South East Melbourne Phoenix

"When you're 2-5, everybody starts being evaluated. So it was an evaluation day for everybody." Josh King on why he was still fired up late in South East Melbourne Phoenix's 32-point win over Cairns, Skylar Mays included. The lead had reached 41, and he didn't like the finish.

Daniel Foster was back for South East Melbourne Phoenix and got more minutes off the bench in the 32-point win over Cairns. Nathan Sobey said Foster set the tone for the group to start the game: "it was great to have him back out there for some more minutes."

Nathan Sobey played for South East Melbourne Phoenix despite last game's knee-on-knee knock or cork. Coach Josh King: "he did a really good job getting rehab." Angus Glover on cramping after a layup: "I couldn't really get the cramp out. But nah, I'm all good."

Skylar Mays came off the bench as South East Melbourne Phoenix shook up the starting lineup. Josh King told Mays before the game and got "a super professional answer". Starting spots depend on who is playing well on the night: "when you're 2-5, that's what you do."

Angus Glover started for South East Melbourne Phoenix for the first time in a while, with a simple brief: "Go bring some energy and have some fun." He admitted he "probably fell in love with the three a little bit at times" and is getting back to attacking the rim.

Jordan Hunter had a double-double for South East Melbourne Phoenix, including 8 offensive rebounds, on no sleep after his baby's birth, Angus Glover said. Asked if his split with Yannis Morin continues, coach Josh King said: "we'll see moving forward how we handle that."

Yannis Morin stays in the plan. South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King: "we're going to continue to stick with him because he can help this team win." No defensive signing either: "we're gonna stick with the guys that are in our locker room. They're here for a reason."

Nathan Sobey was "definitely sore" after a knock that South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King couldn't identify as knee-on-knee or a cork. King sent him back in so he wouldn't stiffen up and gave no status: "we'll have to see how he is moving forward."

Yannis Morin of South East Melbourne Phoenix says the coach's remark after the Melbourne United loss, that he should have played Morin more, shows trust: "Now that means he trusts me. I have to pay him back what he expects from me now." Morin says he is ready for a bigger role.

From South East Melbourne Phoenix's media availability: Brisbane will be without 'Velika' (name as transcribed) for the Phoenix's Brisbane double. "Velika is out for them, so we need to use it as a good way to get the shape and set the tone from the beginning."

"I thought the coach should have played him more." South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King, on Yannis Morin's 9 points and 4 rebounds. Citing a deep roster and a pace hard to sustain for 40 minutes, he added: "that's my job to figure out which guys need to be out there."

Josh King has no set plan for Skylar Mays' minutes with the Phoenix's other guards: together, apart or both sitting. "It's just kind of going with the flow and who's playing well." Mays is still adjusting to the faster style: "There's a lot more meat on that bone with Skylar."

Nathan Sobey admits his South East Melbourne Phoenix minutes are light: "Obviously I haven't played a whole ton of minutes so far this season." On ending the losing run against Illawarra: "We've been close the last few times... you can only keep saying that so many times."

Angus Glover on the heated last Phoenix game against Illawarra, his hometown team, where Nathan Sobey and William Hickey both got technical fouls: "Sobey is our best player, so I got to... be by his side, but at the same time try not to make sure he doesn't get ejected."

Nathan Sobey missed the first couple of games, and South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King says the side is still finding its way. King puts it on shooting, not shot quality: "If we're shooting the ball like we were last year, we're 4-0 right now."

Brandon Knight, Perth's new point guard, had only just arrived and wasn't on the team list against South East Melbourne Phoenix, said Phoenix coach Josh King. King on the slow start: "I feel like some people are expecting me to move furniture right now. It's early days."