NBL22: South East Melbourne Phoenix still dreaming of finals miracle

South East Melbourne’s recent tendency to “s**t the bed” has wrecked their season. But they can still mathematically make the finals and, where there’s hope, there’s life.

Mitch Creek refuses to give up on the Phoenix season. Picture: Getty Images

South East Melbourne might have won their last outing but, once again, they “really s**t the bed” in the fourth quarter, continuing a trend that has all but condemned their NBL finals hopes.

That’s the blunt assessment of star forward Mitch Creek who, despite his team’s struggles, refuses to give up on the season.

Watch Every Game of the 21/22 NBL Season Live & On-Demand with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The Phoenix dominated New Zealand for three quarters — leading by 33 at the last break — but put the cue in the rack and allowed the Breakers to pour in 35 points in the final period.

“In that last four-minutes we were absolutely terrible, we really s**t the bed,” Creek said.

“Defensively we were crap, offensively we ran nothing — we may as well run outside and play in the dirt, we probably would have had a better outcome.”

Mitch Creek refuses to give up on the Phoenix season. Picture: Getty Images

The Phoenix have made a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, with just two wins in their past nine games. In three of those losses, they led by double digits at different stages and they had opportunities to win almost every other — The widest margin of defeat was just eight.

With fourth-placed Perth losing to Adelaide on Thursday, and fifth-placed Tasmania narrowly escaping with a win over New Zealand Friday, Sunday’s clash with the JackJumpers is literally do-or-die for the sixth-placed Phoenix.

The JackJumpers (15 wins, 11 losses) have two games left, the Wildcats (15-10) and Phoenix (13-12) have three each.

Lose to the JackJumpers and it’s over. Win and it’s still game on. The Wildcats were pantsed by Adelaide and have lost four of their last five to leave the door ajar.

It’s still a long way away, but Phoenix, after hosting the 36ers next Friday, will close the season in Perth Sunday — wouldn’t that be something?

“We need to execute all the way down the stretch on both ends of the floor and, if we do that, for us, as a squad, we’ll be happy,” Creek said.

“We haven’t done it yet but, hopefully with these last three games, we can get three wins, hope for some good results to come in our favour and let’s just see where the chips fall.”

Phoenix, on Sunday, will be hoping to see Ryan Broekhoff in a jersey, rather than street duds. Picture: Getty Images

Crook Cam Gliddon has recovered from a bout of gastro and the sore back that followed, while Ryan Broekhoff is a chance to suit up for the first time since mid-March, when he hurt his shoulder against Melbourne United. He’ll be a game-time decision.

“He’s (Broekhoff) tracking pretty well, he’s made improvements in each and every session and I thought he was really positive today,” coach Simon Mitchell said of his star charge.

“Cam’s healthy, no longer occupying the lavatory, he’s got his health back there. He’s had a bit of a back issue after that, as well, but he’s moving really well today.”

Originally published as NBL22: South East Melbourne Phoenix still dreaming of finals miracle