R21 Game Preview: Phoenix vs Bullets

Opponent: Brisbane Bullets

Where: Nissan Arena, Brisbane

When: Tuesday, June 8 – 7.30pm AEST

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

Phoenix NBL21 Record: 19-16 (fourth on the ladder)

The equation is simple(ish) for the Phoenix in their final game of the NBL21 regular season.

Win and finish third to set up a semi-final clash with Perth. Lose by under roughly 80 points and finish fourth to then take on cross-town rivals Melbourne United in the semi-finals.

It’s a fitting conclusion to a rollercoaster second season in the NBL for South East Melbourne, who now look all but certain to feature in their first finals series.

They face a Brisbane side whose finals hopes were dashed on the weekend but also a team who overpowered the Phoenix last week in Cairns, 91-84.

SQUAD

Cam Gliddon will miss as he returned home for the birth of his second child and is yet to re-join the team. The team hopes to welcome Cam back for the finals, but his status is uncertain at this stage due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Dane Pineau (knee) has been ruled out for the season.

MITCH CREEK:

“I know the guys have been on the road, had our backs against the wall quite a bit – it’s been pretty unsettling with a lot of changes but I think we’ve found our feet.”

“To say in our second year that we’ve all but made the finals is pretty surreal. It will probably hit us in the next day or so.”

PLAYER TO WATCH

Keifer Sykes struggled against the Bullets last Wednesday before bouncing back in extraordinary style in the win over New Zealand on Saturday.

Sykes scored 21 points in the first half and finished with 29 on top of his seven rebounds and five assists.

He’ll again be tasked with guarding star Bullet Nathan Sobey, who he’s done an effective job on in previous games.

“That’s the level Keifer needs to play at, at all times, for us to be successful and he’s got the ability to do so,” Coach Simon Mitchell said post-game on Saturday.

“He was down a little bit the previous two games but it’s good to see him back on top of his body and on top of his game.”

OPPOSITION REPORT

Brisbane sit sixth on the NBL table with a 17-18 record.

Their most recent game was a one-point loss to the Kings in Sydney on Saturday night. Nathan Sobey put together a near-triple double performance with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Unfortunately for the Bullets, the loss ended their hopes of clinching a finals spot, making Tuesday night’s clash with the Phoenix their final game under outgoing coach Andrej Lemanis.

HISTORY VS. OPPOSITION

Head-to-Head Record:

Phoenix 4 Bullets 3

NBL21:

Phoenix def Bullets 99-83

Bullets def Phoenix 94-82

Phoenix def Bullets 95-66

Bullets def Phoenix 91-84

NBL20:

Phoenix def Bullets 113-93

Phoenix def Bullets 110-95

Bullets def Phoenix 108-101

Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (07/06/2021)