Preview: Brisbane vs South East Melbourne - Round 6, NBL24

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Both Brisbane and South East Melbourne rolled through Round 5 with a pair of wins each.

Thursday, November 2 at 7:30pm AEDT | Nissan Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports - International viewership details
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Brisbane’s fortunes have turned a full 180 degrees since it last played South East Melbourne in Round 5. The Bullets have won two games in a row and will have starting center Aron Baynes back from suspension this time around.

After just holding on for a win against the Wildcats, Brisbane fired a shot across the NBL with a three-point win over Tasmania.

The Phoenix have won four straight games – including three since the return of Alan Williams – to surge up to second on the ladder.

South East Melbourne almost let a 26-point margin slip against the Breakers, but managed to secure a 100-103 win over the competition’s bottom side last game.

Brisbane
90-87 win over Tasmania
84-79 win over Perth
73-96 loss to South East Melbourne

South East Melbourne
103-100 win over New Zealand
96-73 win over Brisbane
102-85 win over Adelaide

Aron Baynes
Brisbane looked to be struggling for its identity in the paint in the first three games of Aron Baynes’ suspension, but the Bullets’ pair of wins in Round 5 has some fans scratching their heads as to how Justin Schueller will re-integrate his big gun.

Tyrell Harrison starred in the final quarter against Perth, and was crucial in the Bullets holding on for a win against a Wildcats outfit that found its groove late. Then he once again filled his role well in the win over Tasmania.

Baynes’ absence has also meant Rocco Zikarsky has been fast-tracked to earning more minutes for Brisbane, and while he’s still raw, the 17-year-old is showing obvious signs of rapid improvement.

This is Aron Baynes though. Olympic medalist, NBA champion, all-time Aussie great Aron Baynes.

After five games putting his house in order, it remains to be seen how much of an impact Baynes will have on this Bullets side that is absolutely rolling after Round 5.

“Make no mistake, Aron Baynes has been training with the team. He’s obviously not allowed here in gameday scenarios but apparently he’s been looking good and the break has probably done him some good just to settle down and really focus on what’s important with this Bullets franchise.” – Derek Rucker on Moments that Mattered.

Aron Baynes.

Mitch Creek
Is South East Melbourne the in-form team of the NBL? After a lukewarm start the Phoenix have rebounded to win four straight games, and their starting unit looks almost unstoppable at times – and a large part of that is the continued brilliance of Mitch Creek.

Where Creek has often been relied on to make something from nothing for the Phoenix in the past, his presence alongside his club’s import trio means South East Melbourne has four players who can win games off their own bat on its roster, and Creek has slotted into a role of quiet achievement, alongside American duo Alan Williams and Will Cummings and Puerto Rican Gary Browne.

Creek has been flying the flag for the Phoenix since the club came into the NBL, but now he’s got some high-quality help is this the year he leads the team further than it’s ever gone before?

“Mitch Creek, make no mistake about it – he is the best Australian player in the competition. Very hard to match up with and when he’s on top of his game South East Melbourne is a really good team. When you add in three quality imports in Cummings, Browne and Williams, they go to another level.” - Derek Rucker on Moments That Mattered.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Touchdown to Phoenix ?<br><br>Alan Williams finds Mitch Creek with the long-range pass ? <br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/jqspCcr7Uv">pic.twitter.com/jqspCcr7Uv</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1715641826936315908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nathan Sobey vs Will Cummings and Gary Browne

One of the most difficult parts of South East Melbourne’s opposition to defend is the ability for both Gary Browne and Will Cummings to act as the side’s primary playmaker.

That being said, the import pair faces a tough challenge to stop current second-place league-leading scorer Nathan Sobey in his tracks on Thursday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nathan Sobey from DEEP ??<br><br>Watch live and free on ESPN2 via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach & 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/XtYVF9OUpP">pic.twitter.com/XtYVF9OUpP</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1718516051020017738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Only Adelaide’s DJ Vasiljevic is putting up more shots than Sobey this season, and the Olympic bronze medal winner is making the most of his licence by putting up 21.8 points per game, and is being trusted to close games down the stretch for his side.

Both Browne and Cummings are averaging a touch above 15 points per game, and Cummings’ active hands have seen him average over two steals per game.

The Phoenix’s defence of Sobey is likely to be by committee, but with Browne and Cummings likely on the floor if the game is on the line, they need to find a way to slow down the former MVP candidate.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spin cycle for Mr <a href="https://twitter.com/willcummings_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@willcummings_</a> ?<br><br>? Watch on ESPN ?? Kayo | Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/PFjHoGQjQs">pic.twitter.com/PFjHoGQjQs</a></p>— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1718161887345656276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alan Williams has recorded a double-double in six of his last seven games. The former Phoenix Sun is one of the premier bigs in the NBL, so how do the Bullets curb his influence?

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Alan Williams.