THE 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) is right around the corner, with the fixture set to kick off on Thursday, September 28.

The season is shaping up like no other, with an unprecedented amount of young and international talent complimenting the homegrown players set to suit up in the nation’s premier basketball competition.

The landscape of the league looks as even as ever, with the title up for grabs after a period of dominance from the Sydney Kings. As the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans proved last season, any side could climb the rankings and the player movement has ensured there is no clear favourite.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at each side and how they are shaping up ahead of the season’s commencement, with some intriguing outfits around the NBL.

With just a few teams remaining, it is time to put the SEM Phoenix under the microscope, who will be one of the more compelling sides coming into the season.

South East Melbourne Phoenix

2022/23 record – 15 wins, 13 losses

The Phoenix once again failed to appear in the finals, but kept their season alive as long as possible after qualifying for the play-in tournament. However, a change in coaching over the off-season means it will be a different looking South East Melbourne side come Thursday night.

Roster

Alan Williams, Anzac Rissetto, Austin Rapp, Ben Ayre, Craig Moller, Gary Browne, Gorjok Gak, Kody Stattmann, Luke Rosendale, Matt Kenyon, Mitch Creek, Owen Foxwell, Reuben Te Rangi, Rhys Vague, Tyler Cook, Will Cummings

Key question – How does Mike Kelly take the Phoenix to the next level?

Although there were some big player acquisitions for the Phoenix over the off-season, the most significant move the team made was a change at the head coaching position. Mike Kelly was brought in to the role to replace the departing Simon Mitchell, who had been in the position since the team’s inception five years ago. Kelly brings NBL experience to the table, having coached the Cairns Taipans previously.

Kelly will have a number of predicaments during his maiden season with the Phoenix, with the largest proving still prominent in the Blitz. South East Melbourne has one of the best scorers in the competition in Creek, and has the capability to post a winning score any match. However, the team’s defence has proven costly in the past, and is still creeping into the games, as evidenced against the Taipans, where the side allowed plenty of uncontested baskets. Kelly will need to work on the team’s defensive structure and sets prior to the season starting.

There is also the question of the two-guard lineup, with both Browne and Cummings occupying backcourt spots. Each of the two players can hurt the opposition with ball in hand, but do their best work with a high usage rate. However, Kelly appears to have favoured Browne in this situation, with the returning guard acting as the primary ball-handler in the starting lineup, while Cummings takes over the role when the former is replaced by Ayre throughout the game.

One to watch – Tyler Cook

Alarm bells were ringing for the Phoenix as Williams suffered an injury as the season’s commencement approached. ‘The Big Sauce’ played a crucial role for the team in his debut NBL campaign last season, but will now spend time on the sidelines. South East Melbourne added Cook as a replacement, and he has caught the eye already.

Cook was one of the stars of the NBL Blitz, posting some impressive numbers in the team’s preseason matches and locking up his place in the starting lineup. He top-scored for the Phoenix in multiple games, providing some offensive help to Creek, who has been a one-man show at times. Cook can score at all three levels, and will be one of the quickest players in the competition, making him an exciting addition to the team.

The Phoenix may have been on the outer of the finals for the past couple of seasons, but are still a strong chance to return to the postseason, with their quest for a maiden title beginning on Thursday night.