Phoenix List Depth Key in Season Opener

This Saturday, South East Melbourne Phoenix will open up the NBL23 season when they take on Tasmania JackJumpers at the Fire Pit.

Head coach Simon Mitchell joined SEN Mornings with Sam Edmund on Wednesday to chat about the season ahead and the return of Zhou Qi.

"It's been a great off-season for us; we've been able to get back out into the community after a couple of covid seasons. Just being among the people of the South East it's been awesome," Mitchell commented.

Phoenix has bought some exciting imports and locals into their roster for this season, which was on show in the pre-season games. But Phoenix has been hit with some injury woes to start their campaign.

"It currently stands, we are going into the first game without Ryan Broekhoff, who has had a little bit of soft tissue injury a couple of times throughout the pre-season. Gary Browne, our point guard, had a bit of a knee injury in our last pre-season game early in that game. The good news there it's only a level 1 medial ligament issue; initially we were told it was a level 2 or 3, which really would have put us in a pickle. And Trey Kell, who got injured very early on just after arriving, he actually got a little knock in the chest in a scrimmage against the Tassie JackJumpers, and he's got a couple of weeks to go as well before he can hit the floor," said Mitchell.

(Browne will miss the start of the season due to a knee injury.)

"But the good news is that Mitch Creek has been on the training track for the first time this season with us, the last two days, and he's looking pretty good."

Mitchell is still staying positive, especially hoping this is the only time the team will see extensive injuries at the start of the season and not at the end.

"It would be nice (luck with injury), but it is a professional sport. You don't rely on having your full list all the time. We've been thrown a few curveballs early in the pre-season, and hopefully that's it for the year; who knows," he said. 

Even with the injury problems, Mitchell sees this close-knit group achieving big things for the season.

"We started pre-season a little later this year, hoping to keep guys a little fresher; it's definitely burning within the group. This is a group you look around the room, and they are tremendously close, and the coaching staff and players and the high-performance team in the four walls are very close. We want success for each other, and it certainty burns brightly within all of us. I think we've got a pretty focused and dedicated group," he commented.

(The team are a tight-knit group.)

The news of Chinese superstar Zhou Qi returning to Phoenix, had the players, coaches, front office staff, members, and fans excited for the upcoming season. 

"Probably been juggling (pre-season) a little bit in regard to thoughts on injuries and rosters; obviously, Zhou Qi was the silver lining at the end of a pretty rough week for us. Absolutely stocked, he's a ripping bloke; we love him at South East. The players are thrilled, they love him, Creeky's especially happy, and it's going to be great to have him back in playing with his mates," Mitchell said.

The conversation with Zhou never ended when the NBL22 season finished earlier this year. Mitchell and players kept checking in with him even when he wasn't committed just yet with the club.

"We've been in constant contact with Zhou throughout on a personal level, I drop him a message here and there as well, the players would drop him messages; so there's always been communication. The situation with Zhou, he had a contract in the CBA, and he has his rights attained by his club in the CBA, which he doesn't want to play for. If free agency was available for him, then my guess is he will be in the CBA right now, but his rights are still attained by the same club," Mitchell said.

(Everyone at Phoenix was glad to see Zhou return to the Heartland.)

Mitchell believes the roster is more prepared for Zhou to slot into the side when he arrives.

"This year, we kind of prepared for Zhou Qi; we've got Gary Browne at the guard, he is a really good on-ball defender; we can change up our coverage a little bit more this year. We've got a little more skill set in the backcourt in regard to our defensive package, which I think can accommodate Zhou Qi; surprisingly, with us and also Alan Williams, whose tremendously vocal and a tenacious rebounder which is another aspect we really needed to get better at."

Zhou was a wanted man in leagues around the world and even at rival club Melbourne United, but he chose to stay loyal to the Phoenix and will join the side on October 16.

"I know he has had offers from all around the world; he also recently had another child. So he's got a young family, and I know that being overseas with us and being away from them and then having Chinese national commitments, he was looking for a bit of time with his family.  

"Now he is getting that time right now, and we've allowed him to stay at home for a little longer in regard to him joining us on October 16. So, from that aspect, he's getting that important time at home to reacquaint, and then he'll join us. We are tremendously happy about it," Mitchell said.

(Zhou will join the team on October 16.)

Tickets for Round 1 are still available - CLICK HERE 

Phoenix Media (29/9/22)