NBL 22: Melbourne United and South East Melbourne stars open up on their rivalry as they prepare for rematch
The players are trying to keep a lid on the intense battle that awaits them but, when United and the Phoenix Throwdown on Thursday, sparks are set to fly.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After the fireworks of their first meeting this season, fierce NBL rivals Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix are on a collision course Thursday night at John Cain Arena.
Throwdown II of season 2022 features two of the NBL’s top-three teams, both coming off wins and both with designs on this season’s title.
Watch Every Game of the 21/22 NBL Season Live & On-Demand with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial >
The last meeting had everything: Massive dunks, hip and shoulders, a sideline melee and a tight, high-standard battle that ended with the Phoenix knocking over the reigning champions 94-86.
Will sparks fly again?
Players from the two teams give an insight into what we can expect at tip-off on Thursday night.
Mutual respect
They were at the centre of the December 12 Throwdown’s biggest moment, but Mitch Creek and Mason Peatling both insist they will shake hands and wish each other luck before they go to war.
Creek’s dunk on United guard Matthew Dellavedova and intense celebration that Peatling umbrage to, shirtfronting the Phoenix star, was viewed more than 10 million times on social media all over the world.
Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, Creek was either amped after the monster dunk or he went too far with his celebration and stood over Delly, while Peatling was either standing up for his teammate or it was a cheap shot.
Creek and Peatling share the same representation — Mogul Sports Group — but neither has communicated with the other since the pre-Christmas kerfuffle that resulted in fines for the former and a one-game ban for the latter.
The Phoenix forward insists there’s no bad blood.
“I’m going to shake his hand as if it’s any other game, I’m not going to ignore him I’m not going to say anything bad to him, I don’t care,” Creek said.
“That’s not the game, the game is us stopping Chris Goulding, us stopping (Caleb) Agada, us stopping Shea Ili breaking up onball (screens).
“I’m sure there’s going to be a moment where he fouls me or I foul him and the refs are going to be like ‘oh, hey, don’t react’.
“I know the press want fireworks, but I’m just not going to give it. I don’t like Melbourne as much as I don’t like Perth (Wildcats) and I couldn’t care less about any other team except my own because we are all that matters.
“We’re not the little brother, they’re not the masters because they beat us in the finals (last year).
“They’re just a basketball team.”
Peatling, too, is ready to move on. He said he will shake Creek’s hand and play as hard as he always does, opening up on the impetus of the rivalry between the two Melbourne teams.
“I get asked about it every time we play against Phoenix,” Peatling said.
“Every team wants to be the best in their state and neither wants to lose to the other.
“You take those things into account and I think the rivalry speaks for itself.
“These games, they just seem to become very intense and come down to the wire.
“Postseason last year, they were tough games (United won the series 2-1) and really enjoyable to be a part of.”
Creek admits United’s workhorse is a player he’d love to have on his team.
“I really do respect Mason, I love how he goes about it — he plays so hard, he’s developed every single season and you respect guys like that,” Creek said.
“People say I hate him and don’t respect him — they’re idiots on keyboards, because I am more than happy to say I’d love him on my team.”
The respect is mutual.
“He’s been a great player and a lot of our game plan is focused on him because he’s such an important player for their team,” Peatling said.
“I think we both have a lot of respect for each other in how we compete — we’re both trying to win for our teams.”
‘We’re the best team in Melbourne’
Opposing captains Chris Goulding and Kyle Adnam were once roommates who share the bond of Melbourne United’s 2017 NBL grand final win — over Creek and the Adelaide 36ers.
Phoenix big man Tohi Smith-Milner also played in that series but personal relationships are out the door when they step on the court.
“There is personal relationships there,” Goulding said.
“When you have fond memories with guys, it’s always in the forefront of your mind when you see them.
“But I wouldn’t say I’m out having coffee and catching up with them throughout the week.
“I’m not going to let Tohi get an easy layup because he helped us back in 2017 and I’d expect the same — I know those big illegal screens are going to be coming for me by Tohi, that’s why it was fun when he was a part of it and that’s why it’s fun when you go against it.”
Putting the big dunk and melee in last Throwdon aside, United owes the Phoenix one after the tough loss, which Goulding was forced to watch from the sidelines as he dealt with hamstring trouble.
“I saw everything that went on and I would have loved to have been out there competing,” he said.
“Do I want to beat them more because of (the blow up)? No. I want to beat every single team we play against, whether I’m on the blue team and Delly’s on the white team in Melbourne United practice or it’s the Phoenix or any other team in the league.
“We feel we’re the best team in Melbourne and we want to win every time we play them.”
Goulding said the expansion club’s achievements in just three short years were “very impressive”.
