Mitch Creek-inspired South East Melbourne Phoenix come from behind to defeat Adelaide 36ers
After copping a hammering at the hands of NBL champion Perth, newcomer South East Melbourne could have been forgiven for wilting in the face of an early Adelaide barrage, but a familiar face in ex-36er Mitch Creek wasn’t having it.
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If the NBL season ended today, South East Melbourne Phoenix captain Mitch Creek should be the league’s most valuable player.
Yes, Casper Ware’s Kings are undefeated after five matches, with Bryce Cotton’s Wildcats stalking the ladder leader, but Creek’s impact at both ends of the floor is profound.
Firebrand Creek makes things happen, with or without the basketball.
Above all, he brings the best out of his teammates.
As the Phoenix trailed Adelaide 36ers by 13 in the first half, careering towards a second heavy defeat in three days, having been blown apart by the Wildcats last Friday night, action man Creek’s drive and intensity shone bright, paving the way for an inspired 101-91 comeback win.
Creek’s work off the ball, physicality in the paint, gut running and screens often go unnoticed when someone like John Roberson catches fire and goes from scoreless with four minutes to play in the first half to a 24-point game-high, courtesy of six three-pointers.
With the game on the line in the third quarter, Creek surged with 11 points in a hurry and a team and spirit-lifting block on 36ers import Eric Griffin.
Creek did what Adelaide wanted to do, but couldn’t — he was selfless, committed and smart enough not to sweat on things like fouls and turnovers.
There were a few of those early on, too, as neither team respected the rock enough.
Creek went into attack mode against his old mob, where he spent the best part of a decade before moving to America to chase his NBA dream.
Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said Creek had a no-fuss approach to facing his old club.
“It didn’t feel any different,” Mitchell said.
“He’s always fairly emotional and up and about, ready to play, he wasn’t making it about him, it was about us, I don’t think it was anything special (the occasion), he just wanted to win.”
Phoenix were slow out of the blocks, in front of a small but vocal crowd of 3691 at Melbourne Arena, but got going in the second half and eventually worried the 36ers out of contention.
Like all good teams, Creek was not required to be Robinson Crusoe. He had help, as Adam Gibson, on the comeback trail from soft tissue setbacks, Roberson and Dane Pineau made the paint his domain.
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Mitchell said Phoenix went into the game with a mindset to get three repeat stops three times. They doubled their target by the finish.
“I was tremendously pleased with all the guys that answered the bell today,” Mitchell said, relieved his team was able brush off a slow and “tentative” start.
“I thought we were a little bit hesitant when they did stifle us with their zone, it’s something we’re going to have to work on.
“We weren’t shooting particularly well early … but once we got going it stretched their zone a little bit and we started getting penetration.
“We were just tentative, to be honest, I don’t know why, guys just felt they needed to work themselves into the game … maybe they just needed to loosen up after the trip Friday night.”
Originally published as Mitch Creek-inspired South East Melbourne Phoenix come from behind to defeat Adelaide 36ers