Williams Backs Phoenix's Winning Mindset

Phoenix centre, Alan Williams has backed the team’s winning mindset to help them bounce back in the game against the ladder leading Sydney Kings tomorrow night.

The Phoenix put in a disappointing performance against the JackJumpers on New Year’s Day, going down by 25 points after going into the game without key starters Ryan Broekhoff, Gary Browne and Chinese superstar Zhou Qi. Things got worse during the game when import guard Trey Kell went down in the second quarter with a knock to his left knee and did not return to play out the game.

“Obviously, we didn’t put our best foot forward a couple of nights ago; we just got to give a lot of credit to Tasmania. Their fan base and the team play really hard and play a real tough brand of basketball that we weren’t ready for. It’s on us to go back, reflect and understand what we did wrong in those games and try to improve for the next one. A good thing about the NBL is anything can happen, so we are looking forward to taking our chance up against the Kings,” Williams said earlier today on SEN.

(Williams and the team will be out to rectify their disappointing loss on Sunday when they take on the Kings tomorrow night.)

Currently in the middle of a four-game stint on the road, the Phoenix have a couple of tough match ups in the next week. Playing the Kings tomorrow night and then heading straight up to Cairns to play the Taipans on Sunday, before heading home to play the Bullets at a near sold out crowd at the State Basketball Centre on January 16.

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Williams was critical of his own performance against the JackJumpers two nights ago, echoing co-captain Mitch Creek’s comments post-match.

“We didn’t play good enough to help our team when they really needed us. So, it’s on us to pick it up and really support our teammates to give them the confidence to go out there and play the best basketball, especially when we are down a couple of soldiers; we’ve got to be better for sure,” he said.

Mitch Creek made headlines following the JackJumpers game, commenting on the disappointment in his own performance.

“I’ve got to be ten times better … nowhere near good enough. (I was) really disappointed in myself and how I led the team tonight. It’s not how I want to play basketball and how I want to represent the club. I let the young guys down tonight, and it’s not acceptable from me. You can look at our points and rebounds all day long, but it’s the bullsh*t effort plays we don’t go back for, we don’t sprint the routes, or we throw it away, or there’s a bit of pressure, and we’re looking for contact. It was unacceptable from Alan and I,” Creek said post-game.

“As one of the leaders, he (Creek) definitely takes it hard on himself; as one of the leaders, I do the same for me. I’ve only been here a couple for months now, but I am really invested in this team, and I really believe we can build something special with South East Melbourne,” Williams commented.

“I’m really looking forward to finishing out the season and really being part of this success of this club and franchise and helping them grow throughout Melbourne and Australia. In order to do that, we got to be critical of ourselves and hold ourselves to a very high standard, and when that standard is not met, we have to take it on our shoulders and push forward to the next one.

“Understanding that one game doesn’t dictate or change the whole season, as long as you are living to fight another day, you are going to get another opportunity to get better than the day before,” he said

(Creek and Williams take responsibility as leaders to recitfy their performances from Sunday for tomorrow night)

Phoenix faces the ladder-leading Kings tomorrow night in Sydney. The last time the two sides met, the game ended in a double overtime one-point win for the Phoenix, with Creek shining in the game with a 46-point performance. 

The Kings have won their last two games since the loss in Gippsland and have a healthy roster behind them. It will be a battle for the Phoenix, but Williams and the Phoenix have the mindset to win every time they take the floor.

“Anytime you go against a team like Sydney with the talents that they have, definitely got to be on our game, planning and understanding what we can and can’t do, but we go into it with the mindset to get the win, and that’s what we do with all our games.

“I think us playing team basketball and really worrying about the things we can do really well, and that’s moving the basketball on offence, you are really taking it up the pressure on defence, it’s going to be big for us to gain that advantage. In terms of weakness (for Sydney), they don’t necessarily have one, but I know we can affect the game (by) really picking up our defence pressure,” Williams commented.

(Camaraderie and next-man-up mentality has been key for Phoenix recently.)

The Phoenix may have some bumps in the road, but the camaraderie and next-man-up mentality are essential for the squad striving towards their second finals campaign in their short history.

“Through the season, a lot of things can take place, and we’re indicative of that. It’s been a lot of ups and downs but looking forward to continuing throughout and trying to make it a championship year,” Williams said.

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Phoenix Media (03/01/23)