Throwdown looms: South East Melbourne coach Simon Mitchell warns no team safe ahead of Melbourne United clash

Five doesn’t fit into four and as the Throwdown approaches, Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell has warned no team is locked into finals — not even arch rival Melbourne United.

The Throwdown mind games have started early.

A week out from the season’s third cross-town clash between South East Melbourne and Melbourne United, Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell used his post-game press conference to remind everyone that no team is locked into the NBL Finals yet.

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Mitchell said his side “didn’t get the job done” in a loss to the Illawarra Hawks that gifted United a two-game buffer on them at the top of the ladder.

But he said any team can have a bad weekend and fall back with a chasing pack that includes Perth, the Hawks and Sydney.

South East Melbourne coach Simon Mitchell says no team is safe in the race for the finals. Picture: Getty Images

“At the end of the day … if you don’t get the job done, you’re going to miss the finals,” Mitchell said.

“It’s for everybody and Melbourne is in that as well. I wouldn’t say they’re out and so far ahead of everybody.

“You have a rough weekend, drop two (games) and all of a sudden you’re back in that dogfight.

“It’s a real tight five teams right there.”

Mitchell lamented his side’s inability to extend its winning streaks beyond three — the Hawks ensured it was the third time this season they have been stopped at that number.

United got the better of the Phoenix in their last meeting. Picture: Getty Images

“We get stuck. We get to three wins and then it’s almost like we schedule a loss in,” he said.

“It was the challenge for us — we haven’t been great whilst in that winning streak but our goal is to get a little bit better each game and we didn’t.”

With now a week to take stock before the third Throwdown of the season, Mitchell says it’s just what the doctor ordered for his troops.

“It’s a good thing because our schedule for the last few weeks has been pretty heavy,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said.

After Phoenix pipped United in the tectonic ‘basketbrawl’ earlier this season, United bounced back to get the better of them in the last bout.

It sets up a grand stand clash at John Cain Arena next Sunday.