“Expansion is always tough and what you want to do as an expansion team is come in and be competitive and fight for playoff spots straight away,” he said.
“They did that the first year, they made it (to the finals) the second and now they’re a top-four team and they feel like they’ll be contending for a championship.”
Ready, refs?
Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell insists it’s not a shot at United, but he believes the league’s best defensive team gets away with overt physicality.
He welcomes the extra referee scrutiny the game is sure to attract.
“I think there’s an expectation that things will be called pretty close and pretty tight, which we’re OK with,” Mitchell said.
“They’re a pretty physical team and seemingly allowed to operate outside the rules, compared to maybe the rest of us, with their physicality at the defensive end.
“If that's going to draw a few more whistles and the referees feel like they’ve got to clean it up, then all power to them, we’re all for it.
“They’ve got guys with reputations for being physical and I just feel like if they can get away with it, good on ‘em, but if they’re (the refs) going to call it close, then that will be an advantage to us.”
The Phoenix expect gun import point guard Xavier Munford to be available after he was forced into Covid protocol and missed the last two games. Whether he starts or comes off the bench will be determined on game day.
Mitchell says the build-up has a greater impact on the players’ psyches than coaches.
“We’re in good nick, ready to go,” he said.
“We’ll see Creeky’s dunk about 400 times and everyone’s going to remind us that it’s a grudge match — it probably affects the players more (than coaches).
“The guys are sharp, they’re good, as we creep closer to game time, the magnitude of the event will dawn on us, but it’s about taking care of our business.
“I’m looking forward to it and it would be good to repeat the efforts of last time.”
Yep, just another game
In a bid to hose down the significance of a game like the Throwdown, players often resort to the old cliche — “it’s just another game”.
Creek, Peatling, Mitchell, Smith-Milner and Goulding all used it in some form.
But, when it comes from a guy who has played in the NBA Finals twice — winning a championship alongside LeBron James — it’s a platitude that rings true.
“It’s the whole one game at a time thing,” Delly laughs when asked how big Thursday night’s match up is.
“They’re (Phoenix) having a really good season, they are equal second now and they got us in the first one, so there is a lot riding on this game.”
There are guys who would be genuinely embarrassed if they were on the wrong end of a ferocious dunk like Creek’s, but the Boomers point guard took it in his stride — he has done, and would do, the same thing every time.
The Throwdown build up is a piece of cake when you’ve been through the relentless scrutiny of the NBA, where almost every moment of every game is broken down and picked apart and every talking head is trying to outdo each other with the most outrageous hot take.
“In the NBA, there is just so much focus on every game and every play, there’s two or three days between each game and there’s no other sport on TV over there, so everyone’s talking about the game,” he said.
“You’ve got to have your own little bubble and find a way to relax away from the game … because there is so much conversation and extra noise around it, you just can’t pay attention to any of that stuff.
“You’ve just got to focus on what you have to do to help the team win the game, whether that’s playing board games with my family or just finding things to do that are relaxing and don’t get you too hyped up.”
Some food for thought for the younger Phoenix and United players who will be wrestling with the emotion of the marquee match up.
Both sides of the coin
There’s only one player who has played in Throwdowns for both teams — Kiwi big man Smith-Milner.
The Tall Black spent five years at United and won a title, before signing with the Phoenix this year, after a season out of the NBL.
He still has strong relationships with United players, especially fellow NZ national team member Shea Ili.
He, Kiwi teammates Izayah Le’Afa and Reuben Te Rangi and Ili often catch up off the court and there are a number of gamers at United who get amongst regular Fortnite sessions.
But it’s been radio silence this week in the lead up to the big game.
“Most of us all play video games and stuff online together,” Smith-Milner said.
“The boys have kind’ve gone MIA for a little bit, but I’m sure there will be some jokes and stuff said before the game.
“Once you step over that line, though, it’s us against them.”
Smith-Milner says there is a familiarity at the Phoenix.
Milner says there are some similarities in the culture of the two clubs — especially the battles in practice.
“It’s like family and that’s what the club’s trying to build their culture into and they’ve welcomed me with open arms and I’ve enjoyed it a lot,” he said.
“Very similar culture (to United) in the way trainings are structured and the training is very competitive.”
Originally published as NBL 22: Melbourne United and South East Melbourne stars open up on their rivalry as they prepare for rematch
Reverse trades! Top SuperCoach target ruled out
The most traded player in SuperCoach NBL this week will miss both games of his team’s round 4 double with injury. Get the latest here plus expert trade advice.
Crosscourt: Gazey’s left-field pick for return of Boomers’ coach
The hunt for the Boomers’ next head coach is heating up, and hoops legend Andrew Gaze has floated a left-field option. We take a closer look at all the contenders, and more in this week’s Crosscourt.