Kelly to Round Out "Offensive Juggernaut"

New South East Melbourne Phoenix head coach Mike Kelly has labelled his side as an “offensive juggernaut” in NBL23, but is targeting a marked increase at the other end of the floor coming into the new season. 

The Phoenix were eliminated from the post-season in the competition’s first ever Play-In Qualifier in NBL23, ironically against Kelly’s former side, Perth.

Bryce Cotton and Brady Manek torched South East Melbourne in a high-scoring game and led the Wildcats to a seven-point victory, thus eliminating the Phoenix at the first hurdle of the finals campaign.

“I think, overall, this team from last season was super competitive, and an offensive juggernaut,” Kelly told Yarra Valley FM. “I think we can be more consistent defensively – that’s the main thing.

“This team scored over 91 points a game and was really an offensive force.

“There are a lot of factors that went into it, like injuries to key players in a lot of games … we just have to be tighter as a group on the defensive end and more consistent.

“That will show us to a lot more wins.”

Kelly is well-versed in the culture and passion of the south-eastern region of Melbourne, having won a championship with the club alongside incoming assistant coach Sam Mackinnon.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An old school Magician is heading back to the Heartland ?‍??<br><br>South East Melbourne Magic legend Sam Mackinnon heads to the <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> as an assistant coach under former teammate Mike Kelly ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/3BDlXbmeqs">https://t.co/3BDlXbmeqs</a> <a href="https://t.co/kQrQFwiRJv">pic.twitter.com/kQrQFwiRJv</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1655453537747488768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

During the Phoenix’s four seasons in the competition, the side has largely contested around the top end of the table, with only drastic lapses in form or player availability restricting their ability to win a championship.

Although he’s coming in with a clear idea of what he wants to achieve on the defensive end of the floor, Kelly says he’s not looking to reinvent the wheel at the club.

“Making the final four and being one game away from a Grand Final appearance – that doesn’t happen that often,” he said.

“I think constantly being competitive is something special in our league, and we want to take it from there to being a perennial championship contender – always thereabouts.

“We’ve got two more import spots left, so we’re looking for a point guard and probably a shooting guard, and then one more local player.

“I think we can continue to bring in shooting, but all the guys we’re looking to bring in – we want them to be that gritty, tough, chip on their shoulder [mentality] ... more of the same as far as defensive-minded guys that can score.”

Kelly’s first game in charge of the Phoenix will come in his side’s season-opener against local rivals Melbourne United.

The clash will act as the very first game of the NBL24 season, and is set for Thursday, September 28.