Phoenix Bucks Injury Trend

There’s been a running theme with South East Melbourne over the last two seasons. The Phoenix will get up and running, suffer some key injuries, then limp into the final rounds undermanned and out of form.

NBL24 feels different though, and yesterday’s result against Cairns is a strong indication of the side’s current post-season push.

Star guard Will Cummings and backup center Gorjok Gak were both ruled out of the clash, following injuries picked up against the Bullets on Thursday night.

The absence of Cummings in particular was set to hurt, given his status as one of the side’s offensive linchpins.

Instead, Matt Kenyon was injected into the starting lineup, head coach Mike Kelly shortened the rotation, and the Phoenix emerged from their clash with Cairns with a hard-fought win, in which they didn’t lose a single quarter.

Star center Alan Williams and club leader Mitch Creek once again starred, while Ben Ayre and Reuben Te Rangi were both effective influences from the bench.

Kenyon, in his starting role, added 12 points and his trademark grit and determination on the defensive end.

Kelly credits an honest film session following the Brisbane loss for the immediate uptick in form.

“We had a pretty rough film session – it wasn’t negative, it was a learning session – and everybody was on it,” Kelly said post-game. “It was a track meet against Brisbane to the rim, we didn’t step in front and make it difficult for them and the guys saw that. I wasn’t sure how that was going to come out, but it was much better today to at least make it difficult to get to the basket.

“Matt Kenyon set the tone tonight, he was big time, just played really good basketball, hit a big three, wasn’t afraid to take that shot, back cuts himself, and then defensively himself, Gary, Ben Ayre – everybody – was really big.”

The Phoenix only retained four rostered players from NBL23 this season – and also elevated Owen Foxwell from his status as a development player to a main roster spot – but those retained players in Mitch Creek, Gary Browne, Alan Williams and Reuben Te Rangi are continuing to hold their new teammates accountable.

There are links throughout this South East Melbourne side that existed before it came together this season. Cummings and Williams played together in Russia, Craig Moller was coached by Kelly at Melbourne, and Browne and Creek played together in the NBL23 off-season in Puerto Rico.

Browne and Creek’s Mets de Guaynabo side made it all the way to the competition semi-finals, alongside former Sydney import Tim Soares and four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, before losing to eventual champions Carolina, but Creek credits that extra time with Browne as helping set the tone of accountability with the Phoenix.

“I think the best thing throughout my off-season was we played so many games and people thought it was a big load, but it’s having chemistry with your starting point guard for another seven or eight months, and then coming back into it,” he said.

“We got into it at half-time, and we were barking at each other, really getting at each other and calling each other out, but then we walk out of that changing room telling each other we love each other, we gave each other a hug and a kiss - that’s where we’re at.

“We know we can trust each other and when we’re put in the fire we’re going to come out polished and ready to go.”

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