'He has to lift': Import key for Phoenix

Derek Rucker has called on South East Melbourne guard Gary Browne to step up in the impending absence of Mitch Creek, following the revelation the star forward is set to miss up to two weeks with a knee injury.

Creek hobbled off the court in the final quarter of the Phoenix’s blowout loss to Melbourne United and failed to suit up for their clash with Illawarra later in Round 11.

It has been reported Creek suffered a medial ligament strain and bone bruising, and should he miss the full two weeks, South East Melbourne will have to play Cairns, Tasmania and Brisbane in his absence – all of which are away fixtures.

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“[It’s terrible news for the Phoenix. They’re so up and down with their play, with their luck, with everything and ... now Creek’s injury, and I just don’t know where they go from here,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“They’ve just got to lift, and in particular it’s got to be Gary Browne. Gary Browne has got to be the one who drives this thing.

“They don’t have an easy task going up to Cairns and, realistically, they just have to win one game out of the three they’ll play in Creek’s absence and that will give them a chance. Hopefully he can come back after the 10-14 days and be at top form.”

Creek’s injury is just the latest to hit a side that has been beset by absences this season.

The Phoenix have already replaced Craig Moller with import forward Abdel Nader, who played his first game in almost two years in the Round 11 defeat to Illawarra.

Gorjok Gak, Alan Williams and Reuben Te Rangi have also all missed games throughout the campaign.

“It’s not they don’t have talent. Part of the problem is the availability,” Rucker continued.

“They’ve had all kinds of crazy occurrences and the only guy who’s been consistent coming off that bench has pretty much been Ben Ayre.

“We can’t expect much from Abdel Nader, he’s only just getting here and he hasn’t played a lot of basketball as it is.

“Probably now Ben is going to have to step up also. If you look at it strategically I’d probably play Ayre and Browne together a lot, try something different and just let those guys go up there and try and score points.

“They were sitting pretty after they beat Sydney. They were probably looking down the schedule thinking, 'we can get this one, we can get this one, and by New Year’s Day we’ll be sitting in second or third position'. I think now they go up to Cairns for this game on Friday night.

“Cairns are very inconsistent, but at their best they can beat anyone in the league.”

The Phoenix play Cairns on Friday night and then head to Tasmania to face the JackJumpers on Christmas Day.