Phoenix Fail to Show up for Throwdown

The Phoenix were looking to win their 5th straight game in a row for the first time in franchise history.  Pre-game their hopes were dealt a blow when Kyle Adnam came down with Covid, and Ryan Broekhoff experienced tightness in his hamstring during the warm-up. Both missed the game.

The first quarter saw the Phoenix start slowly on the defensive end giving up 27 points to a United team who have struggled this year at the offensive end.

Alan Williams dominated the first quarter for the Phoenix scoring 14 points, he finished the half with 22.

United stayed in the game courtesy of 47 per cent from beyond the arc, and led at the half 52-49.

The Phoenix started the third slowly, failing to hit the scoreboard, and the game was gone. Inexplicably the Phoenix stopped going down low to Williams, and by the end of the third they were down by 16.

Three-quarters of scoring 18 points will not get it done.

Phoenix go into the FIBA break 5-4 before coming up against Perth at RAC Arena, then back homr to the Fire Pit against United again for Throwdown XVIII.

 
The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 85 v 110 Melbourne United
 
The Numbers

Phoenix
Alan Williams 30 points, 14 rebounds.
Mitch Creek 24 points, 6 rebounds

United
Goulding 30 points.
 
The Turning Point

To start the third quarter the Phoenix stopped going to Sauce on the block, and as a result they struggled to score. The Phoenix big man had 22 points and 12 rebounds in the first half, and could not be stopped. His looks dried up in the third and in the final quarter the Phoenix went back to him but the damage was done.

Williams finished with 30 and 14.
 
The Player of the Game

Big Sauce Alan Williams could have had a monster game, in the end he finished with 30 and 14 after the team went back to him in the last quarter, but the damage was done.

The Play of the Game

Hard to find one for the Phoenix today who were disappointing on both ends.

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"There is no excuses for the performance we put out there regardless. The undermanning things, like missing those players Rowdy in warm-ups and Kyle before the game and Zhou a couple of days ago, those things don't effectyour defence as much as they probably effect our offence."

From the Player

Alan Williams

"Just hate losing especially in a Throwdown, the build up for this game is massive and I just felt like we didn't live up to expectation we set for ourselves." 

CLICK HERE for tickets to Throwdown XVIII

Phoenix Media (6/11/22)