South-East Melbourne Phoenix ‘one of the best teams in the league’ after Illawarra Hawks upset
South-East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King believes his team can match anyone in the NBL after notching a second consecutive victory against competition leaders Illawarra. NBL LATEST
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South-East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King believes his team can match anyone in the NBL after notching a second consecutive victory against competition leaders Illawarra Hawks at the Sandpit.
The Phoenix sent a capacity crowd home disappointed on New Year’s Eve after dominating to win 110-105, ending Illawarra’s five-game unbeaten streak.
The victory continued the Phoenix’s revival since King was parachuted in, after a 0-5 start to the season that cost former coach Mike Kelly his job.
King has steered SEM to eight wins from 11 starts and he believes there is more to come.
“We’re a deep team, we’re a talented team, and when we’re playing well I think we’re one of the best teams in the league,” King declared.
“I’m the head coach, but it’s a credit to these guys for sticking together.
“They were 0-5 and I think they had a chip on their shoulder before I got here ... my hope is that they keep this underdog chip — underdog mentality — that I think they had when they were 0-5.
“If we do that, I think we can really do something down the stretch.”
The result consolidated South-East Melbourne’s spot in the top six and provided a reality check for Illawarra, who had been flying high for the previous month.
Hawks coach Justin Tatum rued his side’s “attention to detail”, or lack thereof.
“It was the same way we lost to them last time,” Tatum said. “It was just careless turnovers too many times.”
‘TACKO TUESDAY’: FALL, MOONEY DOMINATE TAIPANS
By Gyan-Reece Rocha
An enormous performance by giant Tacko Fall and sharpshooter Matthew Mooney has cracked the Breakers eight-game losing streak.
The (92-68) result pushes the Taipans to their fifteenth straight loss, an unwanted franchise record.
The battle of the bottom sides on New Year’s Eve was both stagnant and cagey.
Tanner Groves battled hard, leading the Taipans with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Despite his best efforts, the Washington native - 208cm (6ft 9in) - was no match for the mammoth monster Fall.
The former Boston Celtic — who is the tallest player in the NBL at 229cm (7ft 6in) — was simply unguardable in his limited minutes, collapsing the defence on majority of possession and daring the Taipans to double team from the opening tip.
Taipans’ Akoldah Gak — who remains on the sidelines with a hyperextended knee — was a big out which further exposed the size of the side.
Both Sam Menenga (11 points and five rebounds) and Max Darling (nine points) combined for a dangerous punch off the bench.
With Breakers losing their superstar guard Peter Jackson-Cartwright to a five-game suspension, they had to find alternative ways to run their attack.
The side who sit ninth have a tough stretch ahead without their leading scorer, but the crucial victory will power the side’s confidence into the New Year.
Originally published as South-East Melbourne Phoenix ‘one of the best teams in the league’ after Illawarra Hawks upset
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