Preview: Round 12 v Phoenix | John Cain Arena

When: 4:30pm (AEST), Saturday 19 February 2022
Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo

SEASON SERIES

Game 1: Brisbane 100 (Sobey 18, Franks 17, Drmic 14) d South East Melbourne 84 (Creek 19, Munford 17, Adnam 13) - Round 7, Nissan Arena, Brisbane

Game 2: South East Melbourne 88 (Creek 22, Adnam 16, Munford 14) d Brisbane 73 (Patterson 26, Sobey 9) – Round 9, Nissan Arena, Brisbane

WHAT HAPPENED LAST START?

Last weekend, the Bullets claimed a win against the visiting Adelaide and then were defeated in a close match against Sydney, leaving them precariously placed at 5-8 with nine of their final 15 on the road. Hostplus Head Coach James Duncan will be buoyed by his team’s defensive performances last week, where they forced both opponents into more turnovers than assists and kept their opponents to 73 and 71 points respectively.

Creek starred for South East Melbourne on Thursday to open Round 12, but when Melbourne’s defence shut down ball movement in the final term making it difficult offensively for the Phoenix. At the other end, the Phoenix defence leaked 30 points, including 20 from the paint and free-throw line. As a result United came out on top,

WHO’S IN FORM?

Lamar Patterson – Lamar had a quieter game in Sunday’s slugfest in Sydney, but his past five games have delivered 21.8 points, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals, his 41 per cent shooting from long - range opening up his penetration game, while Brisbane’s increased focus on LP in the post also making teams choose whether to give up single coverage or open shots. He had 26 points and five dimes last time against the Phoenix.

Brandon Ashley – Brandon has scored 23 points in his past 26 minutes, nailing 8/10 from the field, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots. Those are remarkable numbers, the only problem being they are across two games, and he picked up nine fouls in that time.
 

WHO’S MATCHING UP?

Mitch Creek v Robert Franks – While Franks is returning to early-season form, Creek just keeps powering along with 23 points at 57 per cent, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Throwdown. Last time against Brisbane he had 22 points at 69 per cent, five boards, three dimes and three thefts. After he made two quick triples, the rest came from the paint or the foul line.

Franks past three games have delivered 18.3ppg at 53 per cent from the field and 8/18 from deep, and while the Phoenix crowded his pick-and-pop game last time, expect him to be handling the ball in screening action more this time around.

ON THE RECORD 

The Bullets’ pair of Round 11 games were a scrappy grind, averaging just 145 points across both teams, and that was music to Hostplus Head Coach James Duncan’s ears.

“Two games ago we gave up 102 points, we just gave up 71, so there’s obviously positives,” he said after the two-point loss to Sydney.

“Credit to the boys. We have a choice every day, and the choice is to sit down and defend or not to, and if you don’t want to do that then somebody else can pick up the slack and do that.

“That’s the identity I want moving forward and for throughout the course of the season, and it hurts to lose because they recognise the effort and the work they’ve been putting in.”