The Sauce of Phoenix rise

Given the incredible parity in the NBL so far this season, Sunday’s impending Throwdown between Melbourne and South East Melbourne has the potential to be the biggest since their NBL21 semi-final series.

United currently sit on top of the ladder having lost just two games this campaign, but the Phoenix are hot on their heels in third with a 6-4 record. The chasing pack is large, and the gap at the top is small. It’s incredible that six rounds into the season there is still no clear front-runner.

South East Melbourne will enter the clash as one of the in-form teams of the competition. Since the return of Alan Williams from a knee injury, they’ve skyrocketed up the standings to sit as high as second, and boast a 4-1 record when the former Phoenix Sun has hit the floor.

That sole loss came when the star center found himself in early foul trouble, and Gorjok Gak left the game after three minutes on court, due to a calf injury.

NBL analyst and former MVP Derek Rucker stated he believes the presence of Williams in the post will be too much for United this week on NBL Now, as United look set to enter the clash with a depleted roster, following Round 6 injuries to Ariel Hukporti, Luke Travers and Ian Clark.

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Williams has starred so far this season and has quickly become an ever-present in the early-campaign MVP discussions, but he believes earning a crucial Throwdown win isn’t quite as simple as Rucker might be making it out to be.

“It's a massive game and we definitely appreciate the support that goes on there, but it’s not going to be as easy as D-Ruck is making it seem,” Williams told NBL Media.

“Melbourne are the top of the ladder, they’re the top of the class in the NBL this year and they’re proving that night in, night out with the record they have. They haven’t had their full roster yet this year, they’re loaded defensively, and they’re stacked in every single position.

“It’s going to be a tough game and we know that going into it.

“We do know there’s that rivalry and maybe they are the big brother for now, but we’re going out and trying to prove that we belong in this league, we belong at the top of this league and conversation.

“In order for us to do that we have to go out there and win against a really good Melbourne United team.”

Following a debut NBL campaign where Williams was often in the discussion for All-NBL honours - alongside the likes of fellow import big Dererk Pardon and then-Cairns center Keanu Pinder - ‘Big Sauce’ has opened his new campaign at a level fans knew he could reach, but only saw glimpses of last season.

Williams is the major post representative in the current guard-heavy MVP discussions, where his name is included alongside the likes of Brisbane’s Nathan Sobey, Tasmania’s Milton Doyle and, by Williams’ own admission, Melbourne rival Chris Goulding.

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He currently leads the league in rebounds per game and sits within the top ten in points per game, and the turning of fortunes for the Phoenix since his return could well see him meet his own MVP criteria, should his side continue their current run of form – being the best player on the best team.

To nail Williams down as the league MVP or say the Phoenix will be the NBL’s best club come season’s end with any certainty would be far too premature, but he believes there are a number of players at South East Melbourne who could be named the best of the best within his own side.

“I think we have a tremendously talented roster this year, and we probably have four or five guys who – when it’s all said and done – could be in that conversation for MVP,” he said.

“I definitely think I’m in that category, but I’m not the only player on my team who puts us in a position to win basketball games and achieve the success we’re trying to achieve. I think it’s great because it pushes all of us to be better every day.

“I’m never going into a game thinking it’s my MVP moment or it’s the time for me to prove I’m MVP, but the communication and the talk around it is fun because it means the team is being successful, but at the end of the day the team success is what’s going to drive everything.”

When talking about impactful, game-winning Phoenix players aside from Williams, Gary Browne immediately springs to mind and he, like Williams, is enjoying an exceptional sophomore season in the NBL.

The Puerto Rican guard spent the NBL off-season playing in his home country with current teammate Mitch Creek, and has formed one of the most lethal backcourt combinations alongside fellow import Will Cummings. His electric Shammgod crossover against New Zealand recently went viral around the world, with American sports publication Bleacher Report picking up the highlight to show its extensive audience.

“I think there’s a level of him being more comfortable this season,” Williams said of Browne's rise.

“When you’re playing overseas like us, the second year is easier. You understand the nuances of the game, you understand how the officials call it, you understand out the league goes and how teams like to play, it’s easier to make the same reads you were making last year.

“You go into it being a lot more comfortable and understanding what to expect, as the great player Gary is I’m sure it’s been a lot easier for him this year because he has that experience after year one.”

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Regardless of how Williams, Browne, Creek or Cummings play, one of the shining lights for the Phoenix in this run has been the performances of their backup players – especially when one of the side’s key quartet has been missing.

In NBL22 the Phoenix got rolling early, but an injury to key wing Ryan Broekhoff late in the season saw them falter and miss the playoffs entirely. Then, last season, the consistent absences of Broekhoff, Browne and now-Adelaide wing Trey Kell saw them scrape into the Play-In Qualifier, after sitting as high as second later in the season.

This season though Ben Ayre, Matt Kenyon and Craig Moller are leading the next-up contingent to great effect.

Ayre started the season in the absence of Browne and is shooting a frankly ridiculous – and league-leading – 61.5 per cent from three.

Kenyon recorded his first career double-double against Adelaide in Round 4, and has hit crucial shots in the absence of Will Cummings.

Moller has returned to the NBL following a gruesome knee injury suffered in Germany and is settling well into his role as the glue-guy in the star-studded starting five.

While it may be South East Melbourne’s import trio and Creek who garner most of the praise directed at the Phoenix, Williams says the quality and belief of the second unit has the potential to define his club's season.

“Our depth is our secret weapon, you never know who it’s going to be,” he said.

“You typically know it’s going to be me, Creeky, Gary, Will, but then that other option, that surprise off the bench or the starting unit.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? “If you’re smaller, you’re going to be looked at different … use it.” ?<br><br>180cm guard Ben Ayre joined <a href="https://twitter.com/alantwilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alantwilliams</a> on Gettin’ Saucy and gave some sage advice to basketball players who may be overlooked because of their height. ? <br><br>Listen to where you get your podcasts. <a href="https://t.co/w8AbNIJIhQ">pic.twitter.com/w8AbNIJIhQ</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1721709055457058893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We just have a bunch of guys who play with chips on their shoulders and are always prepared and ready for when it’s their moment. It’s something I’ve seen from this team that really gets me excited and lets me know we’re capable of reaching our goals, because we have a team of guys that are always ready.

“It starts with practice and getting after it in training every day, and we have a bunch of guys who can do their thing. I’m really happy with the depth we have, and also the confidence every single one of us goes out there and plays with.”

Williams and the Phoenix host Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Sunday, November 12 at 2pm AEDT.

The game will be broadcast live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 Play.