Full Strength Phoenix Are Title Contenders: Hooley

It will be a case of one in, one out for the South East Melbourne Phoenix again this round, with Ryan Broekhoff set to return to the side at the expense of Trey Kell ahead of the Round 14 clashes with Sydney and Cairns.

Broekhoff has recovered from the groin injury that had previously been labelled as “strange” by head coach Simon Mitchell, but Kell looks set to miss multiple games as he recovers from the knee injury picked up in his side’s blowout Round 13 loss to Tasmania.

The Phoenix have proven to have one of the most dynamic offensive outfits in the NBL when all five starters are fit, however the injury concerns endured by Kell, Broekhoff, Gary Browne and Alan Williams over the season has seen them take to the floor together all too little.

Speaking on NBL Today, Peter Hooley says it’s imperative the Phoenix find a way to get everyone back on the floor.

“At full strength they’ve shown they can contend for the title this year, but they need to get [them] back before finals,” Hooley said.

“All these injuries keep happening – they need to get back to full strength.

“I’m not talking a week before finals, you need a few weeks because you need time to get things back and get things clicking, and that’s going to be mightily hard to do.”

After a strong run of form saw them surge as high as third on the ladder, recent losses have seen the Phoenix move back down into fourth spot as the run-in to season's end approaches.

With 12 wins from 21 games in NBL23, South East Melbourne has played more games than most of the chasing pack. Perth – who are one spot below them on the ladder – have only played 18 times this season, Tasmania 20 and Adelaide 19.

Melbourne United who currently sit eighth have played 22 games.

Hooley says the introduction of the play-in tournament has ensured eyes will be glued to screens right up until the final game of the regular season.

“That what’s making it a really exciting end to the NBL23 regular season. I love the play-in tournament addition because every game matters.

“You’ve got teams that are trying to claw their way into the play-in games, that’s the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne United [who] are really starting to roll, you’ve got teams trying to hang on, and you’ve got the top two race.

“Every game is going to matter.”