
Assists: X Munford, 3.94apg
Blocks: Q Zhou, 2.06bpg (#3 in NBL)
Steals: R Broekhoff, 1.56spg

Taipans
Points: T McCall, 15.07ppg
Rebounds: S Zimmerman, 9.63rbg (#1 in NBL)
Assists: S Machado, 4.77apg
Blocks: K Pinder, 0.95 bpg
Steals: T McCall, 2spg (#3 in NBL)

The History

Regular Season Head-to-Head: 5 – 3

South East Melbourne Phoenix – Cairns Taipans

Last time out – Rd 8, NBL22

Phoenix 87 – Taipans 77

Phoenix
Creek 26p
Munford 14p
Broekhoff 14p

Taipans
McCall 16p
Deng 13p
Kuol 13p

Recap

The last time the two sides met was in Gippsland in front of a deafening Traralgon crowd. Zhou Qi was a late out due to gastro, and Izayah Le'afa was out due to Covid protocols. Phoenix just had a big win over the JackJumpers the week before, with the Taipans playing their first match in a month due to covid disruptions.

A key player in the game for Phoenix was Creek who had 26 points, eight rebounds and a franchise record of seven steals. Taipans, Taj McCall was the best on his side with 15 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

(Brandon Ashley made an instant impact in his second game at Phoenix when they last took on the Taipans.)

Quotes

"We've got a real tough schedule, we're in Cairns, and then we've got to get out of Cairns and fly to get back to Adelaide and then butter up for a 12:30 (Adelaide time) game on a Sunday. We're not getting any favours there, that's for sure. But what I like is the challenge; I like a lot of where we're falling short is in areas of toughness, and we discussed that at lengths between last game and this game…The challenges can make us stronger, so as a unit, we will accept those challenges the schedule's given us, and it'll build us to be stronger."
-Phoenix Head Coach Simon Mitchell after the loss to the Kings

"If I'm being honest, I think our conversation was real to heart; many of us took it personally. I feel like nothing's given in this industry, you got to take it, and you got to play hard, you got to prove your point, and you got to get results. You got to win games, so we don't like losing. Sometimes things happen. We don't like losing, so the guys came to fight."
-Taipans Guard Scott Machado, on their form and win against the Bullets.

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Phoenix Media (24/3/22)